Ibn Majah

Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:

➊
The reason for this is that nomads are generally inferior in terms of religion, morals, and character, because they do not have the opportunity to sit with scholars and learn the religion. Therefore, it is more likely that they will not give correct testimony.

➋
It is necessary for a witness to be trustworthy.

Benefits and Issues:
Benefit: "Badawi" is from "badiyah," which refers to a nomad—someone who does not reside in one place, but rather continuously moves from one location to another. If a Bedouin is intelligent and upright, then in itself his testimony will be considered valid. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself accepted the testimony of a Bedouin regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent. (Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Sawm, Chapter: On the Testimony of One Person for the Sighting of the Ramadan Crescent) What is explained by this hadith is that Bedouins are generally not familiar with the conditions, customs, traditions, and ways of settled populations. Moreover, they are very simple-minded. Therefore, there is a greater possibility of error or misunderstanding in their observations. For this reason, in matters concerning the inhabitants of a town or city, their testimony will be subject to objection. Due to this, their testimony cannot be accepted. In those matters which are easy for the people of the desert (ahl al-badiyah) to understand, their testimony is valid in every respect. This hadith also establishes that in any matter, testimony will only be valid when there is a general capacity to understand that matter. In purely technical matters, the testimony of ordinary people will not be valid unless they possess understanding of that matter.