Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say that the testimony of children against one another is permissible.

Hazrat Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) considered the testimony of some children against each other in matters of sale to be valid.

Hazrat Urwah (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say that the testimony of children is permissible, and their first statement should be accepted.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding the testimony of children says that Allah Almighty has stated { مِمَّنْ تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّہَدَائِ } whereas children do not fall under "mimman tardawn" (those whom you are pleased with). Hazrat Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) says that they are more deserving and worthy regarding the matter which they have seen, and if they are questioned about it, they should testify. And Hazrat Ibn Abi Mulaykah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I have not seen judges accepting anyone’s statement except that of Hazrat Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him).

The testimony of children is not permissible against adults, and the testimony of children is permissible against children when there is a fight or dispute among them.

Hazrat Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) considered the testimony of children permissible in cases of teeth and clarified wounds, and apart from this, he did not accept their testimony.

Hazrat Mak’hool (may Allah have mercy on him) says that when a child reaches the age of fifteen years, his testimony is valid (permissible).

It is narrated from Hazrat Dawood bin Husain (may Allah have mercy on him) that among the judges of Madinah Munawwarah, a child named Salamah bin Abdur Rahman Al-Makhzumi gave testimony before one of the judges. Hazrat Salim (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hazrat Qasim (may Allah have mercy on him) were asked about the validity of his testimony. They replied: If some pubic hair has appeared below his navel, then his testimony is valid.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin, regarding the testimony of children, states that their testimony will be recorded and its verification and investigation will be carried out.

Hazrat Humaid bin Abdur Rahman, may Allah have mercy on him, says that investigation will be conducted.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) states that the testimony of children is not valid.

Hazrat Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the testimony of children is not valid before they reach maturity.

Hazrat Aamir (may Allah have mercy on him) did not consider the testimony of children to be permissible.

Sulaiman al-Hamdani, may Allah have mercy on him, says that when I was young, I gave testimony before Hazrat Shurayh, may Allah have mercy on him. He, may Allah have mercy on him, touched some part of my body with his finger and said: Testimony is not valid before reaching puberty.

Hazrat Waki’ (may Allah have mercy on him) says that some children from the neighborhood, who were not yet of age, testified before Hazrat Ibn Abi Layla (may Allah have mercy on him). He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Write down the testimony of so-and-so and so-and-so. When they reach maturity, see if they remain firm upon it; if so, the testimony is valid. But if they retract, then that testimony will be nullified.

Hazrat Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) considered the testimony of children to be valid.

Hazrat Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) accepted the testimony of a child in the matter of a slave girl and issued a verdict of four thousand dirhams.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) considered the testimony of children about children to be permissible.