Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 245
— Part II 240 from among the Muslims, they should be sought from among the non-Muslims? … O ye who believe! The right evidence among you, when death presents itself to one of you, at the time of making a bequest, is of two just men from among you; or of two others not from among you, if you be journeying in the land and the calamity of death befalls you. … (S u rah al-M a ’idah; Ch. 5: V. 107) Even with a slight amount of deliberation, one should be able to realise that in principle the testimony of a Muslim is not considered more reliable than that of a non-Muslim. In a Muslim society, when deciding on internal affairs which require the presence of witnesses, it is only natural to seek out witnesses from among the Muslims. But if, for instance, one is on a journey, the testimony of a non-Muslim will hold the same credence as the testimony of a Muslim. Both of the above verses are specifically concerned with financial settlements. There is no license to give them general application. They are not applicable to everyday accidents or crimes etc. A fundamental principle that should also be borne in mind is that an interpretation of a Quranic verse is unacceptable if it contradicts another verse, or if it