Muhammad bin Thabit Al-Abdi, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that a man asked Ata bin Abi Rabah, may Allah have mercy on him, and I was present there. He inquired: What is the meaning of Allah the Exalted’s statement: ﴿وَلَا يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَاءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا﴾“And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called”? Is this command before they are called to testify, or after they have already given testimony? Ata, may Allah have mercy on him, replied:“No, rather, it is after they have given testimony; after that, they should not refuse.”