Chapter on the Liability of One Who Carried Something and Claimed Its Loss
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 2|Chapter 16
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 3, Book 2, Chapter 16
Chapter on the Liability of One Who Carried Something and Claimed Its Loss
14 hadiths
رَوَى حَمَّادٌ عَنِ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي جَمَّالٍ يَحْمِلُ مَعَهُ اَلزَّيْتَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ أَوْ أُهْرِقَ أَوْ قُطِعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلطَّرِيقُ "فَإِنْ جَاءَ عَلَيْهِ بِبَيِّنَةٍ عَادِلَةٍ أَنَّهُ قُطِعَ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ ذَهَبَ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ وَ إِلاَّ ضَمِنَ" وَ فِي رَجُلٍ حَمَلَ مَعَهُ رَجُلٌ فِي سَفِينَتِهِ طَعَاماً فَنَقَصَ قَالَ "هُوَ ضَامِنٌ" قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ رُبَّمَا زَادَ قَالَ "تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ زَادَ فِيهِ شَيْئاً" قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ "هُوَ لَكَ".
Hammad narrated from Al-Halabi, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, regarding a camel driver who carries oil and claims that it was lost, spilled, or taken by robbers. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he brings trustworthy evidence that it was stolen, lost, or taken, then he is not liable. Otherwise, he is responsible for compensating it." And regarding a man who transported food for another man in his boat, but the quantity decreased, Imam عليه السلام said: "He is liable." I said to him: "Sometimes the quantity increases." Imam عليه السلام said: "Do you know that he added anything to it?" I said: "No." Imam عليه السلام said: "Then it belongs to you."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "فِي اَلْغُسَّالِ وَ اَلصُّوَّاغِ مَا سُرِقَ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ بِبَيِّنَةٍ عَلَى أَمْرٍ بَيِّنٍ أَنَّهُ قَدْ سُرِقَ وَ كُلُّ قَلِيلٍ لَهُ أَوْ كَثِيرٍ فَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُقِمْ بَيِّنَةً وَ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ اَلَّذِي اِدَّعَى فَقَدْ ضَمِنَهُ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ عَلَى قَوْلِهِ بَيِّنَةٌ ".
Imam عليه السلام said: "Regarding the washer (ghassal) and the goldsmith (sawwagh), if something is stolen from them and they do not provide clear evidence proving that it was stolen, whether it is little or much, then they are liable. However, if they establish proof with clear evidence, then they are not liable. But if they fail to present evidence and merely claim that the item was lost, they are responsible for compensating it unless they provide proof to support their claim."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ: فِي رَجُلٍ تَكَارَى دَابَّةً إِلَى مَكَانٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَتَضِيعُ اَلدَّابَّةُ قَالَ "إِنْ كَانَ جَازَ اَلشَّرْطَ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ وَ إِنْ دَخَلَ وَادِياً فَلَمْ يُوثِقْهَا فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ وَ إِنْ سَقَطَتْ فِي بِئْرٍ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْتَوْثِقْ مِنْهَا".
Imam عليه السلام said regarding a man who rents an animal to travel to a specified location, but the animal is lost: "If he exceeded the agreed conditions, he is liable. If he entered a valley and did not secure the animal properly, he is liable. And if it fell into a well, he is liable because he did not take proper precautions to safeguard it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَمَّالٍ اُكْتُرِيَ مِنْهُ إِبِلٌ وَ بُعِثَ مَعَهُ بِزَيْتٍ إِلَى أَرْضٍ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ بَعْضَ زِقَاقِ اَلزَّيْتِ اِنْخَرَقَ وَ أَهْرَاقَ اَلزَّيْتَ قَالَ "إِنَّهُ إِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَ اَلزَّيْتَ" وَ قَالَ "اِنْخَرَقَ وَ لَكِنْ لاَ يُصَدَّقُ إِلاَّ بِبَيِّنَةٍ عَادِلَةٍ وَ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ تَكَارَى دَابَّةً فَأَخَذَتْهَا اَلذِّئْبَةُ فَشَقَّتْ عَيْنَهَا فَنَفَقَتْ فَهُوَ لَهَا ضَامِنٌ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُسْلِماً عَدْلاً".
It is narrated about a camel driver who was hired to transport oil to a certain land. He claimed that some of the oil skins were torn, causing the oil to spill. Imam عليه السلام said: "The owner may take the remaining oil if he wishes." Imam عليه السلام also said: "The camel driver's claim that the skins were torn is not accepted unless supported by trustworthy and just evidence." And Imam عليه السلام added: "Any man who rents an animal, and it is attacked by a wolf, which injures its eye and causes it to die, is liable for it unless he is a trustworthy and just person."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ: حَمَلَ أَبِي مَتَاعاً إِلَى اَلشَّامِ مَعَ جَمَّالٍ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّ حِمْلاً مِنْهُ ضَاعَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ "أَ تَتَّهِمُهُ" فَقُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ "فَلاَ تُضَمِّنْهُ".
It is narrated from Ja'far bin Uthman, who said: My father sent some goods to Syria with a camel driver, and the camel driver claimed that one of the loads was lost. I mentioned this to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام. Imam عليه السلام said: "Do you suspect him?" I said: "No." Imam عليه السلام said: "Then do not hold him liable."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 239
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَصَّارٍ دَفَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ ثَوْباً فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ سُرِقَ مِنْ بَيْنِ ثِيَابِهِ قَالَ "عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُقِيمَ اَلْبَيِّنَةَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سُرِقَ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَتَاعِهِ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ وَ إِنْ سُرِقَ مَعَ مَتَاعِهِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ".
Ibn Muskan narrated from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: I asked him about a launderer to whom I gave a garment, and he claimed that it was stolen from among his belongings. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must provide evidence that it was stolen from among his belongings, and if he does so, then he is not liable. Similarly, if it was stolen along with his belongings, he is not liable."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى عُثْمَانُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ جَمَّالاً لَنَا كَانَ يُكَارِينَا فَحَمَلَ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ فَضَاعَ قَالَ "ضَمِّنْهُ وَ خُذْ مِنْهُ".
Uthman bin Ziyad narrated from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, who said: I said to Imam عليه السلام: "We had a camel driver who used to work for us. He loaded goods onto someone else's camel, and they were lost." Imam عليه السلام said: "Hold him liable and take compensation from him."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 240
وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يُضَمِّنُ اَلصَّبَّاغَ وَ اَلْقَصَّارَ وَ اَلصَّائِغَ، اِحْتِيَاطاً عَلَى أَمْتِعَةِ اَلنَّاسِ وَ كَانَ لاَ يُضَمِّنُ مِنَ اَلْغَرَقِ وَ اَلْحَرَقِ وَ اَلشَّيْءِ اَلْغَالِبِ وَ إِذَا غَرِقَتِ اَلسَّفِينَةُ وَ مَا فِيهَا فَأَصَابَهُ اَلنَّاسُ فَمَا قَذَفَ بِهِ اَلْبَحْرُ عَلَى سَاحِلِهِ فَهُوَ لِأَهْلِهِ وَ هُمْ أَحَقُّ بِهِ وَ مَا غَاصَ عَلَيْهِ اَلنَّاسُ وَ تَرَكَهُ صَاحِبُهُ فَهُوَ لَهُمْ".
Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام used to hold the dyer, launderer, and goldsmith liable as a precaution to protect people's belongings. However, he did not hold them liable for damages caused by drowning, fire, or overwhelming events. And if a ship sinks along with its cargo, and people recover what washes up on the shore, it belongs to its owners, and they have the strongest claim to it. But whatever people dive for and the owner abandons, it belongs to those who recover it.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لاَ يُضَمَّنُ اَلصَّائِغُ وَ لاَ اَلْقَصَّارُ وَ لاَ اَلْحَائِكُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مُتَّهَمِينَ فَيَجِيئُونَ بِالْبَيِّنَةِ فَيُخَوَّفُ وَ يُسْتَحْلَفُ لَعَلَّهُ يُسْتَخْرَجُ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ ".
Ibn Muskan narrated from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: "The goldsmith, the launderer, and the weaver are not held liable unless they are suspected. In such cases, they must bring evidence, and they should be made to swear an oath and be warned, perhaps something may be revealed from them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ أُتِيَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ بِصَاحِبِ حَمَّامٍ وُضِعَتْ عِنْدَهُ اَلثِّيَابُ فَضَاعَتْ فَلَمْ يُضَمِّنْهُ وَ قَالَ "إِنَّمَا هُوَ أَمِينٌ".
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام was presented with the case of a bathhouse attendant with whom clothes were deposited, but they were lost. Imam عليه السلام did not hold him liable and said: "He is merely a trustee."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ ضَمَّنَ رَجُلاً مُسْلِماً أَصَابَ خِنْزِيراً لِنَصْرَانِيٍّ قِيمَتَهُ".
Indeed, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام held a Muslim man liable to pay the value of a pig that belonged to a Christian, which he had harmed.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي اَلرَّجُلِ يَسْتَأْجِرُ اَلْحَمَّالَ فَيَكْسِرُ اَلَّذِي يَحْمِلُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ يُهَرِيقُهُ قَالَ "إِنْ كَانَ مَأْمُوناً فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ مَأْمُونٍ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ".
Ibn Muskan narrated from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, regarding a man who hires a porter, and the porter either breaks what he is carrying or spills it. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he is trustworthy, then he is not liable. But if he is not trustworthy, then he is liable."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 240
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سِرْحَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "فِي رَجُلٍ حَمَلَ مَتَاعاً عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَأَصَابَ إِنْسَاناً فَمَاتَ أَوْ اِنْكَسَرَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ".
Ibn Abi Nasr narrated from Dawood bin Sirhan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: "If a man carries goods on his head and accidentally strikes someone, causing their death or breaking something, then he is liable."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 240
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ قَالَ كَتَبَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى اَلْفَقِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ دَفَعَ ثَوْباً إِلَى اَلْقَصَّارِ لِيُقَصِّرَهُ فَدَفَعَهُ اَلْقَصَّارُ إِلَى قَصَّارٍ غَيْرِهِ لِيُقَصِّرَهُ فَضَاعَ اَلثَّوْبُ هَلْ يَجِبُ عَلَى اَلْقَصَّارِ أَنْ يَرُدَّ مَا دَفَعَهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ إِنْ كَانَ اَلْقَصَّارُ مَأْمُوناً فَوَقَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "هُوَ ضَامِنٌ لَهُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثِقَةً مَأْمُوناً إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ".
It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ali bin Mahbub, who said: A man wrote to the 'Jurist' (Imam Hasan ibn Ali Al-Askari عليه السلام) asking about a case where a person gave a garment to a launderer to clean, and the launderer then handed it over to another launderer to clean, but the garment was lost. Should the first launderer be required to compensate for what he entrusted to another? Imam عليه السلام wrote in reply: "He is liable for it unless the second launderer is trustworthy and reliable, God willing."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh