His statement, “It is valid if he specifies each type and its price”: for example, he might say: one hundred ṣāʿs of wheat and barley for one thousand dirhams. He must specify the quantity of each type, saying, for instance: fifty ṣāʿs of wheat and fifty ṣāʿs of barley. He must also specify its price: for example, fifty ṣāʿs of wheat correspond to six hundred of the thousand, and fifty ṣāʿs of barley correspond to four hundred of the thousand. This must be specified so that, if part of it becomes unavailable, its corresponding share of the price is known. If the matter is left unknown, it leads to dispute.
His statement, “and the share of each delivery date”: this applies when he enters into a salam contract for one type of goods with two delivery dates, such as saying: I have entered into a salam contract with you for one hundred dirhams in exchange for one hundred ṣāʿs of wheat, to be delivered on two dates. He must specify the share due on each date, saying, for example: fifty on the first date and fifty on the second. This is because, should a dispute arise or delivery become impossible, reference is made to what was specified.
According to the author’s wording, there is no need to specify the corresponding share of the price, because it will be apportioned proportionately, as it is known.
Seventh: The salam contract must be for something owed in the seller’s liability; thus, it is not valid for a specific identified item. Delivery is required at the place where the contract was concluded, though it is valid to stipulate another place. If it is concluded in open country or at sea, they must stipulate the place of delivery. It is not valid to sell the goods subject to the salam contract before taking possession of them, nor to give them as a gift, nor to transfer a debt by means of them or against them, nor to take something else in exchange for them. Nor is a pledge or guarantor valid with respect to them.
His statement, “Seventh: that it be a salam contract for something owed in the seller’s liability”: that is, in the liability of the seller.
His statement, “Thus, it is not valid for a specific identified item”: for example, if he says: I have given you one hundred dirhams for one hundred kilograms of wheat. If he enters into a salam contract for a specific item, saying: I have entered into a salam contract with you for one hundred dirhams in exchange for this particular item, it is not valid. As long as the goods subject to the salam contract are specified, there is no need for salam: he gives him the dirhams and takes the item. It should not remain in the seller’s custody as a deposit, benefiting neither the seller nor the buyer. Moreover, it may perish before the delivery date falls due.