Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (9/309)

in a reasonable manner. As for our own time, however, we consider that the orphan does not care whether a sacrifice is offered on his behalf or not.

His statement, “and he may trade on his behalf without charge,” means that the guardian of a minor, an insane person, or a financially incompetent person may engage in trade on behalf of his ward without charge—that is, he takes nothing for himself. He may buy and sell with the ward’s money, but he takes no payment, because he is a trustee acting in the interest of the person whom Allah has placed under his guardianship.

But what if he says, “I will not occupy myself with trading on his behalf unless I am given a share of the profit, like a mudarabah partner?”

The reply is: if trading on his behalf prevents him from attending to his own work, and he says, “I will not occupy myself with it to the detriment of my private affairs unless I receive a share of the profit,” then we say that he must refer the matter to the judge, who will assign him whatever compensation he considers appropriate. Accordingly, the apparent meaning of the author’s statement, “he may trade on his behalf without charge,” is unrestricted, whether this occupies him from his own affairs or not. However, it should be qualified to cases where it does not occupy him from his own affairs. If it does, and he refuses to trade except for a share, then there is nothing wrong with that; but the matter should be referred to the judge, so that he may determine what he considers appropriate.

His statement, “and he may,” means: the guardian of the legally incapacitated person.

His statement, “handing over his wealth,” means: the wealth of the legally incapacitated person.

His statement, “mudarabah,” refers to a profit-sharing investment partnership. It is derived from travelling through the land, as Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“and others travelling throughout the land, seeking Allah’s bounty.” [al-Muzzammil: 20]

This is because merchants generally travel to different lands, bring back goods and sell them, and travel to other towns with their merchandise and sell it there.

بالمعروف، أما في عهدنا الآن فنرى أن اليتيم لا يهمه أن يضحى له أو لا. قوله: «ويتجر له مجاناً» يعني أن ولي الصغير والمجنون والسفيه يتجر له، أي: لموليه، مجاناً يعني لا يأخذ شيئاً، فيبيع ويشتري بماله، ولكن لا يأخذ شيئاً؛ لأنه أمين يتصرف لحظ هذا الذي ولاه الله عليه. ولكن إذا قال: أنا لن أشغل نفسي بالاتجار له، إلا أن يُجعل لي سهم من الربح كالمضارب؟ فيقال: إذا كان يصده عن أشغاله إذا اتجر له، ويقول: أنا لن أشتغل به عن أشغالي الخاصة إلا إذا كان لي سهم من الربح، فحينئذٍ نقول: لا بد أن ترجع إلى القاضي وهو الذي يفرض لك ما يراه مناسباً، وعلى هذا فقول المؤلف: «يتجر له مجاناً»، ظاهره مطلقاً سواء شغله عن أشغاله الخاصة أم لا، ولكن ينبغي أن يُقيد بما لم يشغله عن أشغاله الخاصة، ويأبى أن يتجر إلا بسهم، فحينئذٍ نقول: لا بأس، ولكن تُرفع المسألة إلى القاضي ليقرر ما يراه مناسباً. قوله: «وله» أي: لولي المحجور عليه. قوله: «دفع ماله» أي: مال المحجور عليه. قوله: «مضاربة» مأخوذة من الضرب لقوله ـ تعالى ـ: ﴿وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ﴾ [المزمل: ٢٠]؛ لأن الغالب أن التجار يسافرون إلى البلاد ويأتون بالأموال ويبيعونها، ويسافرون إلى البلدان بأموالهم ويبيعونها هناك.