Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (10/82)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

a valley through which water flowed. He took the risk and crossed the valley with the livestock, and they perished; he is therefore liable, because he has transgressed and is prohibited from doing anything that harms the livestock.

Another example is when hail falls from the clouds and he does not bring the livestock under shelter until they die. He is liable, because he was negligent; his duty was to bring them into a place where they would be safe.

“A joint employee is liable for whatever is damaged by his act, but he is not liable for what is damaged while in his custody, or without his act; nor is he entitled to any wage.”

His statement, “A joint employee is liable,” means the joint employee whose benefit is defined by the work itself and who accepts work from anyone, such as a washer, tailor, and the like.

His statement, “for whatever is damaged by his act,” applies even if it was accidental, because it is reported from some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, that they held him liable without qualification (1). Secondly, because the work is guaranteed by him: his benefit is defined by the work, so if he makes a mistake and does not perform the work for which he is responsible, he must compensate for it.

Some scholars said that he is not liable for what is damaged through his accidental act, because he is a trusted custodian. Thus, there is no difference between him and a private employee: just as a private employee is not liable for what is damaged through his accidental act, neither is this worker, since both are trusted custodians.

It was also said that he is liable for what is damaged by an act that he himself deliberately performs,

(1) This was narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab. It was recorded by Abd al-Razzaq (14949) and Ibn Abi Shaybah (4/360, al-Hut edition). A similar report was narrated from Ali, who would say: “Nothing but this will set the people aright.” It was recorded by Abd al-Razzaq (14948) and Ibn Abi Shaybah (4/360, al-Hut edition).

أن يذهب إليها وادٍ يمشي، فجازف وخاض الوادي بالماشية فهلكت فإنه يضمن؛ لأنه متعدٍّ، ومنهي عن أن يعمل عملاً يضر بالماشية. ومن ذلك ـ أيضاً ـ لو نزل بَرَدٌ من السحاب ولم يُدْخِل الماشية تحت سقف حتى ماتت فعليه الضمان؛ لأنه مفرط والواجب أن يدخلها في محل تنجو به. وَيَضْمَنُ المُشْتَرَكُ مَا تَلِفَ بِفِعْلِهِ، وَلَا يَضْمَنُ مَا تَلِفَ مِنْ حِرْزِهِ، أَوْ بِغَيْرِ فِعْلِهِ، وَلَا أُجْرَةَ لَهُ. قوله: «ويضمن المشترك» يعني الأجير المشترك وهو الذي قدر نفعه بالعمل، ويتقبل العمل من كل أحد كالغسال والخياط ونحوهما. قوله: «ما تلف بفعله» ولو خطأ، لأنه ورد عن بعض الصحابة ﵃ أنهم ضمنوه مطلقاً (١)، وثانياً: لأن العمل مضمون عليه؛ لأنه قدر نفعه بالعمل، فإذا أخطأ ولم يؤد العمل الذي هو مضمون عليه لزمه الضمان. وقال بعض أهل العلم: إنه لا يضمن ما تلف بفعله خطأ؛ لأنه مؤتمن، فلا فرق بينه وبين الأجير الخاص، فكما أن الأجير الخاص لا يضمن ما تلف بفعله خطأ فكذلك هذا؛ إذ لا فرق فكل منهما مؤتمن. وقيل: ما تلف بفعله الذي يفعله هو بنفسه اختياراً يضمنه،

(١) روي ذلك عن عمر بن الخطاب ﵁ أخرجه عبد الرزاق (١٤٩٤٩)؛ وابن أبي شيبة (٤/ ٣٦٠) ط/الحوت، وروي مثله عن علي ﵁ وكان يقول: لا يصلح الناس إلا ذلك، أخرجه عبد الرزاق (١٤٩٤٨)؛ وابن أبي شيبة (٤/ ٣٦٠) (ط/الحوت).