An example of an attached increase is when someone usurps a young sheep, then tends to it by nursing and feeding it until it matures and grows. May the usurper claim from the sheep’s owner the increase in its value? No; the increase belongs to the owner.

As for a separate increase, it is like someone usurping this sheep and it gives birth while in his possession, and it produces milk from which he sells, as well as milk from its offspring. This increase belongs to its owner.

Thus, the author’s statement, “together with its increase,” includes both the attached increase—which cannot be separated, such as fattening, learning a craft, and the like—and the separate increase, such as offspring, milk, and the like.

If someone usurps a slave who is a young boy, teaches him writing and imparts to him great branches of knowledge, thereby increasing his value tenfold, may he claim payment from the boy’s owner for his teaching? No, because he is a usurper. The evidence for this is the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “No wrongful possessor has any right.” Thus, no wrongful possessor has any right. If the usurped property is destroyed, he is liable for it together with its increase, because the increase of the usurped property arises under the ownership of its owner. Therefore, if he destroys it, he must compensate for it together with its increase.

His statement, “even if it costs him several times its value,” means that if someone usurps barley and mixes it with wheat—for instance, he usurps ten sāʿs of barley and mixes them with ten sāʿs of wheat—and the owner demands it, saying, “Give me my barley,” he replies, “I mixed it with wheat, and if I were to separate it, it would cost me several times its value.” We say: You are required to separate it. Bring people who will separate the barley from the wheat, even if the value of the wheat and barley is fifty riyals and the cost of separating them is five hundred riyals. This is why he said, “even if it costs him several times its value.”