If the dye can be removed and the owner demands his garment, it must be removed, and the usurper is liable for any resulting decrease in value.

His statement, “or he mixes sawiq (parched-grain meal) with oil,” means that if he usurps sawiq and mixes it with oil—the meaning of “mixes it” being that he pours the oil over it—then, since the oil can no longer be separated, the two are partners.

His statement, “or the reverse,” means that he usurps dye and uses it to dye a garment in his possession, or that he usurps oil and adds sawiq to it. If the value neither decreases nor increases, they are partners in proportion to the value of each one’s property in it. In the event of a dispute, the basic principle is that the statement of the party who bears liability is accepted.

His statement, “and the value neither decreases nor increases,” means their combined value. Thus, if the sawiq is worth ten and the oil is worth five, and, after being mixed, the mixture is worth fifteen, then if its value has neither decreased nor increased, we say that they are partners in proportion to the value of their respective property: the owner of the sawiq receives ten, and the owner of the oil receives five.

His statement, “and if its value decreases, he is liable for it,” means that the usurper is liable. For example, if the value of this sawiq that he mixed with oil decreases because people do not find the oil desirable, or because he mixed it with foul-smelling oil or the like, then the usurper must compensate for the decrease, because he is a wrongdoer.

“And if the value of one of them increases, it belongs to its owner. A person who refuses to remove the dye is not compelled. ……”

His statement, “and if the value of one of them increases, it belongs to its owner,” means that if the oil is worth ten and the sawiq is worth ten, and the oil belongs to the usurper, but its value increases when it is mixed with the sawiq because it thereby becomes useful, then the increase belongs to its owner.