His statement, “If its owner is absent,” means if its owner is away or cannot be found; the point is that he cannot find him when he is about to travel.
His statement, “He takes it with him if that is safer,” means that if its owner is absent, he takes it with him, on condition that travelling with it is safer than leaving it behind. Ordinarily, however, travelling with it is not safer, since travel involves hazards. Nevertheless, he says, “if that is safer.”
His statement, “Otherwise,” means: if it is not safer.
His statement, “He entrusts it to a trustworthy person,” means that he leaves it as a deposit with someone trustworthy. Who is trustworthy? A trustworthy person is one who combines two qualities: competence and integrity. These two qualities are required in every type of work. Allah says:
“Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and trustworthy.” [Al-Qasas: 26]
And the powerful jinn said to Solomon, peace be upon him:
“I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am strong and trustworthy for this task.”
That is, he meant the throne of Bilqis. [Al-Naml: 39]
Thus, what is meant here by a trustworthy person is one who is competent and upright. He should not entrust it to someone weak, nor to someone who lacks integrity.
If someone were to ask: “What if he lends it to a solvent person—would that be permissible?” The answer is no, because a loan is a contract that may only be concluded by the owner of the property, his representative, or his agent. This depositary has not been authorized to lend it.
Note that placing money with banks is, in fact, a loan. People call giving money to banks a deposit, but this is an incorrect designation. In reality, it is a loan. This is why the bank benefits from it, includes it in its capital, invests it in trade, and guarantees it even if all of its wealth is destroyed—because it is a loan. The scholars have explicitly stated that if the depositor permits the depositary to benefit from the deposited property, it is considered a loan.