the establishment of the deposit by evidence does not conflict with his statement, “You have nothing with me,” so his statement is accepted.

His statement, “And if his heir claims,” means: the heir of the depositary.

His statement, “that it was returned by him,” means: by the heir.

His statement, “or by his predecessor,” refers to the depositary. Thus, the heir of the depositary says: “The depositary returned it to you.”

His statement, “it is not accepted except with evidence,” is because the heir is not himself the depositary, such that his statement concerning its return would be accepted.

His statement, “or by his predecessor,” means that the heir of the depositary claims that his predecessor—that is, the depositary—returned it. In other words, when the owner of the deposit comes to claim it after the depositary has died, the heirs say: “Our predecessor returned it to you.” The heir’s statement is not accepted, because he was not entrusted with it by its owner. Its owner did not entrust it to the heir; rather, he entrusted it to the predecessor. Therefore, we say to the heirs: If you have evidence that you returned it to its owner, we accept it; otherwise, you are liable for it. Thus, the heir acknowledges the deposit and does not deny it, but claims that it was returned either by himself or by his predecessor. The claim of return by the heir or by the predecessor is not accepted except with evidence.

If the heirs claim that the deceased left behind nothing—not your deposit or anything else—then the depositor must establish by evidence that the deceased left it behind. This is because the deceased may have disposed of it and spent it, or returned it while they were unaware, or the like.

If someone asks: If the deceased leaves behind a deposit, are the heirs required to notify its owner or return it to him immediately?

The answer is: Yes. If the deceased leaves behind a deposit, the heirs are required