Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/328)

made in unspecified terms is valid—for example, if he bequeaths to someone something from his property. “Something” is unspecified, yet the bequest is valid.

But what is he to be given from the property? They said: the heir gives him whatever he wishes that may be described as property. Thus, if he gives him one dirham out of one hundred million dirhams, it is valid, because it is called “something.” And if he gives him one garment from among his garments, it is valid, because it is called “something.”

So, if he says, “I have a claim against the heirs: their deceased predecessor bequeathed something to me,” the judge should not say, “We will not hear this claim.” Rather, he says: “We will hear it, and if you produce witnesses, we will rule that you are entitled to a bequest of something from his property.” If he bequeaths to someone a share of his property, this is valid; however, the jurists said that he is to be given one-sixth, based on reports transmitted concerning this.

His statement, “or a slave from among his slaves as a bridal gift, and the like”: this is where a woman claims that her husband designated for her, as her bridal gift, one slave from among his slaves. This claim is valid, because a bridal gift may validly be left unspecified. Thus, whatever may validly constitute consideration or an entitlement may be the subject of a valid claim, because the claim is contingent upon the validity of the contract.

Likewise, if she agrees to a divorce by mutual release in return for a slave from among her slaves, or a sheep from among her flock, and the husband claims that his wife agreed to the mutual release on that basis, his claim is valid, and the woman is required to give him one slave from among her slaves. In this case, reference is made to what the scholars have stated on the matter.

The second condition is that the claim be free of anything that disproves it. This condition is agreed upon. Thus, if someone claims that a person stole twenty years ago, while the defendant is seventeen years old, then the claim is not

بالمجهول تصح، مثل لو أوصى له من ماله بشيء، فشيء مجهول، فتصح. لكن ماذا نعطيه من المال؟ قالوا: يعطيه الوارث ما شاء مما يطلق عليه أنه مال، فلو أعطاه درهماً من مائة مليون درهم صح، لأنه يطلق عليه شيء، ولو أعطاه ثوباً من ثيابه صح؛ لأنه يطلق عليه أنه شيء. فلو قال: أنا أدعي على الورثة بأن مورثهم أوصى لي بشيء، فلا يقول القاضي: لا نسمع الدعوى، بل يقول: نسمعها، وإذا أتيت بشهود حكمنا لك بأن لك وصية في ماله بشيء، فلو أوصى له بسهم من ماله فإنه يصح لكن الفقهاء قالوا: إنه يعطى السدس بناءً على آثار وردت في ذلك. قوله: «وبعبدٍ من عبيده مهراً ونحوه» بأن تدعي المرأة بأن زوجها أمهرها عبداً من عبيده، فهذه الدعوى تصح؛ لأن المهر يصح بالمبهم، إذاً ما صح أن يكون عوضاً أو أن يكون مُستحقاً صحت الدعوى به؛ لأن الدعوى فرع على صحة العقد. وإذا خالعت على عبد من عبيدها، أو شاة من قطيعها، فادعى الزوج بأن الزوجة خالعته على ذلك، صحت دعواه، وتُلزم المرأة بإعطائه عبداً من عبيدها، وحينئذ يرجع في ذلك إلى ما ذكره أهل العلم. الشرط الثاني: أن تكون الدعوى منفكة عما يكذبها، وهذا الشرط مجمع عليه، فلو ادعى على شخص أنه سرق منذ عشرين سنة، وعُمْرُ هذا المدعى عليه سبع عشرة سنة فإن الدعوى لا