Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/513)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

This case I have mentioned actually occurred. Before the establishment of official notarial offices, one of the imams of the mosques drew up a document between a seller and a woman who had sold her house to this man. The man was present and said to the scribe, “Allah willing, her son will come to my shop and I shall give him the price. Write that the price has been received, and that the seller has no remaining right or claim to the property.” He then asked the woman, “What do you say?” She replied, “Yes; Allah willing, he will fulfil his obligation.”

So he wrote that she had sold her house to So-and-so, son of So-and-so, and had received the price in full, and that she retained no claim whatsoever. This woman was innocent-hearted. That afternoon, she sent her son to the man, who said, “My son, I have nothing today.” The son came a second and a third time. Then, after several days had passed, the man said, “Here is the document of So-and-so, son of So-and-so, stating that you received the price. You have absolutely no claim.”

The son went to his mother and told her what had happened. The poor woman was utterly distressed. When they brought their dispute before the judge—who was a firm judge of keen discernment, and who recognized that the woman was vulnerable, and that however upright a person may be, Satan may tempt him—he said to the man, “Give me the document.” It bore the handwriting of So-and-so, son of So-and-so, who was trustworthy. The judge reflected, then said to them, “Leave now, and return after two days.”

He took the document and summoned the scribe. He asked him, “Is this your handwriting?” He replied, “Yes.” He asked, “Did you see the price counted out into her hand?” He replied, “No, but she acknowledged it before me; when she acknowledged it, I wrote: ‘the price has been received.’” The judge said, “Do not do that again. Do not write that the price has been received unless you have seen the seller actually receive it. A mere acknowledgment is not enough.” Thus, this brought about a general benefit.

The following day, he said directly to the buyer, “Do you not fear Allah?! You consume the right of this woman after she trusted you and placed her trust in your care. Fear Allah and be mindful of Him.” Thus he frightened him

وهذه المسألة التي ذكرتُها واقعة، فقد كتب أحد أئمة المساجد ـ قبل أن تأتي كتابات العدل ـ بين بائع وامرأة باعت بيتها على هذا الرجل، وحضر الرجل، وقال للكاتب: إن شاء الله يأتي ولدها لديَّ في الدكان وأعطيه الثمن، اُكْتُب أن الثمن مقبوض، ولم يبقَ للبائع حق ولا عُلقة بالمبيع، وقال للمرأة: ما تقولين؟ قالت: نعم، إن شاء الله يفي، فكتب أنها باعت بيتها على فلان ابن فلان وقَبضَت الثمن تاماً، ولم يبقَ لها علقة بوجه من الوجوه، وهذه المرأة سليمة القلب، فلما كان العصر أرسلت ولدها إلى الرجل، قال: يا ولدي اليوم ما عندي شيء، ثم جاء ثانياً وثالثاً، وبعد مضي عدة أيام، قال: هذا كتاب فلان ابن فلان بأنكم قابضون الثمن، أبداً ما لكم شيء، فذهب الولد إلى أمه وأخبرها بالخبر، فالمسكينة سُقِط في يدها، فلما ترافعوا إلى القاضي وكان قاضياً حازماً ذا فراسة وعرف أن المرأة ضعيفة، وأن الإنسان مهما بلغ قد يغويه الشيطان، فقال للرجل: أعطني المكتوب، وإذا كتابة فلان ابن فلان وهو ثقة، ففكر وقال لهم: انصرفوا وتعالوا بعد يومين، وأخذ المكتوب ودعا الكاتب، وقال له: هذا خطك؟ قال: نعم، قال: هل رأيت الثمن معدوداً بيدها؟ قال: لا، لكن أقرت عندي، فلما أقرت كتبت: الثمن واصلاً، فقال: لا تَعُدْ، ولا تكتب أنه قبض الثمن إلا إذا شاهدت البائع قد قبضه، أما مجرد إقرار فلا، فصار في هذا مصلحة عامة، ولما جاء الغد قال للمشتري مباشرة: أما تخاف الله؟! تأكل حق هذه المرأة لما وثقت بك وأمنتك، اتق الله وخف من الله، فخوفه