Dalīl al-Ṭālib - Marʿi al-Karmi - (137)

Second: The commodity’s genus and variety must be identified, together with the qualities that cause its price to fluctuate.1 The purchaser may accept something inferior to what was originally described, or a different variety so long as it belongs to the same genus.

Third: Its quantity must be fixed by the legally recognized measure. Thus what is normally sold by volume may not be stipulated by weight,2 nor what is normally sold by weight by volume.

Fourth: The item must remain a debt3 until a definite term that people customarily recognize—such as one month—falls due.4

Fifth: It must be of a kind that is usually available5 when the term arrives.

Sixth: The amount of the salam price must be precisely known and firmly delimited; mere inspection is insufficient, and the contract is invalid if the price cannot be exactly determined.6

Seventh: The buyer must hand over the salam price before the two parties disperse from the session in which the contract is concluded. Stipulating the place of delivery is unnecessary,7 for payment is presumed to fall due at the place of contract, unless the agreement was made in open countryside or the like—in which case the place must be specified.

It is invalid to secure the salam commodity itself with a pledge or a guarantor. Should delivery become impossible, the buyer (rab al-salam) may choose either to wait or to annul the contract; if he opts for annulment, he is entitled to the capital he paid, or its equivalent if the original capital is no longer obtainable.

(1) Manuscript N adds the word “usually.” (2) Manuscript A reads: “and it is valid.” (3) Nayl al-Maarib, 1/364, observes that some jurists omit the phrase “that it be a liability,” because once a term of deferment is stated the obligation is necessarily on credit. (4) Concerning the phrase “its like,” manuscript N incorporates it into the commentary and adds: “Al-Kafi: ‘or half of it.’” (5) The ruling is limited to what usually occurs, since an impediment—such as the destruction of the fruit—may prevent its existence at the appointed time (Hashiyat al-Rawd, 5/21). (6) Manuscript A reads: “in what.” (7) Manuscript N reads: “in a place.”

الثاني: ذكر جنسه ونوعه بالصفات التي يختلف بها الثمن١ ويجوز أن يأخذ دون ما وصف له ومن غير نوعه من جنسه. الثالث: معرفة قدره بمعياره الشرعي فلا يصح٢ في مكيل وزنا ولا في موزون كيلا. الرابع: أن يكون في الذمة٣ إلى أجل معلوم له وقع في العادة كشهر ونحوه٤. الخامس: أن يكون مما يوجد غالبا٥ عند حلول الأجل. السادس: معرفة قدر رأس مال السلم وانضباطه فلا تكفي مشاهدته ولا يصح بما٦ لا ينضبط. السابع: أن يقبضه قبل التفرق من مجلس العقد ولا يشترط ذكر مكان٧ الوفاء لأنه يجب مكان العقد ما لم يعقد ببرية ونحوها فيشترط. ولا يصح أخذ رهن أو كفيل بمسلم فيه وإن تعذر حصوله خير رب السلم بين صبر أو فسخ ويرجع برأس ماله أو بدله إن تعذر.

١ في "ن" زيادة: "غالبا". ٢ في "أ" "ويصح". ٣ قال في نيل المآرب "١/٣٦٤": ولم يذكر بعضهم قوله: "أن يكون في الذمة" استغناء عنه بذكر الأجل لا يكون إلا في الذمة. ٤ قوله: "نحوه" أدرجه في "ن" في الشرح وزاد: وفي الكافي: أو نصفه. ٥ قيده بالغالب لأنه قد يكون ثم مانع يمنع وجوده في ذلك الوقت كهلالك الثمار ونحوه. حاشية الروض "٥/٢١". ٦ في "أ" "فيما". ٧ في "ن" "بمكان".