Dalīl al-Ṭālib - Marʿi al-Karmi - (351)

Chapter on Claims and Evidence

A claim is valid only when brought by someone who is legally competent to transact.

When two parties1 contend over a particular item, the case falls into one of four situations:

The item is in neither party’s possession and there is no apparent presumption or proof. In that circumstance they both swear an oath and divide it equally.2 If a presumption favours one of them, that presumption is followed.
The item is in the possession of one of them. It is awarded to him upon his oath; if he refuses to swear, judgment is entered against him for his refusal, even if he then produces evidence.3
The item is in the joint possession of both of them, as when each is holding part of it.4 They swear an oath and split it equally.5 If, however, the possession of one party is stronger—for example, an animal with one person leading it and the other6 riding it, or a shirt with one person gripping its sleeve and the other wearing it—it is awarded to the latter7 upon his oath.

If two craftsmen dispute the tools in their shared shop, each set of tools specific to a craft belongs to the craftsman who practises that craft.

Whenever one of the two presents admissible evidence, the item is adjudged to be his; and if both of them produce evidence

1. In manuscript M the reading is “wa-in” (and if). 2. Manuscript A reads “wa-yatanasafāhā” (and they divide it equally). 3. Al-Muntahā and Al-Iqnāʿ have the phrase “idhā lam takun bayyina” (when no evidence exists); see Nayl al-Marāb, 2/466. 4. Manuscript M reads “bi-baʿḍihi” (with part of it); the text followed here is that of Al-Muntahā, 2/631, and Al-Ghāya, 3/454. 5. In manuscript A the reading is “wa-yatanasafāhu” (and they divide it equally). 6. Manuscripts M and N read “wal-ākhar” with the definite article. 7. In manuscript N the phrase appears as “fa-huwa li-th-thānī” (then it belongs to the second) instead of “fa li-th-thānī.”

باب الدعاوى والبينات ولا تصح الدعوى إلا من جائز التصرف. وإذا١ تداعيا عينا لم تخل من أربعة أحوال: أحدها: أن لا تكون بيد أحد ولا ثم ظاهر ولا بينة فيتحالفان ويتناصفانها٢ وإن وجد ظاهر لأحدهما عمل به. الثاني: أن تكون بيد أحدهما فهي له بيمينه فإن لم يحلف قضي عليه بالنكول ولو أقام بينة٣. الثالث: أن تكون بيديهما كشيء: كل ممسك لبعضه٤ فيتحالفان ويتناصفانه٥. فإن قويت يد أحدهما كحيوان: واحد سائقه والآخر٦ راكبه أو قميص: واحد آخذ بكمه والآخر لابسه: فللثاني٧ بيمينه. وإن تنازع صانعان في آلة دكانهما: فآلة كل صنعة لصانعها. ومتى كان لأحدهما بينة فالعين له فإذا كان لكل منهما بينة.

١ في "م" "وإن". ٢ في "أ" "ويتناصفاها". ٣ في المنتهى والإقناع: إذا لم تكن بينة. نيل المآرب "٢/٤٦٦". ٤ في "م" "ببعضه". والمثبت لفظ المنتهى "٢/٦٣١" والغاية "٣/٤٥٤". ٥ في "أ" "ويتناصفاه". ٦ في "م" و "ن" "والأخر" بأل التعريف. ٧ في "ن" "فهو للثاني بدل: "فللثاني".