16
Chapter: The Procedure of Judgment and Its Manner
When two litigants take their seats1 before him, the judge asks, “Which of you is the claimant?” If he chooses to remain silent until one of them initiates the claim, that is permissible. Whoever first lodges the claim2 is given precedence; and if the defendant admits the claim, the judge rules in the claimant’s favor.
(1) Manuscript “M” and the commentary read hadara.
(2) Manuscript “B” reads sabaqahu.
باب طريق الحكم وصفته
إذا جلس١ إليه خصمان قال: أيكما المدعي فان سكت حتى يبدأ جاز فمن سبق٢ بالدعوى قدمه فان أقر له حكم له
١ في "م" والشرح: حضر.
٢ في "ب": سبقه.