Chapter on the Conditions for a Valid Claim
A lawsuit is not considered valid unless it is precisely formulated. If, for instance, the claim concerns a debt owed by a deceased person, the claimant must state the fact of the debtor’s death, the type of debt, its amount, and every detail that will clarify the case, for the ruling hinges on those particulars. The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “I only judge according to what I hear.” This ḥadith therefore proves the necessity of presenting the claim in a carefully defined manner so that the judge can perceive the basis of his decision.

Likewise, the claim is invalid unless the object of the claim is known; a suit over an unidentified item is not admissible. What is demanded must be specific so that, if the claim is proven, enforcement is possible—except in matters where the law deems vagueness acceptable, such as a bequest of “something of his estate,” or “one of his slaves that he made her dowry,” and similar cases. In these situations the claim is admissible even though the item remains undefined.

The claimant must also make an explicit demand: it is not sufficient to say, “He owes me such-and-such,” until he adds, “and I am demanding it.” Furthermore, the item claimed must be presently due; a lawsuit for a deferred debt is not valid, because one may not require payment before its maturity, nor may anyone be detained on that basis.