16
CHAPTER ON ACKNOWLEDGMENT
675—An acknowledgment is a person’s admission of a right1 that he owes, expressed in any wording that signifies acknowledgment, provided that the person making it is legally accountable.
676—It is among the most compelling forms of proof.
677—It applies throughout every area of the law, including acts of worship2, transactions, marriage, offenses3, and other matters.
678—A hadith states: “There is no excuse for one who makes an acknowledgment” 4.
679—A person must acknowledge all rights that he owes to others, so that he may free himself of liability by discharging them or obtaining release from their holders. Allah knows best.
(1) In “B” and “T”: “every right.”
(2) In “T”: “and acts of worship.”
(3) Absent from “T” and “B.”
(4) Al-Sakhāwī states in *al-Maqāsid al-Hasana* (no. 1311): “Our shaykh—meaning al-Hāfiz Ibn Hajar—said: ‘It has no basis, and its meaning is not sound when taken without qualification.’”
باب الإقرار
٦٧٥- وهو اعترف اَلْإِنْسَانِ بِحَقٍّ١ عَلَيْهِ، بِكُلِّ لَفْظٍ دالٍ عَلَى اَلْإِقْرَارِ، بِشَرْطِ كَوْنِ اَلْمُقِرِّ مُكَلَّفًا.
٦٧٦- وَهُوَ مِنْ أَبْلَغِ اَلْبَيِّنَاتِ.
٦٧٧- وَيَدْخُلُ فِي جَمِيعِ أَبْوَابِ اَلْعِلْمِ مِنْ اَلْعِبَادَاتِ٢ وَالْمُعَامَلَاتِ وَالْأَنْكِحَةِ وَالْجِنَايَاتِ٣ وَغَيْرِهَا.
٦٧٨- وَفِي اَلْحَدِيثِ: "لَا عُذْرَ لِمَنْ أَقَرَّ" ٤.
٦٧٩- وَيَجِبُ عَلَى اَلْإِنْسَانِ: أَنْ يَعْتَرِفَ بِجَمِيعِ اَلْحُقُوقِ اَلَّتِي عَلَيْهِ لِلْآدَمِيِّينَ لِيَخْرُجَ مِنَ اَلتَّبِعَةِ بِأَدَاءٍ أَوْ اِسْتِحْلَالٍ. والله أعلم.
١ في "ب، ط": بكل حق.
٢ في "ط": والعبادات.
٣ ليست في: "ط، ب".
٤ قال السخاوي في المقاصد الحسنة "١٣١١": قال شيخنا "يعني الحافظ ابن حجر": لا أصل له، وليس معناه على إطلاقه صحيحاً.