Umdat at-Talib - Al-Buhuti - (1/149)

Chapter on Suretyship
(1)
Suretyship (ḍamān) is valid when a legally competent person declares, “I am a guarantor,” “I stand surety for what he owes,” or similar wording. The creditor may pursue whichever of the two he chooses. The guarantor is discharged once the principal debtor is discharged, but not the reverse. Neither prior knowledge of the creditor or debtor is required—only the guarantor’s consent.

A guaranty of an unknown liability is valid if it will ultimately become known, and of an obligation not yet due if it is expected to arise. One may guarantee a borrowed article (ʿāriyah), but not a trust deposit—except for loss resulting from misconduct with respect to it.

It is likewise valid to guarantee the person (kafālah) of someone who owes a financial obligation, though not one subject to a ḥadd (prescribed punishment) or the like; only the guarantor’s consent is necessary. If it becomes impossible to produce the person guaranteed (2) while he is still alive, the guarantor must satisfy the debt. If he guaranteed only knowledge of the debtor’s whereabouts, he is held to that. Should the debtor die, surrender himself, or the property perish by an act of God, the guarantor is released.

Chapter on Transfer of Debt (ḥawālah)
(3)
A transfer of debt is valid only for a fixed obligation equal to the one being transferred
(4)
in amount, kind, and description.

(1) Linguistically, daman (surety) is derived from the root dhamn, meaning that the guarantor’s liability is subsumed under the liability of the person guaranteed. In Islamic law, it is the undertaking to discharge an existing obligation owed by another while that obligation remains, as well as any future obligation, with the sole exception of the jizya in both cases. (2) The word bihi (“by it/thereby”) is absent from manuscript J. (3) Linguistically, hawala (transfer of debt) comes from tahawwul (change), because it transfers the right from the liability of the transferor to that of the transferee. Juristically, it is the shift of a debt from the liability of the transferor to that of the transferee. (4) The word bihi (“by it/thereby”) is absent from manuscript J.

باب الضمان (١) يَصحُّ من جَائِزِ التصرّف بلفظ: أنا ضَمينٌ أو كفيلٌ بما عليه ونحوه، ولرب الحقِّ طلبُ أيهما شاء، ويَبرأُ ضامنٌ ببراءةِ مضمونٍ لا عكسه، ولا تُعتبرُ معرفةُ مضمونٍ له أو عنه بل رضى ضامن. ويَصحُّ ضمانُ المجهولِ إن آل إلى العلم، ومَالم يجب إن آل إليه، وضمان نحو عارية لا أمانة بل التعدي فيها. وتَصحُّ كفالةٌ ببدن مَنْ عليه حقٌ ماليّ، لا حَدٍّ ونحوه، ويُعتبر رضا كفيلٍ فقط، وإن تعذّر إحضارُ مكفولٍ به (٢) مع حيَاتِه أُخِذَ كفيلُه بما عَليه، وإن ضمن معرفته أخذ به، وإن مَات أو سلّم نفسه أو تلفت العَين بفعل الله تعالى برئ كفيلُه. باب الحوَالة (٣) لا تصح إلا على دينٍ مُستقرٍ مُماثلٍ للمُحَال به (٤) قَدْرًا وجِنْسًا ووصفًا

(١) الضمان لغةً: مأخوذ من الضمن، أي: تكون ذمة الضامن في ضمن ذمة المضمون. وَشَرْعًا الْتِزَامُ ما وجب على غيره مع بقائه، وما قد يجب غير جزية فيهما. (٢) قوله: "به" ليس في (ج). (٣) الحوالة لغة: مشتقة من التحول؛ لأنها تُحَوِّلُ الحقَّ مِن ذمةِ المُحيل إلى ذمة المُحَال عليه. وشرعًا: انتقال مال من ذمة المحال إلى ذمة المحال عليه. (٤) قوله: "به" ليس في (ج).