• Among his universal rulings is that if property is lost or destroyed while in the possession of an aggressor—such as a usurper and the like—he is liable for it whether or not negligence can be proven, for his very possession is an act of wrongdoing. By contrast, if the item perishes while under the care of a trustee, no liability attaches to him so long as he has neither been negligent nor overstepped the limits.

• Another comprehensive ruling is that, in both devotional matters and worldly dealings, anything subject to doubt must be referred back to what is certain. Whoever claims the original presumption is believed, whereas whoever claims a departure from that presumption is not believed unless he brings clear proof. The baseline is that what once existed is presumed to remain; the baseline is that the individual’s liability is clear until it is definitely shown to be encumbered, just as whatever obligation is already established against him remains in force until it is certainly discharged by payment, remission, or lapse. Likewise, the default in the contracts of Muslims is validity and soundness until it is known that something has occurred to invalidate them.

• Among his overarching rulings is that no judgment—whether foundational or subsidiary—becomes complete or produces its intended effect unless all of its conditions, pillars, and essential elements are present and every impediment or corruptive factor is removed.

• Another universal ruling is the obligation of equivalence when compensating for destroyed or guaranteed property: where a like-for-like replacement is possible, it must be provided; if no equivalent exists, compensation is assessed by value. The same standard applies to labor: should a person perform work for another for remuneration that was not specified, was specified in an invalid manner, was unknown, or was bartered in such a way that the compensation cannot be ascertained, payment reverts to the customary wage and the customary equivalent.

• Yet another of his comprehensive rulings is the duty to act justly with one’s children and with one’s wives, and to uphold justice among all rightful claimants who are on equal footing—such as the proportional reduction (ʿawl) that is distributed equally among the heirs of the prescribed shares.