the position of Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, and all his companions. Some scholars, however, permit guarantees in cases involving prescribed punishments, retaliation, and bodily injuries. Al-Bukhārī related in his book, from Muhammad ibn Hamza ibn ‘Amr al-Aslamī, from his father, that ‘Umar sent him as a zakat collector. A man had intercourse with his wife’s slave girl, so Hamza required him to provide a guarantor until he could appear before ‘Umar. ‘Umar had already given him one hundred lashes, but accepted their account and excused him on grounds of ignorance. Jarīr and al-Ash‘ath said to ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd concerning some apostates: “Call on them to repent and require them to provide guarantors.” They repented, and their clans stood surety for them.
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The basis for permitting a guarantee of a person’s appearance is established in the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah Most High says in the account of Jacob:
“I will never send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge by Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you are yourselves overwhelmed.” [Yūsuf: 66]
This is a guarantee of a person and a pledge securing his appearance.
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According to those who permit guarantees in cases involving bodily punishments, whether a prescribed punishment, retaliation, or an injury, if the guarantor fails to produce the person guaranteed, he must seek him out just as a guarantor of appearance must do when he has stipulated that he bears no financial liability. ‘Uthmān al-Battī said that if someone guarantees a person’s appearance in a case involving retaliation or an injury, but fails to produce him, he becomes liable for the blood money and compensation for the injury, with recourse against the offender’s property, since the guarantor himself is not subject to retaliation.
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The correct position is that held by Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him: guarantees are not permitted in cases involving prescribed punishments, retaliation, bodily injuries, or discretionary punishments. What is required in such cases is imprisonment, not a guarantee. It has been reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, imprisoned some people in Medina on suspicion of involvement in bloodshed. It has also been said that