that the seller from whom he bought it is absent in another town, and wishes to take it there to recover the price from his seller, he may do so after depositing its value with the rightful claimant.
If he deposits its value and takes it to that town with a letter from the judge, finds his seller there, and recovers what is due to him, and that seller in turn claims that his own seller is absent in another town and wishes to take it there to recover the price from him, he too may do so after depositing its value in that town with the dispossessed purchaser who obtained reimbursement from him. If, however, its value there is less than the amount that the purchaser deposited with the rightful claimant, the seller may not take it away until he deposits an amount equal to that earlier deposit. If its value there is greater than the amount the purchaser deposited—for example, if the purchaser deposited thirty and its value in that town is forty—the seller may not take it away until he deposits its value of forty, because this is a right belonging to the rightful claimant, the owner of the riding animal or slave.
If the seller deposits the forty representing its value, takes it away, and it perishes before he returns it, the forty belongs to the rightful claimant, the owner of the riding animal or slave, while the dispossessed purchaser recovers the thirty he deposited. If it does not perish and the seller returns it, he recovers the forty he deposited; the dispossessed purchaser then returns the riding animal or slave to its owner, who established his right to it, and recovers the thirty he deposited with him. If it perishes while he is taking it back, its rightful owner is entitled to the thirty deposited with him.
Likewise, if the earlier seller against whom the person who deposited the forty obtained reimbursement wishes to take it to his own seller’s town, he may not do so until he deposits with the person to whom he sold it the forty that person deposited, or its value if greater than forty—for example, if its value is fifty—because this is a right belonging to the rightful claimant, the owner of the riding animal or slave. The same ruling applies to the seller from whom that earlier seller bought it, if he wishes to take it to his own seller’s location to recover what is due to him, and to every seller against whom recourse is subsequently sought, however often this recurs and however far the chain extends.
I have given a response concerning this issue, and a concise, clear account covering all its aspects has been taken down from me. Whoever wishes to gain a fully satisfying understanding of it may consult that account. And Allah Most High is the source of success.