in any way, it must not be partitioned. Ibn al-Qāsim said that it may be partitioned only if this can be done without harm and each person receives a separate space in which he can live. According to his position, a reduction in value is not taken into account here; he takes that into account only in the case of goods. Mutarrif said that if none of them would receive a useful share, it must not be partitioned. If even one of them would receive a useful share, however, it must be partitioned, whether this is requested by the holder of a small share who would receive nothing useful, or by the holder of a large share who would receive something useful. This is the apparent meaning of his statement. It has also been said that it may be partitioned only if the holder of the small share requests it; another opinion is that it may be partitioned only if the holder of the large share requests it.
Section
If both the courtyard and the rooms of a house admit of partition, they are partitioned together as a whole. Each share of the rooms is assigned a corresponding portion of the courtyard, the shares are equitably apportioned, and lots are then drawn for them. If the courtyard cannot be partitioned but the rooms can, the rooms are partitioned while the courtyard remains jointly held for their common use, like a forecourt, unless they agree to partition it.
If, however, the rooms cannot be partitioned but the courtyard can, Ibn al-Qāsim’s position would imply that the property may be partitioned only by mutual agreement. For if the shares were allotted in a single partition, some would fall within the rooms and others within the courtyard. Drawing lots on this basis would therefore be impermissible, as with two categories of property that may not be combined in a partition.
Ibn Habīb held that the buildings should be combined with the courtyard for partition, as though they were part of it, and the whole then partitioned together, even if not every share included part of the buildings. This is far-fetched, since it permits combining two categories of property in a partition by lot, which is impermissible—unless he means that they mutually agree to this. On that understanding, his view would accord with Ashhab’s position and with Ibn al-Qāsim’s opinion concerning the case of the tree and the olive tree.
Section
The established practice among us is that a house is not partitioned unless each partner receives enough of the courtyard and rooms to make use of and to have privacy from his fellow partner.