a deposit, since he derives no benefit from it. If his claim is accepted concerning a hired item, then a profit-sharing investment is exactly analogous, since both parties benefit from each. It would also be reasonable to distinguish profit-sharing investments and hired items from deposits: having a deposit witnessed serves no purpose other than securing proof concerning the deposited property itself, whereas having a profit-sharing investment or a hired item witnessed may be intended to secure proof concerning the hire or the share of profits. Accordingly, there are four positions concerning a claim to have returned property whose receipt was witnessed:
First: his claim is accepted in all these cases, according to Asbagh’s report.
Second: his claim is not accepted in any of these cases, according to Asbagh’s own position.
Third: a distinction is drawn between hired items, on the one hand, and profit-sharing investments and deposits, on the other, according to Asbagh’s interpretation of Ibn al-Qāsim’s position.
Fourth: a distinction is drawn between hired items and profit-sharing investments, on the one hand, and deposits, on the other, on the grounds we have explained.
Section
Whenever his claim to have returned the property is accepted, he must swear an oath in all circumstances, without distinction. As for a claim of loss, according to Ibn al-Qāsim’s position, he is required to swear only if he is under suspicion. Ibn Nāfiʿ and Muhammad ibn Yahyā al-Sabā’ī related from Mālik that both those under suspicion and those not under suspicion must swear an oath when claiming loss. Ibn Zarb—may Allah have mercy on him—used to say that a person under suspicion must swear that the property was indeed lost without negligence or mishandling on his part, whereas a person not under suspicion must swear that he neither mishandled it nor was negligent, but need not swear that it was lost. This position has a sound rationale. In claims of loss, no distinction is made between property received before witnesses and property received without witnesses.
Section
Wherever a person’s claim of loss is not accepted, his claim to have returned the property is likewise not accepted, except in the case of artisans. Ibn al-Mājishūn holds that their claims to have returned it should be accepted unless