If, however, they do not bring their case before us, the judge is not to interfere in any of their affairs, nor to invite them to submit to our jurisdiction—this is an explicit textual ruling (1) derived from the outward sense of the verse.

Nor may the judge summon a Jew on the Sabbath, as Ibn ʿAqīl recorded, because the prohibition of that day remains binding upon him and compelling him to appear would injure him by ruining his Sabbath. For the same reason a husband may not coerce his wife into breaking it even though his right over her is otherwise affirmed. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said in a hadith graded sound by al-Tirmidhī: “And you are Jews; it is incumbent upon you alone not to transgress on the Sabbath” (2). Accordingly, Sabbath labor is excepted when he is hired under a service contract.

If they conclude invalid sales—such as selling wine—and both parties have already taken possession, then later come to us, or subsequently embrace Islam, we do not void what they have done, for the exchange has been completed. To annul it would impose hardship and repel them from Islam should they incline toward it. The same ruling applies to all their other contracts.