Al-Kāfī - Ibn Abd al-Barr - (1/490)

get out-shot, he must hand over the prize. I am not pleased with such a condition, although he (Mālik) has also said that there is no harm in it.

The third form of prize competition, about which our colleagues have differed, is when each of the two contestants places a stake equal to that of his opponent, and the winner takes both stakes. This is not permissible unless they introduce between them a muhallil—a third entrant whom they are confident will not outpace them. If the muhallil does in fact come in first, he claims both stakes outright and shares none of them with the other two. Should one of the original competitors win, he keeps his own stake and takes that of his opponent, while the muhallil receives nothing and is liable for nothing. If two of the three outstrip the third, the two who are not out-paced are still in contention, and whichever of them finishes ahead of the other receives the prize as described.

Mālik also said: “The view of Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab concerning the muhallil is not to be adopted, and a muhallil is not required in horse races.” Yet he later stated: “It is not permissible unless a muhallil is present”—and this second statement is the sounder of the two and is the position of Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab and the majority of the scholars.

According to most scholars, it is impermissible to stipulate that the muhallil must use the prize money to provide food for his companions, although two divergent reports exist from Mālik on this point. He also said: “If the prize is not to revert to the one who offered it, there is no objection.” Mālik’s followers recommend that whoever wins the stakes should spend them on food for those who gathered for the event, purchasing provisions that all may eat.

No race is lawful unless every detail is fixed and known in advance. The rules governing the prize in archery are identical to those for horse and camel racing in what is permitted.

It is disliked for anyone other than a person who has reached puberty to ride the horses or camels in a race; it is even better if their owners ride them themselves. Allah alone grants success.

ينضل أعطى السبق فلا يعجبني ذلك وقد قال لا بأس به. والسبق الثالث اختلف فيه أصحابنا وهو: أن يخرج كل واحد شيئا مثل ما يخرج صاحبه فأيهما سبق أحرز سبق صاحبه وهذا الوجه لا يجوز حتى يدخلا بينهما محللا يأمنان أن يسبقهما فإن سبق المحلل أحرز السبقين جميعا وأخذهما وحده ولم يشركهما في شيء منهما وإن سبق أحد المتسابقين أحرز سبقه وأخذ سبق صاحبه ولا شيء للمحلل فيه ولا شيء عليه وإن سبق اثنان منهما الثالث كانا من لم يسبق واحد منهما وأيهما سبق صاحبه فله السبق على ماوصفنا. وقد قال: لا يؤخذ بقول سعيد بن المسيب في المحلل ولا يجب المحلل في الخيل. ثم قال: ولا يجوز إلا بالمحلل وهو الأجود من قوله وهو قول سعيد بن المسيب وجمهور أهل العلم ولا يجوز أن يشترط عليه أن يطعمها أصحابه عند أكثر أهل العلم وقد اختلف في ذلك قول مالك، وقد قال: إذا كان سبقا لا يرجمع فلا بأس به ويستحب أصحاب مالك لمن أحرز الأسباق أن يجعلها طعمة في الوجه الذي أخرجها له ويبتاع بها طعاما يأكله المجتمعون للسباق ولا يجوز التسابق حتى يكون الأمر واحدا معلوما والسبيق في الرمي كالسبق في الخيل والإبل سواء فيما يجوز. ويكره ولا يحمل على الخيل والإبل في المسابقة إلا محتلم ولو ركبها أربابها كان أولى. وبالله التوفيق.