- Chapter: The Command to Fulfil Trusts
Allah the Exalted says: “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to their rightful owners.” (al-Nisāʾ 4:58)
[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—entitles this chapter: “The Command to Fulfil Trusts.”
The Arabic term amāna (trust) is used for several things. One of them is the religious duties that Allah has entrusted to His servants; every act of worship He has obliged them to perform is an amāna placed with them by Allah.
A second type is financial trusts: deposits handed to a person for safekeeping, as well as other property that comes into his possession, whether for his own benefit or for that of the owner. In principle, any property held by someone falls into one of three categories:
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For the owner’s benefit alone;
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For the holder’s benefit alone;
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For the benefit of both owner and holder.
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The first category is the deposit (wadiʿa). You leave something with another person and say, for example, “Here is my watch—keep it safe for me,” or, “Here are some coins—look after them for me.” This item remains with him solely for the owner’s benefit.
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The second category, which benefits only the holder, is the borrowed article (ʿāriya). Someone lends you an item—such as a utensil, a blanket, a watch, or a car—and it stays with you for your own use.
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The third category brings benefit to both parties: the leased asset (al-ʿayn al-mustaʾjara). Its benefit is shared. You rent a car from me, use it to take care of your needs, and I benefit from the rental payment. The same applies to a house, a shop, and similar properties. All of these are examples of trusts.