do not find anywhere in existence two partners of equal standing unless there is a third above them to whom they both defer. If two kings were posited as equals in sovereignty, with neither deferring to the other and with no third over them (1) to whom they both defer, this would be impossible.
Indeed, even if two cooks (2) were posited as working equally on a single pot (3), with neither deferring to the other and no third above them to whom they both defer, this would be impossible (4).
The same applies to two builders working on a single house, two people planting a single tree, any two persons giving instructions to the same individual (5)—such as two physicians or two muftis—and two tailors making a single garment.
In all these forms of joint action, it is inconceivable for two people to act in agreement unless one is above the other and there is (6) a third above them both. This is because, if the action of each one (7) is contingent upon the action of the other, neither will will, command, or act until the other (8) wills, commands, and acts likewise. Thus neither of them wills, commands, or acts, and so (9) they do nothing.
Consequently, a partnership between two equals with no third above them is impossible; and if two partners enter into a partnership