Hadith record

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who had al-Rahn (security deposit) with him and did not know to whom it belonged. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like his selling it until the owner comes.’ I said, ‘He does not know who the owner is.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Is there any increase or decrease in it?’ I then asked, ‘What happens if there is increase or decrease in it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If there is decrease, it is easier. He can sell it and complete the reduction from his own property. If there is increase in it, it is more difficult because he sells it and must keep the increase until its owner comes.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.