Security Deposit ( Al-Rahn ) Mortgage

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّهْنِ وَ الْكَفِيلِ فِي بَيْعِ النَّسِيئَةِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

’It is not unlawful.”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَبِيعُ بِالنَّسِيئَةِ وَ يَرْتَهِنُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who bought something on credit with al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي الْحَيَوَانِ أَوِ الطَّعَامِ وَ يَرْتَهِنُ الرَّهْنَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ تَسْتَوْثِقُ مِنْ مَالِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who contracted for purchasing an animal or foodstuff in the form of advance payment with al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful to secure your asset.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الرَّهْنُ فَلَا يَدْرِي لِمَنْ هُوَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ حَتَّى يَجِي‌ءَ صَاحِبُهُ قُلْتُ لَا يَدْرِي لِمَنْ هُوَ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ فِيهِ فَضْلٌ أَوْ نُقْصَانٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ فَضْلٌ أَوْ نُقْصَانٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ نُقْصَانٌ فَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ يَبِيعُهُ فَيُؤْجَرُ فِيمَا نَقَصَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ ف

“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

لَا حَتَّى يَجِي‌ءَ [صَاحِبُهُ‌].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who held al-Rahn (security-deposit) for an unspecified time and his party disappeared; if he had a time limit within which he could sell al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘No, until his party comes.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّهْنِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ مَالِ الْمُرْتَهِنِ فَهَلَكَ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ الْفَضْلَ إِلَى صَاحِبِ الرَّهْنِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ مَالِهِ فَهَلَكَ الرَّهْنُ أَدَّى إِلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ فَضْلَ مَالِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الرَّهْنُ سَوَاءً فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is more than what mortgagee has provided and it is destroyed, the difference must be paid to the mortgager; but if it is less and is destroyed, the one who has the extra must pay the difference to

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ قَوْلِ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي الرَّهْنِ يَتَرَادَّانِ الْفَضْلَ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَتَرَادَّانِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ الرَّهْنُ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا رُهِنَ بِهِ ثُمَّ عَطِبَ‌[2] رَدَّ الْمُرْتَهِنُ الْفَضْلَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَا يَسْوَى رَدَّ الرَّاهِنُ مَا نَقَصَ مِنْ حَقِّ الْمُرْتَهِنِ قَالَ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ قَوْلُ عَلِيٍّ ع فِي الْحَيَوَانِ وَ غَيْرِ

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Ali (a.s.), about al-Rahn (security deposit and mortgage) ‘both sides return the extra’. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali (a.s.), indeed would say it.’ I then asked, ‘How both sides return?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If what is mortgaged is more than the amount the mortgage has pr

فِي الرَّهْنِ إِذَا ضَاعَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْمُرْتَهِنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَسْتَهْلِكَهُ رَجَعَ فِي حَقِّهِ عَلَى الرَّاهِنِ فَأَخَذَهُ فَإِنِ اسْتَهْلَكَهُ تَرَادَّ الْفَضْلُ بَيْنَهُمَا.

“About al-Rahn (security deposit and mortgage), abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘If loss takes place on the side of mortgagee without willingly consuming it, he asks the mortgager to provide compensation for his loss; but if he consumes it then both sides exchange the difference to each other.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَرْهَنُ الرَّهْنَ بِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ هُوَ يُسَاوِي ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَيَهْلِكُ أَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ مِائَتَيْ دِرْهَمٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ لِأَنَّهُ أَخَذَ رَهْناً فِيهِ فَضْلٌ وَ ضَيَّعَهُ قُلْتُ فَهَلَكَ نِصْفُ الرَّهْنِ قَالَ عَلَى حِسَابِ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ فَيَتَرَادَّانِ الْفَضْلَ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who made an al-Rahn (security deposit and mortgage) deal which is for one hundred dirham with a value of three hundred dirham and it was consumed; if he had to pay two hundred dirham to the other party. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, because he has taken al

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع الرَّجُلُ يَرْهَنُ الْغُلَامَ وَ الدَّارَ فَتُصِيبُهُ الْآفَةُ عَلَى مَنْ يَكُونُ قَالَ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ قَتَلَ قَتِيلًا عَلَى مَنْ يَكُونُ‌ قُلْتُ هُوَ فِي عُنُقِ الْعَبْدِ قَالَ أَ لَا تَرَى فَلِمَ يَذْهَبُ مَالُ هَذَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ كَانَ ثَمَنُهُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَزَادَ وَ بَلَغَ مِائَتَيْ دِينَارٍ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَكُونُ قُلْتُ لِمَوْلَاهُ قَا

“I once asked abu Ibrahim, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who mortgaged a slave and the house and they suffered loss; if it was compensated by a particular party. He (the Imam) said, ‘His master is responsible.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Suppose if someone is murdered who is responsible?’ I replied, ‘It is on

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَرْهَنُ عِنْدَ الرَّجُلِ رَهْناً فَيُصِيبُهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَوْ ضَاعَ قَالَ يَرْجِعُ بِمَالِهِ عَلَيْهِ.

“About the case of a man who takes mortgage from another man, then it suffers loss or is lost. He (the Imam), Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘He can demand what is for him from the other party.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَرْهَنُ الْعَبْدَ أَوِ الثَّوْبَ أَوِ الْحُلِيَّ أَوْ مَتَاعاً مِنْ مَتَاعِ الْبَيْتِ فَيَقُولُ صَاحِبُ الْمَتَاعِ لِلْمُرْتَهِنِ أَنْتَ فِي حِلٍّ مِنْ لُبْسِ هَذَا الثَّوْبِ فَالْبَسِ الثَّوْبَ وَ انْتَفِعْ بِالْمَتَاعِ وَ اسْتَخْدِمِ الْخَادِمَ قَالَ هُوَ لَهُ حَلَالٌ إِذَا أَحَلَّهُ وَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ قُلْتُ فَارْتَهَنَ دَاراً لَهَا غَلَّةٌ[1] لِمَنِ الْغَلّ

“I once asked abu Ibrahim, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who left a slave, or clothes, or jewelries, or goods of the household as al-Rahn (security deposit) with someone, then said to mortgagee, ‘You have permission to wear the clothes so wear them and benefit from the goods and use the services of the serva

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص فِي كُلِّ رَهْنٍ لَهُ غَلَّةٌ أَنَّ غَلَّتَهُ تُحْسَبُ لِصَاحِبِ الرَّهْنِ مِمَّا عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin had issued a judgment that said, ‘Whoever leaves an income-producing al-Rahn (security deposit), such income is counted in favor of the owner of al-Rahn (security deposit) against what he owes.’”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ: فِي الْأَرْضِ الْبُورِ[2] يَرْتَهِنُهَا الرَّجُلُ لَيْسَ فِيهَا ثَمَرَةٌ فَزَرَعَهَا وَ أَنْفَقَ عَلَيْهَا مَالَهُ إِنَّهُ يَحْتَسِبُ لَهُ نَفَقَتَهُ وَ عَمَلَهُ خَالِصاً ثُمَّ يَنْظُرُ نَصِيبَ الْأَرْضِ فَيَحْسُبُهُ مِنْ مَالِهِ الَّذِي ارْتَهَنَ بِهِ الْأَرْضَ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَ مَالَهُ فَإِذَا اسْتَوْفَى مَالَهُ فَلْيَدْفَعِ الْأَرْضَ إِلَى صَاحِبِهَا.

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from Muhammad ibn al-Qays who has said the following: Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one holds a piece of barren land as al-Rahn (security deposit) which has no fruits and he farms it and incurs

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ رَهَنَ جَارِيَتَهُ عِنْدَ قَوْمٍ أَ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَطَأَهَا قَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ارْتَهَنُوهَا يَحُولُونَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهَا خَالِياً قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا أَرَى هَذَا عَلَيْهِ حَرَاماً[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who left his slave-girl as al-Rahn (security deposit) with a people if it was lawful for him to do sexual intercourse with her. He (the Imam) said, ‘Those who hold her as al-Rahn (security deposit) will bar him.’ I then asked, ‘What h

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْخُذُ الدَّابَّةَ وَ الْبَعِيرَ رَهْناً بِمَالِهِ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْكَبَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلِفُهُ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَرْكَبَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي رَهَنَهُ عِنْدَهُ يَعْلِفُهُ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْكَبَهُ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who held a stumper and camels as al-Rahn (security deposit) against his assets; if he could ride them. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he feeds them he can ride; but if the one who has left them as al-Rahn (security deposit) feeds them, then

لَهُ أَعِرْنِي الذَّهَبَ الَّذِي رَهَنْتُكَ عَارِيَّةً فَأَعَارَهُ فَهَلَكَ الرَّهْنُ عِنْدَهُ أَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ لِصَاحِبِ الْقَرْضِ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ هُوَ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الرَّهْنِ الَّذِي رَهَنَهُ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَهْلَكَهُ وَ لَيْسَ لِمَالِ هَذَا تَوًى‌[3].

“About the case of a man, who borrows one hundred dinars and leaves as al-Rahn (security deposit) jewelries worth one hundred dinars, then comes to al-Rahn (security deposit) holder and asks him to lend him the gold which he has with him. Al-Rahn (security deposit) holder lends it to him and it is destroyed; if he owes

إِذَا رُهِنْتَ عَبْداً أَوْ دَابَّةً فَمَاتَ فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْكَ وَ إِنْ هَلَكَتِ الدَّابَّةُ أَوْ أَبَقَ الْغُلَامُ فَأَنْتَ ضَامِنٌ.

‘If you hold a slave or stumper as al-Rahn (security deposit) and they die; there is nothing upon you, but if the stumper is destroyed or the slave runs away you are responsible for it.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ هَلَكَ أَخُوهُ وَ تَرَكَ صُنْدُوقاً فِيهِ رُهُونٌ بَعْضُهَا عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ صَاحِبِهِ وَ بِكَمْ هُوَ رُهِنَ وَ بَعْضُهَا لَا يُدْرَى لِمَنْ هُوَ وَ لَا بِكَمْ هُوَ رُهِنَ فَمَا تَرَى فِي هَذَا الَّذِي لَا يُعْرَفُ صَاحِبُهُ فَقَالَ هُوَ كَمَالِهِ.

about the case of a man whose brother had died and left a box in which there were al-Rahn (security deposit) goods, of which certain ones had the name of the owner on them and others did not have any names on them and for how much they were left as al- Rahn (security deposit), and what do you say about that with an unk

فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ارْتَهَنُوهَا يَحُولُونَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَهَا قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهَا خَالِياً قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا أَرَى بِهِ بَأْساً[1].

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who had left his slave-girl as al- Rahn (security deposit) with a people; if he could have sexual intercourse with her. He (the Imam) said, ‘Those who hold her as al-Rahn (security deposit) bar him from reaching her.’ I asked, ‘What happens if he gets a chance? H

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ لِي عَلَيْهِ دَرَاهِمُ وَ كَانَتْ دَارُهُ رَهْناً فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَبِيعَهَا قَالَ أُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تُخْرِجَهُ مِنْ ظِلِّ رَأْسِهِ.

‘Do you, by Allah, have the intention to take the roof away from the top of his head?”’

سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَكُونُ لَهُ الدَّيْنُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ وَ مَعَهُ الرَّهْنُ أَ يَشْتَرِي الرَّهْنَ مِنْهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

22. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mansur ibn Hazim from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Once, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man to whom another man owed a certain amount of debts. He held al-Rahn (security deposit) if he could buy al-Rahn (security depo