Fatwa ID: 08003
Answered by: Maulana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Question:
A person takes his car to the mechanic to get something fixed. The mechanic messes up the person’s transmission, and now the entire transmission needs to be replaced.
The mechanic kept the car for 22 days trying to fix it but can’t.
He now tells the car owner to go buy a used transmission, and he will install it for free.
The car owner is saying the mechanic should pay for the new transmission and should also compensate him for the 22 days he kept the car because of which he was not able to do Uber.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Wa ʿalaykumu s-salam waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,
Damage to property can occur either due to the worker’s actions or other factors, such as theft or fire.
If the damage results from the worker’s actions, whether through negligence or not, there is general agreement that he is responsible.
This is because the damage is directly linked to his actions, and he was only instructed to carry out tasks that would result in a benefit. Therefore, if he causes damage, it is considered a violation of the command, making him liable.
The person may hold the mechanic accountable for the value of the transmission, without paying him any wages. Alternatively, the person may choose to hold the mechanic liable for the value of the transmission, including the installation cost, and the mechanic will be entitled to the usual wage.
«الاختيار لتعليل المختار» (2/ 54):
«(إِلَّا أَنْ يَتْلَفَ بِعَمَلِهِ كَتَخْرِيقِ الثَّوْبِ مِنْ دَقِّهِ وَزَلَقِ الْحَمَّالِ وَانْقِطَاعِ الْحَبْلِ مِنْ شَدِّهِ وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ) لِأَنَّهُ مُضَافٌ إِلَى فِعْلِهِ وَهُوَ لَمْ يُؤْمَرْ إِلَّا بِعَمَلٍ فِيهِ صَلَاحٌ، فَإِذَا أَفْسَدَهُ فَقَدْ خَالَفَ فَيَضْمَنُ.»
«الفتاوى العالمكيرية = الفتاوى الهندية» (4/ 501):
«هَلَكَ فِي يَدِهِ بِعَمَلِهِ كَالْقَصَّارِ إذَا دَقَّ الثَّوْبَ فَتَخَرَّقَ أَوْ أَلْقَاهُ فِي النُّورَةِ فَاحْتَرَقَ أَوْ الْحَمَّالِ إذَا تَعَثَّرَ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ عِنْدَ عُلَمَائِنَا الثَّلَاثَةِ. كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ.
خَالَفَ أَوْ لَمْ يُخَالِفْ كَذَا فِي الْيَنَابِيعِ
ثُمَّ الْأَجِيرُ الْمُشْتَرَكُ إنَّمَا يَضْمَنُ بِمَا جَنَتْ يَدُهُ عِنْدَنَا إذَا كَانَ مَحِلُّ الْعَمَلِ مُسَلَّمًا إلَيْهِ تَسْلِيمًا يَكْفِي لِنَقْلِ ضَمَانِ الْعَقْدِ لَوْ كَانَ مُشْتَرِيًا وَالْمَضْمُونُ مِمَّا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُضْمَنَ بِالْعَقْدِ وَفِي وُسْعِ الْأَجِيرِ دَفْعُهُ. كَذَا فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة.
ثُمَّ إذَا وَجَبَ الضَّمَانُ عَلَى الْأَجِيرِ الْمُشْتَرَكِ بِمَا جَنَتْ يَدُهُ عِنْدَ عُلَمَائِنَا الثَّلَاثَةِ كَانَ الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ بِالْخِيَارِ إنْ شَاءَ ضَمَّنَهُ قِيمَةَ ثَوْبِهِ غَيْرَ مَعْمُولٍ وَلَا أَجْرَ لَهُ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ ضَمَّنَهُ قِيمَتَهُ مَعْمُولًا وَعَلَيْهِ أَجْرُ الْمِثْلِ. كَذَا فِي الذَّخِيرَةِ.»
«حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (6/ 65):
«قَوْلُهُ وَلَا يَضْمَنُ إلَخْ) اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْهَلَاكَ إمَّا بِفِعْلِ الْأَجِيرِ أَوْ لَا، وَالْأَوَّلُ إمَّا بِالتَّعَدِّي أَوْ لَا. وَالثَّانِي إمَّا أَنْ يُمْكِنَ الِاحْتِرَازُ عَنْهُ أَوْ لَا، فَفِي الْأَوَّلِ بِقِسْمَيْهِ يَضْمَنُ اتِّفَاقًا. وَفِي ثَانِي الثَّانِي لَا يَضْمَنُ اتِّفَاقًا وَفِي أَوَّلِهِ لَا يَضْمَنُ عِنْدَ الْإِمَامِ مُطْلَقًا وَيَضْمَنُ عِنْدَهُمَا مُطْلَقًا. وَأَفْتَى الْمُتَأَخِّرُونَ بِالصُّلْحِ عَلَى نِصْفِ الْقِيمَةِ مُطْلَقًا، وَقِيلَ إنْ مُصْلِحًا لَا يَضْمَنُ وَإِنْ غَيْرَ مُصْلِحٍ ضَمِنَ، وَإِنْ مَسْتُورًا فَالصُّلْحُ اهـ ح وَالْمُرَادُ بِالْإِطْلَاقِ فِي الْمَوْضِعَيْنِ الْمُصْلِحُ وَغَيْرُهُ.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Mawlana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
