Fatwa #456587 July 2020Pakistan
Can I claim for the damages caused by someone who borrowed my bike?
Question
Assalaamu Alaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakaathu
Respected Mufti Saheb
A few months ago, my son was in the process of selling his motorbike to which there were a few potential buyers. A youngster from our area came under the pretense of test ride on behalf of his brother in law who was from another town and due to arrive a day or two later.
Whilst he rode my son's bike, my son rode his. Before taking off he warned my son, "You break it, you pay." Ironically, this youngster was the one who ended up crashing my sons bike. Due to the damage on the bike, some potential buyers were no longer interested, and some made ridiculous offers.
My son was to speak to the boys father but procrastinated for months. I called the boys father who wasn't surprised yet claimed not to have any knowledge of the incident. He responded that the risk and responsibility was for the owner of the bike and not the user. He also added that the matter was being addressed too long after the incident. He eventually agreed to consider options of either him repairing the bike or buying it from my son as is.
Mufti Saheb, am I justified in making claiming for damages to my sons bike?
Jazakallah u khairan
Was Salaamu Alaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakaathu
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If the bike was crashed due to recklessness from the side of the boy, then he will be responsible for the damages caused to the bike.[i] In this instance, you will be justified to claim for the damages from the father of the boy.
However, if the boy was not reckless, then he will not be liable to pay for the damages. In that case, if the boy’s father voluntarily pays towards repairing the bike, it will be regarded as a kind gesture from his side.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad Fayyaadh
Student - Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
[i] البناية شرح الهداية (10/ 135)
العارية جائزة؛ لأنه نوع إحسان قال: وقد استعار النبي - عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ - دروعا من صفوان وهي تمليك المنافع بغير عوض… والعارية أمانة إن هلكت من غير تعد لم يضمن.
(والعارية أمانة إن هلكت من غير تعد لم يضمن) ش: وفي بعض النسخ: لم يضمنها. وقيد بقوله: من غير تعد؛ لأن هلاكها بالتعدي يوجب الضمان بلا خلاف
اللباب في شرح الكتاب (2/ 202)
والعارية أمانةٌ: إن هلكت من غير تعد لم يضمن شيئاً.
(والعارية) : أي حكمها أنها (أمانة) في يد المستعير: (إن هلكت من غير تعد لم يضمن) ولو بشرط الضمان، قهستاني.
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (5/ 678)
وَلَا تُضْمَنُ بِالْهَلَاكِ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَعَدٍّ وَشَرْطُ الضَّمَانِ بَاطِلٌ كَشَرْطِ عَدَمِهِ فِي الرَّهْنِ خِلَافًا لِلْجَوْهَرَةِ
(قَوْلُهُ بِالْهَلَاكِ) هَذَا إذَا كَانَتْ مُطْلَقَةً فَلَوْ مُقَيَّدَةً كَأَنْ يُعِيرَهُ يَوْمًا فَلَوْ لَمْ يَرُدَّهَا بَعْدَ مُضِيِّهِ ضَمِنَ إذَا هَلَكَتْ كَمَا فِي شَرْحِ الْمَجْمَعِ وَهُوَ الْمُخْتَارُ كَمَا فِي الْعِمَادِيَّةِ اهـ قَالَ فِي الشُّرُنْبُلَالِيَّةِ: سَوَاءٌ اسْتَعْمَلَهَا بَعْدَ الْوَقْتِ أَوْ لَا، وَذَكَرَ صَاحِبُ الْمُحِيطِ وَشَيْخُ الْإِسْلَامِ: إنَّمَا يَضْمَنُ إذَا انْتَفَعَ بَعْدَ مُضِيِّ الْوَقْتِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ حِينَئِذٍ يَصِيرُ غَاصِبًا أَبُو السُّعُودِ (قَوْلُهُ لِلْجَوْهَرَةِ) حَيْثُ جَزَمَ فِيهَا بِصَيْرُورَتِهَا مَضْمُونَةً بِشَرْطِ الضَّمَانِ، وَلَمْ يَقُلْ فِي رِوَايَةٍ مَعَ أَنَّ فِيهَا رِوَايَتَيْنِ كَمَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ عِبَارَةِ الزَّيْلَعِيِّ
فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا 5/543