Muhaqqiq Hilli has divided this into fifteen chapters.
Chapter One KITABU TTIJARAH It deals with purchase
and sale, conditions of transactions, types of transactions like
cash or credit sales, profits, usury, and so on. It also explains
rules of contracts, pronounced or by conduct.
Chapter Two KITABALRAHN Deals
with buying or selling a mortgage.
Chapter Three KITAB ALMUFLIS Muflis means
a bankrupt, who cannot pay off his debts. The Islamic jury would
immediately issue an order to restrain such a person from using
his wealth till such time when a thorough assessment has been
made, and possible payments to the creditors have been arranged.
Chapter Four KITAB ALHIJR It is an interdiction
where an owner of wealth or property is restrained from having
any say in its use, like in the cases of a bankrupt, a minor,
an insane person, a dying person who intends to will beyond his
right of onethird, a fool etc.
Chapter Five KITAB ALDHAMAN
It means a warranty or guarantee. In Shia FIQH, a guarantor becomes
responsible for the debts, to the exclusion of the debtor, but
the guarantor can call for reimbursement from the debtor. Muhaqqiq
Hilli has included all sureties and promissory notes in this category.
Chapter Six KITAB ALSULH
Sulh here does not mean peace agreement or truce. It actually
means settlement, concession or compromise. For example,
to settle a debt whose exact figure is not known by offering a
certain sum, and so on.
Chapter Seven KITAB ALSHARIKAH
It means joint ownership, like in the case of inheritance. As
long as it has not been divided, it belongs jointly to all the
heirs. It also means partnership. Interestingly, there are cases
of unwilling partners, when wheat owned by one person gets mixed
up with wheat belonging to another, and separating is impossible.
Partnership in businesses, industries and agriculture are contracted
by an agreement.
Chapter Eight KITAB ALMUDHARIBAH
It is a partnership between capital and labour. When a man or
a group of men investing their capital for a business, enter into
an agreement with those who will put in their labour or will manage,
they must first agree about the share of dividends, and then either
pronounce a formula for MUDHARIBA, or make some practical gestures.
Chapter Nine KITAB ALMUZARI'AH OR MUSAQAT
This is a type of MUDHARIBA, but with a difference. Instead of
an arrangement between a businessman, an industrialist and a worker,
it is an agreement between a landowner and a person who will work
to till the land and carry out plantation, with a clear understanding
about profit sharing when the harvest is ready. MUSAQAT is an
arrangement between the farmer or garden owner, and the worker
who undertakes to water the garden etc. and do all such work which
would help the harvest or fruition. Again, it is absolutely necessary
that a prior agreement on the proportion of profit to be shared
by each is reached. In MUDHARIBAH, MUZARIAH and MUSAQAT, the profit,
little or more, is proportionately shared, but the losses are
borne by the capitalist alone.
Chapter Ten KITAB ALWADEE'AH
This is just like AMANAT, where a person deposits his property
in trust with another person, making him responsible for its protection
and security. This chapter deals with the responsibilities of
the trustee, particularly in the circumstances of loss or damage.
Chapter Eleven KITAB ALARIYAH
To borrow something from a person, with an intention of benefiting
from it. The difference between this and WADEEAH is that in WADEEAH
a person is given something to hold in trust, with no permission
to use it in any way; while in ARIYAH, a person agrees to lend
his property to another person with a clear understanding that
the latter will use it to derive some benefit. Simple example
are lending a car to someone for his use, lending clothes for
wearing etc.
Chapter Twelve KITAB ALIJARAH
To hire, or give on rent. This is done in two ways. Either one
gives away his property to another for use against an agreed sum
of rent, or one undertakes to complete a certain peace of work
against payment. This arrangement has one common feature with
ordinary purchase and sale in both the cases, something
is given in return. The difference is that in any business or
sale, a commodity is exchanged with money or its value, while
in IJARAH, the property itself is not exchanged, but its utilisation
or benefit is hired or rented out.
Chapter Thirteen KITAB ALWAKALAH
To appoint someone authorising him to enter into a contract on
one's behalf or to make a certain commitment. The example is when
a WAKIL is appointed for Nikah, Ijarah, Selling, Divorce, etc.
Chapter Fourteen KITAB ALWUQOOF & SADAQAT
This deals with endowments and charities. WAQF means to exclude
ones own property from ownership and give it away for a particular
use. In other words, it is an endowment settled for public use.
Many laws govern this act, and FUQAHA debate over whether WAQF
requires an intention of QURBAT or not. Then there are laws about
WAQF KHAS (family endowments) and WAQF AAM.
Chapter Fifteen KITAB ALSUKNA WAL HABS
It is another type of endowment but with a difference. While WAQF
is permanent, where the owner gives away his property forever,
SUKNA is a temporary arrangement. In it, a person gives away his
abode or house to a deserving person for a fixed period of time.
When the time expires, the property is restored to him, as its
rightful owner. HABS means a temporary bequest for charitable
purposes. In this arrangement, the property itself is not given
away; only its accruals or benefits are bequeathed for a certain
period, upon expiration of which the benefits revert to the owner.
Chapter Sixteen KITAB ALHIBAT
Deals with the gifts. One can only settle a thing which he rightfully
owns as a gift. They are of two types: a gift given in exchange
or a gift given away without any return. Gifts given in exchange
or substitute cannot be claimed back, but that which is given
away without any exchange can be claimed back. But if this unconditional
gift has been settled on ones own relatives, or if its original
form has been changed or destroyed, then it cannot be reclaimed.
Chapter Seventeen KITAB ALSUBQ WA ALRAMAYAH
Deals with racing and shooting, a chapter which falls under subsidiary
laws of JIHAD. Islam forbids wagering, betting or staking, but
allows training for racing or shooting or marksmanship as a prelude
to military skills.
Chapter Eighteen KITAB ALWASIYYAH
This relates to making of the Will, testament etc. in respect
of one's estate and minor heirs. Man has a right to appoint an
executor or administrator for the purpose. He can direct the appointee
to look after his minor children, educate them and provide them
with necessary training. Similarly, he can direct him to use upto
1/3 of his estate in the manner he, the testator, prefers.
Such directives are of three types: One is related to distribution
of his money and property, another can be about performing certain
duties, like Haj, Ziyarat, Qadha Namaz, Fasts, etc. The last one
concerns releasing from the bondage, like when he directs that
a particular slave be set free upon his death.
Chapter Nineteen KITAB ANNIKAH
Marriage Contract. In this chapter, Fuqaha discuss several aspects,
including the conditions, the types of woman or man one can marry,
prohibition in marriage, temporary marriages, permanent marriages,
maintenance of the wife and the children and so on.
Though Muhaqqiq Hilli had enumerated 15 chapters, we observe that
there are more. Possibly, Muhaqqiq amalgamated certain chapters
under one heading.