Liability of Technician or Person with a Certain Skill

“Once abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about a cleaner who destroyed. He (the Imam) said, ’Everyone hired and paid for mending an item is liable if the item is destroyed.”’

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In the case of cleaners and dyers and the items stolen from them with no clear evidence that he has stolen, of small or large quantities, if it happens, there is nothing on him, if no evidence is presented to prove it to be his doing; but if he thinks the claimant has done it, he is liable if he fails to present evidence in support of what he says.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, would hold a cleaner liable as well as a dyer as precautionary measures to protect the interests of the people but my father would deal with them more graciously if they were trusted ones.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a cleaner to whom I gave a cloth and he thought it was stolen from his goods. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to present evidence that it is stolen from his goods; then there is nothing on him and if all of his goods are stolen he is not liable for anything.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin would hold cleaners, jewelers and dyers liable as precautionary measure to protect the interests of the people; but he would not hold them liable for things burnt or drowned. When a ship drowned with its contents and people found things thrown on shore, it was for the people of the area because of their being more rightful in the case. Whatever people found by diving and the owner had abandoned, it was considered their things.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a cleaner man to whom I gave clothes with a condition to return at a given time. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he violates the time and clothes are lost after the given time he is liable.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a cleaner man to whom I gave clothes but he burnt them. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can make him compensate, you gave him for mending and not to destroy them.’”

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once the owner of a public bath house with whom clothes were left and were lost, was brought before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), who did not hold him liable and said that he was trusted.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man who had hired another man to mend his door and who by driving a nail into the door had damaged it, came for judgment before ’Amir al- Mu’minin, and he (’Amir al-Mu’minin) held him liable for the door.’”

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a cleaner man and a jeweler if they were liable. He (the Imam) said, ‘People do not behave well unless they are held liable.’ Yunus would act accordingly and hold liable.’”