Scholarship on Legal document: T-S K25.153

Recto

1. … we will purchase indigo with it and we will go with it to the port-city of Damietta and […]
2. We will dye it and we will sell and buy with that amount various types of dyes, and we will transact in accordance
3. with the (established) practice of the people who engage in this business, for the term of one complete year, the beginning of which being the date of this document, the end of which
4. fixed by the laws of partnership (‘isqa). Whatever God, praised be He, facilitates in terms of profit, we, the workers, will receive
5. two thirds hereof, and the investor of the commenda will receive one third. Likewise, God forbid, in the case of a loss—after (the investor pays) the expense of the provisions
6. and (material) costs. We are only entitled to consume out of the partnership assets of this shop our daily provisions for the term
7. of our partnership (shirka) with him, for the aforementioned term. We will ward off treachery and fulfill the trust, doing (the work)
8. by ourselves as we are able to in this business. The aforementioned Elder Ibrahīm said to us:
9. “Perform a qinyan with us and testify concerning me that I have already paid them the aforementioned amount
10. in the manner mentioned above […] In addition to that, I take upon myself that, God forbid,
11. //if// anything happens to this (amount) causing its destruction, something other than a loss in selling or buying,
12. (they) are absolved if (the merchandise) sinks or is stolen or they are compelled (to give it) to the authorities or their agent. They are free from liability
13. therefrom and they are only required to take an oath that they have not been negligent therein. If there happens to them …
14. … and I will forgive them what would fall as their share therein due to a loss (from buying and selling) from one dinar
15. up to ten (dinars), an effective release effective immediately, a complete release, with (my) mouth and with (my) heart. If they appraised
16. the shop and that found that it had depreciated a little, they will send a letter to inform me, and I will let them know what to do therein.
17. If I do not answer concerning its management, the depreciation will not be upon them, rather they will be free from liability from what they lose
18. thereafter. The qinyan was executed with each of us, a complete qinyan, with an item suitable for doing so,
19. orally, effective immediately, in accordance with their will, without any sort of duress whatsoever, nullifying all secret dispositions and conditions concerning all that
20. is written and specified above.