Ibham (ambiguity in speech and transactions)

Ibham, in the language, is the big finger at the end of the hand or foot, and also whatever has no known way to it. For jurists and usulis it is speech whose meaning is unknown. ¹

If ambiguity falls in a contract, the contract is in general invalid. If it falls elsewhere, the speaker must clarify it, either by a text from the one who was ambiguous or, in some jurists' view where it is lawful, by lot. Example: a man who divorces one of his wives and dies without saying which. ²

Ambiguity appears in the speech of the lawgiver (hidden, unclear, general or ambiguous speech, treated in the usuli appendix) and in ordinary speech, as in a man saying "my wife is divorced" when he has several wives. Its rules are given in each chapter according to where the ambiguity falls: marriage, divorce, acknowledgement, sales and bequests. ^{1 2}

Deliberate harm to the finger requires retaliation; harm by mistake requires a tenth of the blood money. The details are in the chapter on injuries and blood money. ²