What is the ruling when the second stated amount cannot be equal to or a subset of the first stated amount, such as saying 'one dirham, but a dinar'?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Acknowledgment of Rights

Book 20 · Issue 3 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the statement involves items where the second amount cannot be the same as or part of the first, such as saying, 'I owe one dirham, but a dinar,' or 'one measure of wheat, but one measure of barley,' or 'this dirham, but those two,' the entirety becomes obligatory without known dispute. This is because the first item cannot logically be the second item or a part of it, thus rendering the statement an admission of both amounts, and retraction from either is not accepted. This applies generally to any two clauses where one is admitted, and retraction is made to the other; both become obligatory.