Is a second admission (Iqrar) of a debt the same as the first admission?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Acknowledgment of Rights

Book 20 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a person admits to owing one dirham, and subsequently admits to owing another dirham, only one dirham is incumbent upon him. This view is held by Al-Shafi'i. The evidence for this is that the repetition may be a reiteration of the first statement, similar to how Allah repeated the sending of various prophets without implying new instances, such as Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shu'ayb, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. This principle applies whether the admissions occur at the same time, different times, or in the same or different sessions.

Supporting text

Abu Hanifa holds that two dirhams are incumbent, treating the second admission as a separate obligation, analogous to saying, 'I owe him one dirham and another dirham.'