Does a minor who reaches puberty have the option (Khiyar) to revoke a lease concluded by his guardian?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Leasing

Book 25 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The dominant opinion holds that the minor does not gain the option to revoke the lease upon reaching maturity. This is because the contract was a binding agreement concluded before the minor possessed the capacity to contract, similar to a father marrying off his son; upon acquiring the capacity, the option does not automatically arise. The counter-argument is that since the contract concerns his utility during a period when he lacked personal authority, upon gaining such authority, the option is established, paralleling the case of a female slave freed while married to another slave, where she gains the option.

Supporting text

The reasoning for establishing the option in the case of a freed slave marrying a slave relies on the presence of a defect (Aib), not merely the loss of control over one's person. Thus, if the freed slave is married to a free man, the option is not established, undermining the analogy used to support the minor's right to option.