Seller claiming a higher price whilst the purchaser claims a lower price

Question:-

I sold my business to a purchaser for R 280 000.00. One month later he pays me R 250 000.00 stating that the deal was finalized and concluded at R 250 000.00. What recourse do I have since never agreed on R 250 000.00? None of the parties have witnesses to prove their claim.

Answer:-

In the queried scenario, the seller claims a higher price of R280 000.00 whilst the purchaser claims a lower price of R250 000.00. Both parties are unable to present witnesses to support their claim.

The Fuqaha have stated that in such an instance the purchaser will be told, “Either you are pleased with the price that the seller is claiming, otherwise we will cancel the sale.” If the sale is cancelled, then the buyer will have to return the shop in its original state and condition to the seller.

If both parties are unhappy with this option then the Muslim Judge will make each party take an oath countering the claim of the other. The Muslim judge will commence with the purchaser who will swear that he purchased the business for R 250 000.00 and not R 280 000.00 as the seller claims, and the seller will swear an oath that he sold the business for R 280 000.00 and not R 250 000.00 as the purchaser claims. If both parties take the prescribed oaths then the Muslim judge will cancel the transaction between the buyer and seller. However, if one of them (either the buyer or seller) refuses to take the oath, then the claim of the other will be established as the final claim which will become binding.

References:-

واذا اختلف المتبايعان في البيع فادعى أحدهما ثمناً وادعى البائع أكثر منه أو اعترف البائع بقدرٍ. من المبيع وادعى المشتري أكثر منه وأقام أحدهما البينة قضى له بها وإن أقام كل واحدٍ منهما البينة كانت البينة المثبتة للزيادة أولى، وإن لم تكن لكل واحدٍ منهما بينةٌ قيل للمشتري: إما أن ترضى بالثمن الذي ادعاه البائع وإلا فسخنا البيع، وقيل للبائع: إما أن تسلم ما ادعاه المشتري من المبيع وإلا فسخنا البيع، فإن لم يتراضيا استحلف الحاكم كل واحدٍ منهما على دعوى الآخر: يبتدئ بيمين المشتري، فإذا حلفا فسخ القاضي البيع بينهما، وإن نكل أحدهما عن اليمين لزمه دعوى الآخر.(اللباب في شرح الكتاب – كتاب الدعوي)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:- 01 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1443 / 06 November 2021