The rickshaw fare was not fixed

Question

Question: Once, on a journey, no agreement was made with a rickshaw driver regarding the fare; instead a local gentleman was asked what the usual fare was, and that was given. The rickshaw driver refused to accept it and asked for double, but I, the humble one, considering the local gentleman’s word correct, gave only the single fare. Then in the middle of this someone said: “Go to the gentleman who states the rickshaw fare; if he too thinks it fitting, then give him more fare.

Answer

The error of principle was yours: you did not settle the money with the rickshaw driver beforehand, but left the fare unknown, from which a dispute arose. The command of the Shari‘a is that the fare be settled clearly and not left unknown.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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