Q.4 Discuss the natural causes of defective legal capacity in Islamic law. 2016

Legal capacity refers to an individual’s ability to enter into legal contracts and engage in legal transactions. In Islamic law, there are natural causes that can result in defective legal capacity, which means that an individual is unable to enter into legal contracts or transactions due to a certain condition or circumstance. Some of the natural causes of defective legal capacity in Islamic law include:

1. Mental incapacity: Individuals who suffer from mental illness or disability may have defective legal capacity. This includes conditions such as dementia, schizophrenia, and severe intellectual disabilities, which may impair an individual’s ability to understand and engage in legal transactions.
2. Age: In Islamic law, minors under the age of puberty are considered to have defective legal capacity, as they may not fully understand the consequences of their actions or be capable of making informed decisions.
3. Intoxication: Individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol may also have defective legal capacity, as they may not be able to make rational decisions or fully understand the terms of a contract or transaction.
4. Coercion: If an individual is forced or coerced into entering into a legal contract or transaction, their legal capacity may be considered defective as they did not have the free will to make a voluntary decision.
5. Insanity: If an individual is in a state of temporary or permanent insanity, their legal capacity may be considered defective as they are unable to make rational decisions or understand the terms of a contract or transaction.

In Islamic law, defective legal capacity may result in certain legal consequences, such as the nullification of a contract or transaction, or the appointment of a legal guardian to manage the affairs of an individual with defective legal capacity. It is important for Islamic legal scholars and judges to take into account these natural causes of defective legal capacity when adjudicating cases in order to ensure justice and fairness in legal transactions.