The Criteria for Recognizing the Requirements of the Substance of Contract in Iranian Law and Imamiyyah Jurisprudence

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Department of Theology, Yasouj University

10.22099/jls.2025.47843.4984

Abstract

In order to engage in social life, individuals need to enter into agreements and contracts with others. The motivating factor for entering into a contract is the anticipated effects of that contract. Some of these effects are inherent to the essence and nature of the contract, rendering the contract useless without them. These effects, which constitute the purpose of creating contracts and are directly generated by the contract's essence, are known as the "requirements of the substance of contract." A condition contrary to the requirements of the substance of contract is one that contradicts the primary effect of the contract, leading to its invalidity.
The crucial question is: Based on what criteria can the requirements of the substance of contract be determined? Recognizing these requirements is of paramount importance, as any condition contrary to them renders the contract null and void. In some instances, the lack of precise rules for determining these requirements has led to differing interpretations among jurists. Some consider a particular condition to be against the requirements 
of the substance of contract, while others view it as contrary to Sharia or law, and still others deem the same condition to be valid. These divergent opinions create confusion for contracting parties when determining the terms of the contract. The most fundamental step in recognizing a condition contrary to the requirements of the substance of contract is to first identify those requirements.
This research, conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to comprehensively explain the criteria that lead to the discovery of the requirements of the substance of contract, examine the strengths and weaknesses of each criterion, and ultimately select the most preferred criterion. These criteria include:

Sharia Law:Some jurists believe that the way to recognize the requirements of the substance of contract is through Sharia law, and that contradicting these requirements implies the cancellation of the effect that Sharia has determined for the nature of the contract. This viewpoint is not entirely acceptable because contracts are often signatory, and the Holy Sharia has approved them with amendments and limitations. Therefore, to understand the fundamentals and effects of contracts, one must refer to a framework where these issues have been more thoroughly developed.
Custom:One of the most significant criteria for determining the requirements of the substance of contract is custom. To discover these requirements, one must delve into the context in which the contract evolved, namely, the community. The community's understanding has crystallized in the form of custom. However, the profound impact of law on the legal system and the diminishing role of customs in defining the nature of contracts have reduced the importance of this criterion.
Law:Due to the fact that the legislator's definitions of contracts have established legal truth for these terms, the most crucial criterion for distinguishing the nature of a contract today is law. A potential issue with centering law in determining the requirements of the substance of contract is that the legislator's statements regarding these requirements are not always comprehensive. This can hinder the process, as in many cases, the nature, validity conditions, and rules of the contract are stated together. Additionally, sometimes the requirements of the substance and the absoluteness of the contract are stated together, making it difficult to distinguish the requirements of the substance of contract from other subjects.

Based on the above, law and custom are two major criteria in determining the requirements of the substance of contract. While contracts are formed within the context of society and custom is the most important criterion for identifying their nature, the establishment of law and the definition of the nature of each contract create legal truth for that contract. That contract then becomes meaningful only within that defined nature, and definitions outside of it fall outside the contract's nature.
However, due to the limitations of law in distinguishing some of the requirements of the contract and many conditions contrary to these requirements, and considering that contracts are formed within society to fulfill societal goals, custom should be considered as a criterion for determining the requirements of the substance of contract after law. The opinions of jurists (experts of Muslim law) in jurisprudential books, as experts who possess knowledge of Sharia, custom, and vocabulary, and the fact that the definitions of the nature of contracts in Iran's Civil Law are often derived from jurisprudential sources, serve as the best source reflecting both custom and Sharia considerations. These sources, being the root and primary source of civil law, significantly aid in understanding the nature of contracts and, consequently, the requirements of the substance of contract.
Therefore, in summary, the most important sources for understanding the requirements of the substance of contract are first law and then custom. Jurisprudential sources and the views of jurists can be highly effective in understanding the legislator's intent and custom.
Innominate Contracts:
Regarding innominate contracts, they should be divided into common and uncommon categories. For common innominate contracts prevalent in society, considering that customs exist regarding them, one should refer to custom to determine their requirements of the substance of contract, as explained earlier in the case of specific contracts. However, for uncommon innominate contracts that are not prevalent in society, there is no way to determine the nature of the contract except by referring to the intention of the contracting parties.
 
Characteristics of the Requirements of the Substance of Contract:
To determine the requirements of the substance of contract based on the mentioned criteria, it is essential to first understand the characteristics of these requirements.
Firstly, the requirements of the substance of contract are effects that originate from the essence and nature of the contract. Therefore, they are effects, not causes.
Secondly, since the requirements of the substance of contract are derived from the essence and nature of the contract, they do not encompass the conditions and rules of the contract that lie outside the contract's nature. Consequently, to determine the requirements of the substance of contract, one must distinguish between the conditions and rules of the contract and its substantive effects.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Legal Studies
Volume 16, Issue 4 - Serial Number 54
January 2025
Pages 109-146

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