A hired worker: is he liable or not?

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Shurayh used to hold the hired worker liable.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) held a carpenter liable.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever has taken a wage is liable.

The same is reported through another chain.

Abdullah bin Utbah bin Mas'ud said: The hired worker is guaranteed his wage, and he is liable for what is in his keeping.

Ibrahim said: When a common hired worker (ajir mushtarak) has taken something, he is liable.

Abd al-Rahman bin Yazid said: When he bought something, he would hire someone to carry it. And al-Hakam said: He is liable.

The same is reported through another chain.

Muhammad (Ibn Sirin) would hold the hired worker liable only in a case of negligence.

Ibn Sirin said: Every hired worker who takes a wage is liable, except for a loss from an overpowering enemy, or a hired worker whose hand is with your hand.

Al-Sha'bi said: There is no liability on a hired worker paid by the month (ajir al-mushaharah).

Shurayh did not hold the boatman liable if the boat sank or burned.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to hold the common hired worker (ajir mushtarak) liable.

Abu al-Haytham al-Attar said: I hired a labourer to carry a load for me, and he broke my goods. I took the case against him to the court of Shurayh, who held him liable and said: He hired you to deliver the goods; he did not hire you to break them.

Zuhayr al-Absi said: A man hired another man to work on a camel. He struck the camel in such a way that he gouged out its eye. The man took the case against him to the court of Shurayh, and Shurayh held him liable and said: He employed you to set the work right; he did not employ you to spoil it!