A man who writes a debt document against a group

Tariq bin Abd al-Rahman (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I was present with Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) when a man came and said: I had it written against this man and two other men with him that I would collect my due from whichever of them I wished. The man said: My two companions are in the market. He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Collect your due from whichever of them you wish.

Ibn Jurayj (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I said to Ata (may Allah have mercy on him): In a sale I had it written against two men that the living one of you answers for the dead one, and the solvent one of you for the destitute one. He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is permissible.

And Amr bin Dinar and Sulayman bin Musa (may Allah have mercy on them both) said the same.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about some men against whom a deed of acknowledgment was written, stating that the creditor may collect his entire due from whichever of them he wishes. He said: It stands according to its condition (as was settled); he may collect his entire due from whichever of them he wishes. Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) considered it preferable that each person be charged in proportion to his share, and he used to say: This way is closer to justice.

Al-Hakam (may Allah have mercy on him) spoke about a man who has a claim against a group of people and says: I will collect my entire due from whichever of them I wish. He said: This has the standing of a guarantor.

Abu al-Jahm (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I had my claim written against some people, that I would collect my entire due from whichever of them I wished. I took them to Shurayh, and he (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Collect from whichever you wish.