Reassessing the Legal Nature of Bank Muḍārabah: From a Revocable Contract to a Binding Contract in the Iranian Legal System

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran;

10.22091/rcjl.2025.12889.1196

Abstract

The circulation and turnover of wealth constitute essential prerequisites for economic growth. Among the most important contracts facilitating this objective is Muḍārabah, particularly bank Muḍārabah, which differs from civil Muḍārabah in two significant respects. First, it necessitates the presence of a bank as an intermediary that mobilizes the small deposits of depositors and subsequently places them at the disposal of the entrepreneur (Muḍārib) for commercial activities. Second, bank Muḍārabah is subject to specific restrictions, the rationale of which is to ensure profitability. The present study adopts a descriptive approach followed by an analytical examination of the findings and their applicability within the Iranian legal system. In accordance with the predominant opinion of Imāmī jurists, the Iranian Civil Code explicitly classifies Muḍārabah as a revocable contract. Nevertheless, given the differences between bank Muḍārabah and civil Muḍārabah, as well as the adverse consequences arising from applying the nature and legal effects of civil Muḍārabah to banking contracts, the banking system has sought to reinforce the stability of this contract through mechanisms such as limiting Muḍārabah to a specified term, restricting transactions to designated commodities, and incorporating conditions that preclude rescission and waive the right of revocation. The author argues that such measures are unnecessary. The arguments advanced in support of the revocable nature of bank Muḍārabah—such as the alleged inadequacy of the evidence supporting bindingness due to the permissive character of Muḍārabah, the characterization of Muḍārabah as a composite of agency and partnership contracts, the practice of rational persons, and consensus (Ijmāʿ)—are not conclusive. Given the nature of bank Muḍārabah as a restricted contract, the entrepreneur’s control over the benefits derived from his labor, and the reciprocal rights and obligations established under the agreement, such a contract should be regarded as binding and classified among obligation-creating contracts. Accordingly, the death, coma, or legal incapacity arising from prodigality of the entrepreneur does not affect the validity of the contract, and his heirs succeed him in the contractual relationship.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

نتیجه‌گیری

قانون مدنی به صراحت مضاربه را عقدی جایز دانسته است. این امر علی‌رغم فقدان هیچ‌گونه نصی در قوانین بانکی موجب گردیده است که مضاربه بانکی نیز به‌عنوان عقدی جایز قلمداد گردد. توجه دقیق نشان می‌دهد، مضاربه بانکی با مضاربه مدنی از دو حیث تفاوت عمده دارد. نخستین آن، تفاوت ساختاری مضاربه بانکی با مضاربه مدنی است که وجود بانک به‌عنوان واسط در جمع‌آوری سپرده‌های سپرده‌گذاران و اعطای آن به عامل است. دومین تفاوت لزوم مقید بودن مضاربه بانکی است که برخلاف مضاربه مدنی که می‌تواند مطلق باشد، مضاربه بانکی از نظر زمان و نوع فعالیت تجاری لزوماً مقید است. نظام بانکی بدون توجه به این تفاوت‌های بنیادین و در راستای تحکیم قراردادهای مضاربه بانکی با روش‌هایی چون توقیت مضاربه به زمان معین، خریدوفروش کالاهایی مشخص، درج شروطی همچون عدم امکان فسخ و سلب حق رجوع اقدام به استحکام این عقد نموده است. با این حال مراجعه به حتی مضاربه مدنی نشان می‌دهد تمامی ادله جواز مضاربه مدنی نظیر قصور ادله لزوم به‌جهت اذنی بودن، مرکب بودن عقد مضاربه از دو عقد جایز، بنای عقلا و اجماع، همگی قاصر از اثبات جواز مطلق مضاربه است و همگی منصرف به مضاربه مقیده است. با توجه به اینکه مضاربه‌های بانکی به‌صورت مقیده منعقد می‌گردد، اساساً این ادله نسبت به مضاربه‌های بانکی انصراف داشته و قابل انطباق بر آن نمی‌باشد. بعد از پذیرش این امر و در مقام کشف ماهیت مضاربه بانکی باید گفت ماهیت مزبور، در زمره عقود عهدی و لازم است که جز در موارد مصرح قانونی و یا وجود خیار، قابل فسخ نمی‌باشد.

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 01 December 2025

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