An Islamic Jurisprudential and Legal Analysis of the Suspension of a Contract Upon the Non-Realization of a Prior Contract

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Mazandaran,, Babolsar, Iran.

2 PhD student in Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

Abstract

Suspension in contracts is a fundamental and influential concept in Imamiyyah jurisprudence and Iranian civil law. This concept becomes particularly complex and analytically challenging when a subsequent contract is made contingent upon the non-realization of a prior one. While jurisprudential and legal literature has predominantly focused on the general conditions for the validity of suspension clauses, the specific inquiry into the permissibility of stipulating the non-realization of a prior contract as a condition precedent has received limited independent and systematic attention. The primary objective of this research is to examine, from both jurisprudential and legal perspectives, the feasibility of using such a condition as the basis for suspending a subsequent contract and to assess the legal validity of this mechanism. Accordingly, the present study adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology and draws upon the opinions of Imamiyyah jurists and legal scholars. It explores the necessary characteristics of a valid condition precedent in Imamiyyah jurisprudence and Iranian statutory law and analyzes various scenarios of non-realization of the prior contract—including rescission, termination, mutual cancellation, nullity, annulment, and the non-fulfillment of a suspensive condition—with a view to their suitability as valid suspensive bases for subsequent contracts. The findings suggest that while certain scenarios may permit the validity of such suspension, this permissibility is conditional upon the fulfillment of specific criteria, particularly the independence of the condition from the unilateral will of the obligor.

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References

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  • Receive Date: 06 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 21 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 23 May 2025

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