Photo by Martin. (One-half original size.)
Translation of the Luwaran, the Magindanao Code of Laws
In the name of God the Compassionate and Merciful, praise be to God, who led us to the faith and religion of Islam. May God’s blessing be with our master Mohammed and with all his people and followers.
The following articles are taken from the Minhāj and Fathu-l-Qareeb and Taqreebu-l-Intifā and Mir-ātu-t-Tullāb and have been translated from the Arabic into the Java (Malay) dialect of Mindanao, the land of peace:
Article I
If two people disagree as to the ownership of a certain property, the actual possessor has the right to the property if he swears to that effect. In case both of them are in actual possession of the property, both ought to swear. If both of them swear to that effect, the property shall be divided between them equally. If only one person swears, the property shall be given to that person alone.
Article II
If a person borrows an article and loses it, he shall replace it or pay its value. The same rule shall apply in case the article is stolen. There shall also be paid a reasonable additional compensation for the lost article.
Article III
If a person borrows an ax or a button, and the ax is broken or the button lost while being used for the purpose for which it was loaned, and not on account of carelessness, the lost article shall not be replaced. But if the ax is used at a place overhanging the water or is used to cut a stock of bamboo without being well tied or fastened, and is lost, it shall then be replaced.