I asked Abu Ja'far Al-Thani (as) about a house that belonged to a woman who had a son and a daughter. The son went missing at sea, and the woman died. The daughter claimed that her mother had transferred the ownership of the house to her and sold portions of it, leaving a remaining portion beside the house of one of our brothers. This brother was reluctant to purchase it due to the absence of the son and the concern that buying it might not be permissible, as there was no news about the son. Imam (as) asked: "How long has he been missing?" I said: "For many years." Imam (as) said: "He should wait for the son's absence for ten years, and then he may purchase it."