Hiring/Renting: Responsibility for Goods Damaged by a Hired Animal
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani
Ruling 2213
If a person gives an animal on hire to carry fragile goods, in the event that the animal slips or stampedes, causing the load to break, the owner of the animal is not responsible for it. However, if the owner of the animal causes the animal to fall by beating it excessively or something similar, and this results in the goods breaking, then he is responsible.
-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Hiring/Renting (Ijarah)