the mukatab does not attain emancipation until he has paid the entire kitaba (contracted amount), according to the reports we have mentioned. If it were obligatory to give him a fourth, it would be obligatory that he be emancipated once he has paid three-fourths of the kitaba, and it is not required of him to pay wealth that must be returned to him. It is narrated regarding Ibn 'Umar that he made a kitaba contract with a slave of his for thirty-five thousand, then he took thirty from him and remitted five (12). As for our position, it is what Abu Bakr narrated with his chain of authority from 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted: {And give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you}. He said: "A fourth of the kitaba (13)" (14). It was also narrated as a mawquf (stopped) report from 'Ali. Furthermore, it is wealth whose giving is obligatory as an act of consolation by the Sharia, so it is a determined amount, like zakat. And because the wisdom behind making it obligatory is kindness toward the mukatab and assisting him in achieving emancipation, and this is not achieved by a small amount which is the least that the name [of wealth] applies to, it is not permissible for that to be the obligatory amount. The saying of Allah the Exalted: {And give them from the wealth of Allah}, even if it arrived without a specified amount, the Sunnah explains it and clarifies its amount, like zakat.

Section Three: Concerning its genus (type). If he receives the wealth of the kitaba, then gives [a portion] of it to him, it is permissible, because Allah the Exalted commanded giving from it. If he remits part of what was due upon him, it is permissible, because the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, interpreted the giving in this way, and because it is more effective in terms of benefit and more helpful in achieving emancipation, thus it is better than giving [cash], and the implication of the verse is realized through it by way of alert (tanbih). If he gives him from the same genus as the kitaba wealth but from other than that [specific payment], it is permissible. It is possible that the mukatab is not obligated to accept it; this is the apparent meaning of the words of al-Shafi'i, because Allah the Exalted commanded giving from it. As for our position, there is no difference in meaning between giving from it and giving from other than it, when it is of the same genus, so they must be equal in sufficiency, and that which is not explicitly mentioned—if it is of the same meaning—is attached to it. Likewise, remitting [the debt] is permissible, even though it is not a 'giving', because it is of the same meaning. If he gives him from a different genus, such as if he contracts the kitaba for dirhams, and he gives him dinars or trade goods (16), he is not obligated to accept it,