And if he refuses, let him smear the morsel or two for him." Narrated by Al-Bukhari. The meaning of smearing (tarwigh) the morsel is dipping it into the broth and the fat, and saturating it with that, and handing it to him. This is because he desires it due to his presence at it and his handling of it, and Allah the Almighty has said: "And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [out of the estate]" (Quran, An-Nisa: 8), and because the soul of the one present craves what the soul of the one absent does not.
Chapter: It is not [permitted] for him to burden him with work that he cannot endure, which is what is difficult for him and approaches his inability to do it, because of the hadith of Abu Dharr, and because that harms him and hurts him, and he is forbidden from causing him harm.
Chapter: The slave is not to be forced into an agreement of 'mukharaja' (a fixed-tribute contract), which means that he imposes upon him a known tribute that he pays, with whatever remains being for the slave, because that is a contract between them, so he cannot be compelled to do it, just like the contract of manumission (kitaba). If the slave requests that and the master refuses, he is not compelled to do it either; [for the reason we have mentioned]. If they agree upon that,
(9) In: The Chapter on Eating with the Servant, from the Book of Food. Sahih al-Bukhari 7/106. It was also recorded by Muslim in: The Chapter on Feeding the Slave from what one eats and clothing him with what one wears and not burdening him with what he cannot overcome, from the Book of Oaths. Sahih Muslim 3/1284. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the Servant who eats with the Master, from the Book of Food. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/328, 329. And Al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on what has come regarding eating with the slave and the household, from the Chapters on Food. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 8/44. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on if his servant brings him his food, let him offer him some of it, from the Book of Food. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1094. And Al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on Honoring the Servant at Mealtime, from the Book of Food. Sunan Al-Darimi 2/107. And Imam Ahmad, in: The Musnad 2/245, 259, 277, 283, 299, 316, 406, 409, 430, 464, 473. Al-Suyuti attributed it to Ibn Asakir in: Jam' al-Jawami' 1/86. The wording closest to what Ibn Qudama cited is what is found in the Musnad 2/245, 299, and Jam' al-Jawami'. (10) In B: "and handing it". (11) Surah An-Nisa, 8. (12) Omitted from: the original, A. (13) Omitted from: A, M. (14) Omitted from: A, M. (15) Omitted from: B, M.
