the mukatab earning for himself and his benefits, and prevented the master from exercising authority over both of them. Thus, he does not own his employment, nor his hiring, nor his lending, nor taking his earnings, nor the indemnity for an injury against him, nor is he obligated to pay the indemnity for an injury he causes. Consequently, his maintenance obligation falls away from him, just as if he had sold him or emancipated him. If he becomes unable, he returns to being a full slave, and the ownership of his benefit and earnings returns to him, so his maintenance returns to him, just as if he had purchased him after selling him.

1412 - Issue: He said: "And he is not permitted to seek a wet nurse for the slave woman for someone other than her child, unless there is a surplus beyond what is needed to satisfy her child."

As for if he wishes to seek a wet nurse for his slave woman for someone other than her child, while it does not exceed what is sufficient for her own child, he is not permitted to do so; because it involves harming her child, by decreasing his sustenance and diverting the milk created for her child to someone else, despite his need for it. Thus, it is not permissible, just as if he wanted to decrease the sufficiency and provision of an adult. If there is a surplus beyond what is needed to satisfy her child, it is permissible; because he owns it, and the child has no need for it, so he is entitled to take it, like the surplus of her earnings beyond her own provision, or just as if her child had died and her milk remained.

1413 - Issue: He said: "And if the slave is pledged as collateral, his master provides for him."

This is due to the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "The pledge belongs to the one who pledged it; he receives its benefit and bears its liability." Its maintenance is part of its liability. And because it is the property of the pledger, and its increase belongs to him, its maintenance is upon him, like property that is not a pledge. I have mentioned this issue in the chapter on pledging.

1414 - Issue: He said: "And if the slave runs away, whoever brings him back to his master has the right to be reimbursed for what he spent on him."