Is a master obligated to accept a contract of Mukharajah (stipulated manumission payment) from his slave?

Chapter on Maintenance of Slaves

Al-Mughni

Book of Maintenance (Nafaqāt)

Book 46 · Issue 1 · Bab 4

Open in Qurani

Primary text

A master is not obligated to force a contract of Mukharajah upon a slave, which is an agreement whereby a fixed sum is imposed upon the slave to be paid, with the remainder belonging to the slave. This is because the Mukharajah is a contract between the two parties, and one party cannot be compelled into it, similar to the contract of Kitabah (manumission upon payment). Furthermore, if the slave requests it and the master refuses, the master is not compelled, based on this same principle.