What is the ruling if an owner becomes unable or refuses to maintain their animal?

Chapter on Maintenance of Slaves

Al-Mughni

Book of Maintenance (Nafaqāt)

Book 46 · Issue 2 · Bab 4

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the owner is unable to provide maintenance and refuses to sell the animal, the animal must be sold on their behalf. This is analogous to a slave being sold when their master is insolvent regarding their maintenance, and analogous to a marriage being dissolved when the husband is insolvent regarding his wife's maintenance.