What is the legal status of a Mukatab (partially freed slave) who dies before fulfilling the terms of his manumission agreement?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Mukātaba (Contractual Manumission)

Book 68 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The death of a Mukatab before fulfilling the terms of his agreement is treated as his inability to pay. This is because his master is entitled to take possession of whatever the Mukatab owns before the objective of the manumission contract (full freedom) is realized.