The ruling when a master instructs forgiveness of a specific installment payment of a Mukatab without specifying which one.
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Mukātaba (Contractual Manumission)
Primary text
If the master says, 'Forgive him one of his installments,' they may forgive any installment they choose, as the wording refers to one unspecified installment. This applies whether the installments are equal or different, because the utterance encompasses any one of them not specifically designated. If the master says, 'Forgive him whichever installment you wish,' the decision rests with the master's will, obligating forgiveness of the installment he chooses, as the master has delegated the choice to him.