Are heavy drunkenness or severe foolishness defects in a slave?

Chapter on Selling the Musarrah (Animal with milk retained in udder)

Al-Mughni

Book of Sales

Book 12 · Issue 6 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a slave drinks wine or becomes intoxicated from *nabidh* (fermented drink), this is a defect, as established by Ahmad, because it subjects him to a prescribed punishment (*hadd*), similar to adultery. Severe foolishness (*humq shadid*) and arrogance toward people are also defects, as they necessitate constant discipline, potentially leading to the slave's ruin. These are only defects in the adult slave, not the young one, as they are attributed to the slave's own actions.