Who is responsible for the Zakat al-Fitr (Fidya) of a Muslim slave shared by two masters?
Chapter on Zakat al-Fitr
Al-Mughni
Book of Zakat
Primary text
The Zakat al-Fitr is incumbent upon both masters due to the slave being a Muslim and the obligation of his Fitra being due to two eligible parties, treating it like a jointly owned obligation. If one master is indigent, he is excused, and the entire obligation falls upon the other master for the amount that was his due. This obligation is not affected by any prior agreement between the masters concerning the usufruct (mahay'ah) of the slave, as such an agreement concerns compensation of earnings, while Fitra is a right of Allah and cannot be included in such an arrangement, similar to prayer.
Supporting text
Imam Malik holds that the free man (the slave who has earned something or in whose case the ruling applies) is responsible only for his share, and the slave bears no responsibility. Al-Shafi'i and Abu Thawr agree with the primary ruling. The ruling is analogous to that of a jointly owned slave. It is also established that if paternity is attributed to two or more men, the ruling concerning the Fitra follows that of the jointly owned slave. Likewise, if a free man whose sustenance is incumbent upon multiple relatives, his Fitra is incumbent upon them similarly to the jointly owned slave.