ten riyals on an average day, and they agree on a manumission contract of eight, then this is permissible. But if he normally earns ten and they agree on a manumission contract of twelve, it is not permissible, because this is more than he can bear. It is said that al-Zubayr had one thousand slaves and made manumission contracts with them: each one of them would bring him one dirham every day (1), so that one thousand dirhams came to him each day while he lay in his bed.

What, then, is the benefit of a manumission contract? The scholars differed concerning this. Some of them said that its benefit is that, once the slave has earned the agreed amount, he is free for the remainder of his time: he may work if he wishes, sleep if he wishes, or go out with his brothers and companions if he wishes. Suppose that they agree on a manumission contract of ten riyals a day, and this slave earns ten riyals from morning until noon. In that case, he is free for the rest of his day, from noon until the afternoon: he may sleep if he wishes, seek knowledge, or go out into the open country. Now suppose that by the end of the day this slave has earned five riyals, and his master says, “Give them to me. You and all that you possess belong to me,” and takes them from him. Is this permissible?

According to the established position of the madhhab, it is permissible. Thus, according to the madhhab, the benefit of the manumission contract is that once he has earned the agreed amount, he may rest: he may work if he wishes or refrain from working if he wishes. Were there no manumission contract between them, however, the master would have the right to keep him occupied from morning until the end of the day.

Some scholars said that the benefit of the manumission contract is that whatever the slave earns in addition to the agreed amount belongs to him, and he is free to dispose of it.