His statement: “and let him ride in turns with him when traveling.” In the past, people’s mounts were camels, donkeys, mules, and horses. Such riding animals may not be able to bear two riders, so he must let the slave ride in turns with him. Taking turns means that the master rides for a while and the slave for a while.

The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that this applies whether or not it causes hardship to the slave. But, in light of the preceding hadith—“and do not burden him with work beyond his capacity” (1)—we say: if this slave is energetic and does not mind walking, then the master is not required to let him take turns riding; rather, doing so is preferable and an act of humility.

His statement: “If he requests marriage, he should marry him off or sell him.” If the slave requests marriage, his master must arrange his marriage, because marrying him off is part of his maintenance; alternatively, he may sell him to someone whom he reasonably expects will arrange his marriage. But selling him to someone who will not marry him off, or who may be harsher than his former master, serves no purpose.

His statement: “If a female slave requests it, he should have intercourse with her, marry her off, or sell her.” If a female slave requests marriage, the master may discharge his obligation to preserve her chastity in one of three ways: by having intercourse with her, marrying her off, or selling her.

His statement: “or sell her” is not unrestricted. Rather, he must sell her to someone able to preserve her chastity, either by having intercourse with her or by being a man of piety. It is therefore understood that, if he is unable to have intercourse with her, he must not leave her neglected. As for selling her to someone who will not fulfill this obligation, that is impermissible, for there is no difference between her remaining with him abandoned and being sold to a man who will abandon her.