That person may be a spouse or another relative, and if a stranger spends on maintenance intending to be reimbursed, he is entitled to recover the amount. No maintenance is obligatory between people of different religions, save in the bond of walāʾ (clientage through manumission).

Section

The master must provide his slave with food, clothing, lodging, and—should the slave request it—a wife. He may travel with his married slave and make use of him during the day. He is further obliged to preserve the chastity of his female slave, either by having intercourse with her himself, marrying her off, or selling her.

It is unlawful for him to strike the slave on the face, to curse the slave’s parents even if they are unbelievers, or to burden the slave with work beyond his capacity. He must grant the slave rest at midday, at night, and during the times of the obligatory prayers. It is recommended¹ that he provide medical care if the slave falls ill and that he feed him from the food he himself eats. He may shackle the slave if he fears for him and may discipline him, but no supererogatory act² performed by a runaway slave is valid.

A man may likewise discipline his wife and his child—even once the child has reached legal adulthood—by administering a light, non-injurious beating. He is not obliged to sell his slave so long as he continues to fulfill the slave’s rights.