26 – Book of Runaway Slaves (Kitab al-Ibaq)

If a slave absconds and someone returns him to his master from a distance of three days’ travel or more, that person is entitled to a reward of forty dirhams. If the return is from a shorter distance, he receives the reward in proportion to that distance. Should the slave’s market value be less than forty dirhams, the court grants the rescuer the slave’s value minus one dirham. If the slave runs away again after being restored, the rescuer bears no liability. It is advisable, when seizing the slave, to summon witnesses and declare that he is being taken only to be returned. If the runaway slave had been pledged as collateral, the reward is to be paid by the pledgee.