and anyone who wishes may see him, so there is no defect in him warranting rejection. As for the woman, if the husband has been negligent, divorce is in his hands.

He was also asked—may Allah have mercy upon him:

“A man bought a slave on condition that the seller be exempt from liability for all defects except running away. After the purchase, the slave ran away from him. What is the seller liable for?”

He replied:

“If the seller acknowledges that the slave had run away before the sale, this is a defect entitling the buyer to return him. If the seller concealed this defect and the slave subsequently ran away while in the buyer’s possession, then, according to one of the two views, the buyer may demand repayment of the full price. This is the position of Mālik and of Ahmad according to one of the two reports from him; indeed, it is the ruling he expressly stated.”