and then emancipates three slaves and fasts two consecutive months, neither emancipation nor fasting suffices, for in effect he has set free only three-quarters of a slave for each wife and has fasted merely fifteen days for each. If, instead, he chooses feeding as the expiation, he may feed on their behalf two hundred and forty poor persons—or as many as he can afford—because, unlike emancipation and fasting, the two-month fast may not be divided whereas feeding may be apportioned.

The ẓihār pronounced by a slave is judged like that of a free man, and its expiation is the same, save that a slave cannot discharge it through manumission. Whether or not his master gives permission, he must therefore expiate by fasting; if he is unable to fast, he may move to feeding provided the master agrees. Should the master forbid him, he waits until he is able to fast, for the master has no right to stop him from fasting. Some scholars have said that the master may prevent him if he fears fasting will weaken the slave for his service and work; in that case, sixty poor persons are fed on the slave’s behalf. Allah is the granter of success.