If Someone Captures a Fugitive Slave and He Escapes Again

A man caught a runaway slave in order to return him to his master. That slave ran away from him as well. Both of them, disputing, came to Hazrat Shurayh. He made that man a guarantor. When Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was informed of this decision, he said: "The judge made a mistake. He should have made him swear an oath that the slave ran away from him, and there would be no guarantee upon him."

Hazrat Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) says that if a person catches a runaway (slave) to return him, and that slave runs away from him as well, then nothing is obligatory upon him.

Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said that nothing is obligatory upon him.

It is narrated from Hazrat Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) that a man caught a runaway slave, but the slave ran away from him as well. The slave’s master came, and the case of both was brought before Hazrat Shurayh. He said: The slave had already run away from you before, therefore nothing is obligatory upon him.

Hazrat Ibn Jurayj (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Hazrat Ibn Abi Mulaykah said to me: If a runaway slave runs away even from his (new master's) place, then nothing is obligatory upon him.

Hazrat Qatadah, Hazrat Hashim, and Mansur (may Allah have mercy on them) say that if a runaway slave escapes from the person who caught him, then nothing is obligatory upon that person.