Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, Commander of the Faithful, ruled regarding a mukatab (a slave who had a contract for freedom) who was killed: "The portion of him that had been freed is calculated, and the blood money for that part is paid as that of a free man, and the portion that remained in servitude is paid as the blood money of a slave." Imam عليه السلام also said: "A slave does not burden his family with any liability beyond himself."