Manumission of Slaves

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: “Any man who frees a Muslim enslaved person, Allah will free from the Fire a limb of his for every limb of that person.” Said ibn Marjana went to Ali ibn al-Husayn, who freed an enslaved person for whom Abdullah ibn Ja‘far had offered ten thousand dirhams—or one thousand dinars.

Abu Dharr said: I asked the Prophet, “Which deed is best?” He replied, “Faith in Allah and striving in His cause.” I asked, “Which enslaved person is best to free?” He said, “The one with the highest price and most valued by its owners.” I asked, “What if I cannot do that?” He replied, “Help a worker or work for someone who is inept.” I asked, “What if I cannot do that?” He said, “Refrain from harming people; that is charity you give to yourself.”

Asma bint Abi Bakr reported that during a solar eclipse, the Prophet instructed people to free enslaved persons. Ali transmitted a supporting version from al-Darawardi, from Hisham.

Asma bint Abi Bakr reported that at a lunar eclipse, we were instructed to free enslaved persons.

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said: “If a person frees an enslaved person jointly owned by two people, and he is wealthy, the person is fairly valued against him and then freed.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever frees his share in an enslaved person, and has enough wealth to cover the person’s price, the person is fairly valued. He pays his partners their shares, and the person is fully freed. Otherwise, only the share he freed is freed.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever frees a share in an enslaved person must free the whole person if he has enough wealth to cover the price. If he does not, the person is fairly valued, and only the share he freed is freed.” A second chain transmitted an abridged version.

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever frees a share in an enslaved person or a share in a slave, and has enough wealth to cover its fair value, then the person is fully free.” Nafi said, “Otherwise, only the part he freed is freed.” Ayyub said, “I do not know whether this was something Nafi said or something in the hadith.”

Ibn Umar used to rule concerning an enslaved man or woman jointly owned by partners, when one partner freed a share, that the whole person had to be freed if the one who freed the share had enough wealth. A fair valuation was made from his wealth, the partners were paid their shares, and the freed person was released. Ibn Umar attributed this ruling to the Prophet. Al-Layth, Ibn Abi Dhi’b, Ibn Ishaq, Juwayriya, Yahya ibn Said, and Ismail ibn Umayya also transmitted it from Nafi, from Ibn Umar, from the Prophet, in an abbreviated form.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever frees a share of an enslaved person…”

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever frees a share in an enslaved person, the cost of freeing the whole person is due from his wealth if he has wealth. Otherwise, the person is fairly valued and required to work to pay for it, without being overburdened.” Hajjaj ibn Hajjaj, Aban, and Musa ibn Khalaf also transmitted it from Qatada. Shu‘ba transmitted an abbreviated version.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said: “Allah has pardoned my community for the thoughts that occur within them, so long as they do not act on them or speak of them.”

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that the Prophet said: “Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended. Whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration was for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly gain or to marry a woman, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”

Abu Hurayra said that when he set out intending to embrace Islam, he and his enslaved servant lost one another. Later the servant arrived while Abu Hurayra was sitting with the Prophet. The Prophet said, “Abu Hurayra, here is your servant; he has come to you.” Abu Hurayra said, “I call you to witness that he is free.” He then recited: “What a long and arduous night, though it rescued us from the land of disbelief…” The source text ends here.

Abu Hurayra said: When I arrived to meet the Prophet, I recited on the way, “What a long and arduous night, though it rescued us from the land of disbelief.” One of my enslaved servants had run away on the road. When I arrived, I pledged allegiance to the Prophet. While I was with him, the servant appeared. The Messenger of Allah said, “Abu Hurayra, this is your servant.” I replied, “He is free for Allah’s sake,” and freed him. Abu Kurayb’s transmission from Abu Usama does not include the word “free.”

Qays reported that when Abu Hurayra set out with his servant seeking Islam, they lost one another. Abu Hurayra said, “I call you to witness that he belongs to Allah.”

Aisha reported that Utba ibn Abi Waqqas had instructed his brother, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, to take custody of the son of Zam‘a’s enslaved woman, saying, “He is my son.” When the Messenger of Allah arrived in the year of the Conquest, Sa‘d took the son of Zam‘a’s enslaved woman and brought him to the Messenger of Allah, accompanied by Abd ibn Zam‘a. Sa‘d said, “Messenger of Allah, this is my brother’s son; he instructed me that he is his son.” Abd ibn Zam‘a said, “Messenger of Allah, this is my brother, the son of Zam‘a’s enslaved woman; he was born in his father’s bed.” The Messenger of Allah looked at him and saw that he resembled Utba more than anyone. He said, “He is yours, Abd ibn Zam‘a, because he was born in his father’s bed.” Then he said, “Sawda bint Zam‘a, veil yourself from him,” because of the resemblance he had seen to Utba. Sawda was the Prophet’s wife.

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that a man among them had made his enslaved person a mudabbar, to be freed after his death. The Prophet summoned him and sold him. Jabir said that the man had died the previous year.

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah prohibited selling the wala’ (the bond of clientage resulting from emancipation) or giving it away.