Chapter on Emancipation and Its Rulings

مَنْ أَعْتَقَ مُؤْمِناً أَعْتَقَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ عُضْوٍ مِنْهُ عُضْواً مِنَ النَّارِ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ أُنْثَى أَعْتَقَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ عُضْوَيْنِ مِنْهَا عُضْواً مِنَ النَّارِ لِأَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ بِنِصْفِ الرَّجُلِ[2]

Hadith.3433 - The Messenger of Allah (swt), peace be upon him and his family, said: "Whoever frees a believing slave, Allah (swt) will free a limb of his from the Fire for every limb of the slave. And if it is a female slave, Allah (swt) will free two limbs of his for every limb of hers from the Fire, because a woman i

يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَتَقَرَّبَ عَشِيَّةَ عَرَفَةَ وَ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ بِالْعِتْقِ وَ الصَّدَقَةِ.

"It is recommended for a man to draw closer to Allah (swt) on the evening of Arafah and the Day of Arafah through freeing slaves and giving charity."

إِذَا مَلَكَ الرَّجُلُ وَالِدَيْهِ أَوْ أُخْتَهُ أَوْ عَمَّتَهُ أَوْ خَالَتَهُ أَوِ ابْنَةَ أَخِيهِ أَوِ ابْنَةَ أُخْتِهِ وَ ذَكَرَ أَهْلَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ[3] مِنَ النِّسَاءِ عَتَقُوا جَمِيعاً وَ يَمْلِكُ الرَّجُلُ عَمَّهُ وَ ابْنَ

"If a man owns his parents, or his sister, or his paternal aunt, or his maternal aunt, or his brother's daughter, or his sister's daughter"-and he mentioned the women listed in this verse-"then they all become free. However, a man may own his paternal uncle, or his brother's son, or his sister's son, or his maternal un

إِنْ كَانَ مُوسِراً كُلِّفَ أَنْ يَضْمَنَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مُعْسِراً أُخْدِمَتْ بِالْحِصَصِ‌[3].

Hadith.3436 - Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a bondwoman who was jointly owned by two people, and one of them freed his share. Imam (as) said: "If he is financially capable, he is required to pay and compensate for the remaining share. But if he is financially incapable, she continues

يُقَوَّمُ قِيمَةَ يَوْمٍ حَرَّرَ الْأَوَّلُ وَ أُمِرَ الْمُحَرَّرُ أَنْ يَسْعَى فِي نِصْفِهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يُحَرَّرْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَهُ.

Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, ruled regarding a slave who was jointly owned by two men. One of them freed his half while the slave was still a child, and the other retained ownership of his half. Imam (as) said: "The slave shall be valued based on his worth on the day the first owner freed his share, an

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلرَّجُلَيْنِ يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا اَلْأَمَةُ فَيُعْتِقُ أَحَدُهُمَا نِصْفَهُ فَتَقُولُ اَلْأَمَةُ لِلَّذِي لَمْ يُعْتِقْ نِصْفَهُ لاَ أُرِيدُ أَنْ تُقَوِّمَنِي ذَرْنِي كَمَا أَنَا أَخْدُمْكَ وَ أَنَّهُ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَنْكِحَ اَلنِّصْفَ اَلْآخَرَ قَالَ "لاَ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَكُونُ لِلْمَرْأَةِ فَرْجَانِ وَ لاَ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَس

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about two men who jointly own a female slave. One of them frees his half, and the slave says to the one who did not free his half, "I do not want to be valued; leave me as I am, and I will continue serving you." Meanwhile, the owner intends to marry the other half of her. Imam (as) said: "He

إِنْ كَانَ مُضَارّاً كُلِّفَ أَنْ يُعْتِقَهُ كُلَّهُ وَ إِلَّا اسْتُسْعِيَ الْعَبْدُ فِي النِّصْفِ الْآخَرِ[2].

Hadith.3439 - Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), that he was asked about two men who jointly owned a slave, and one of them freed his share. Imam (as) said: "If he did so with the intent of causing harm, he will be required to free the slave completely. Otherwise, the slave must work to pay off the

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ وَرِثَ غُلَاماً وَ لَهُ فِيهِ شُرَكَاءُ فَأَعْتَقَ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ نَصِيبَهُ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَعْتَقَ نَصِيبَهُ مُضَارَّةً وَ هُوَ مُوسِرٌ ضَمِنَ لِلْوَرَثَةِ وَ إِذَا أَعْتَقَ نَصِيبَهُ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَانَ الْغُلَامُ قَدْ أُعْتِقَ مِنْهُ حِصَّةُ مَنْ أَعْتَقَ وَ يَسْتَعْمِلُونَهُ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا لَهُمْ فِيهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ نِصْفُهُ عَمِلَ لَهُمْ يَوْماً وَ لَهُ ي

I said to Abu Abdullah (as), "A man inherited a slave, and there were partners with him in the ownership of the slave. He freed his share for the sake of Allah (swt)." Imam (as) said: "If he freed his share with the intent of causing harm while being financially capable, he must compensate the heirs. But if he freed hi

لَا عِتْقَ إِلَّا مَا أُرِيدَ بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ[3]

Hadith.3441 - Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as): "There is no valid emancipation except that which is done sincerely for the sake of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic."

مَتَى آتِيهَا فَهِيَ حُرَّةٌ ثُمَّ يَبِيعُهَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ ثُمَّ يَشْتَرِيهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَأْتِيَهَا قَدْ خَرَجَتْ مِنْ مِلْكِهِ.

I asked him about a man who owned a bondwoman and said: "Whenever I approach her, she will be free." Then he sold her to another man and later bought her back. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in approaching her, as she had exited his ownership."

لِثَلَاثَةِ مَمَالِيكَ لَهُ أَنْتُمْ أَحْرَارٌ وَ كَانَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَعْتَقْتَ مَمَالِيكَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَ يَجِبُ‌ عِتْقُ الْأَرْبَعَةِ حِينَ أَجْمَلَهُمْ أَوْ هُوَ لِلثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ أَعْتَقَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَجِبُ الْعِتْقُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ.

I asked him about a man who said to three of his slaves, "You are free," while he actually had four slaves. Then someone said to him: "You have freed all your slaves." He replied: "Yes." I asked: "Is the emancipation binding for all four because he generalized them, or is it limited to the three whom he specifically me

بِمَنْزِلَتِهَا إِنَّمَا جَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لِلْأَوَّلِ‌[1] وَ هُوَ فِي الْآخَرِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ أَعْتَقَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَ.

Hadith.3444 - Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a man who married his bondwoman to another man and stipulated that any child she bore would be free. Then her husband either divorced her or died, and she was married to another man. I asked: "What is the status of her child in this case?"

لَا طَلَاقَ قَبْلَ نِكَاحٍ وَ لَا عِتْقَ قَبْلَ مِلْكٍ[2]

Hadith.3445 - The Messenger of Allah (swt), peace be upon him and his family, said: "There is no divorce before marriage, and there is no emancipation before ownership."

لِغُلَامِهِ أُعْتِقُكَ عَلَى أَنْ أُزَوِّجَكَ جَارِيَتِي هَذِهِ فَإِنْ نَكَحْتَ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَسَرَّيْتَ فَعَلَيْكَ مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ فَأَعْتَقَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَنَكَحَ أَوْ تَسَرَّى أَ عَلَيْهِ مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ وَ يَجُوزُ شَرْطُهُ قَالَ يَجُوزُ عَلَيْهِ شَرْطُهُ‌[3].

Hadith.3446 - Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdullah asked him about a man who said to his slave, "I will free you on the condition that I marry you to this bondwoman of mine. However, if you marry another woman or take another concubine, you will be liable for one hundred dinars." Then he freed him based on this condition, an

فِي رَجُلٍ أَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يُزَوِّجَهُ ابْنَتَهُ وَ شَرَطَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ تَزَوَّجَ أَوْ تَسَرَّى عَلَيْهَا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قَالَ يَجُوزُ[4]

Hadith.3447 - Abu Abdullah (as), was asked about a man who freed his slave on the condition that he marries his daughter and stipulated that if he marries another woman or takes another concubine, he would be liable for a specific amount. Imam (as) said: "It is permissible."

لَا[1].

Hadith.3448 - Ya'qub ibn Shu'ayb asked him about a man who freed his bondwoman on the condition that she serves him for five years. However, she ran away, and then the man died. Ya'qub asked: "If his heirs find her, do they have the right to make her serve them?" Imam (as) said: "No."

إِنْ كَانَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ مَالًا تَبِعَهُ مَالُهُ وَ إِلَّا فَهُوَ لِلْمُعْتِقِ‌[2] وَ فِي رَجُلٍ بَاعَ مَمْلُوكاً وَ لَهُ مَالٌ قَالَ إِنْ عَلِمَ مَوْلَاهُ الَّذِي بَاعَهُ أَنَّ لَهُ مَالًا فَالْمَالُ لِلْمُشْتَرِي وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَعْلَمِ الْبَائِعُ فَالْمَالُ لِلْبَائِعِ.

Hadith.3449 - Jamil narrated from Zurarah, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) and Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), regarding a man who freed a slave that had wealth. The Imams (as) said: "If he knew that the slave had wealth, then the wealth belongs to the freed slave. But if he did

إِذَا كَانَ لِلرَّجُلِ مَمْلُوكٌ فَأَعْتَقَهُ وَ هُوَ يَعْلَمُ[3] أَنَّ لَهُ مَالًا وَ لَمْ يَكُنِ اسْتَثْنَى السَّيِّدُ الْمَالَ حِينَ أَعْتَقَهُ فَهُوَ لِلْعَبْدِ.

"If a man has a slave and frees him, knowing that the slave has wealth, and the master did not exclude the wealth at the time of freeing him, then the wealth belongs to the slave."

سَأَلَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‌[4] عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَعْتَقَ عَبْداً لَهُ وَ

Hadith.3451 - Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdullah asked him about a man who freed his slave, and the slave had wealth. Then the man who freed the slave passed away. Abd al-Rahman asked: "To whom does the wealth of the slave belong? Does it go to the one who freed the slave, or does it belong to the slave?" Imam (as) said: "

إِنْ كَانَ قِيمَةُ الْعَبْدِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ وَ مِثْلَهُ‌[1] جَازَ عِتْقُهُ وَ إِلَّا لَمْ يَجُزْ[2].

Hadith.3452 - Jamil narrated from Zurarah, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a man who freed his slave at the time of his death while he was in debt. Imam (as) said: "If the value of the slave equals the amount of his debt or more, the emancipation is valid. Otherwise, it is not valid."

إِنْ مِتُّ فَعَبْدِي حُرٌّ وَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ دَيْنٌ قَالَ إِنْ تُوُفِّيَ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِثَمَنِ الْعَبْدِ بِيعَ الْعَبْدُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَاطَ بِثَمَنِ الْعَبْدِ اسْتُسْعِيَ الْعَبْدُ فِي قَضَاءِ دَيْنِ مَوْلَاهُ وَ هُوَ حُرٌّ بِهِ إِذَا أَوْفَاهُ‌[1].

"If I die, my slave is free," while the man was in debt. Imam (as) said: "If he dies and his debt equals the value of the slave, the slave shall be sold to pay off the debt. But if the debt does not equal the value of the slave, the slave must work to pay off his master's debt, and he becomes free once the debt is full

إِنَّ أَبِي ع تَرَكَ سِتِّينَ مَمْلُوكاً وَ أَوْصَى بِعِتْقِ ثُلُثِهِمْ فَأَقْرَعْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ فَأَخْرَجْتُ عِشْرِينَ فَأَعْتَقْتُهُمْ[2].

"My father, peace be upon him, left sixty slaves and instructed in his will to free one-third of them. So, I cast lots among them and selected twenty, then I freed them."

إِنْ كَانَ الشَّاهِدُ مَرْضِيّاً لَمْ يَضْمَنْ وَ جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُ فِي نَصِيبِهِ وَ اسْتُسْعِيَ الْعَبْدُ فِيمَا كَانَ لِلْوَرَثَةِ[3].

I asked Imam (as) about a man who left a slave jointly owned by several people, and one of them testified that the deceased had freed the slave. Imam (as) said: "If the witness is trustworthy, he does not have to compensate the others, and his testimony is valid for his share. As for the remaining shares belonging to t