Chapter on the Contract of Manumission (mukataba)

إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ لَهُمْ مَالًا[4] قَالَ قُلْتُ‌ وَ آتُوهُمْ مِنْ مالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتاكُمْ‌ قَالَ تَضَعُ عَنْهُ مِنْ نُجُومِهِ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَنْقُصَهُ مِنْهَا شَيْئاً وَ لَا تَزِيدُهُ فَوْقَ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ‌[5] فَقُلْتُ كَمْ قَالَ وَضَعَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع لِمَمْلُوكٍ لَهُ أَلْفاً مِنْ سِتَّةِ آلَافٍ.

Hadith.3469 - Muhammad ibn Sinan narrated from al-Ala' ibn al-Fudayl, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "Then write [a contract of emancipation] for them if you know any good in them" (Surah An-Nur 24:33). Imam (as) said: "If you know that they possess wealth." I aske

لَا يُرَدُّ فِي الرِّقِّ حَتَّى يَمْضِيَ لَهُ ثَلَاثُ سِنِينَ‌[1] وَ يُعْتَقُ مِنْهُ مِقْدَارُ مَا أَدَّى صَدْراً[2] فَإِذَا أَدَّى صَدْراً فَلَيْسَ لَهُمْ أَنْ يَرُدُّوهُ فِي الرِّقِّ.

I asked him about a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who had a condition stipulated that if he failed to make payments, he would return to slavery. What if he failed before paying anything? Imam (as) said: "He does not return to slavery until three years have passed. Whatever portion he has already pa

يُؤَدَّى عَنْهُ مِنْ مَالِ الصَّدَقَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ فِي الرِّقابِ‌[3].

Hadith.3471 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who was unable to complete the payments of his contract, although he had already paid part of it. Imam (as) said: "The remaining amount should be paid on his behalf from the charity funds, as Allah (

بَعْدَ مَا كَاتَبَهُ هَبْ لِي بَعْضَ مُكَاتَبَتِي وَ أُعَجِّلَ لَكَ مُكَاتَبَتِي أَ يَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ هِبَةً فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِذَا قَالَ تَحُطُّهُ عَنِّي وَ أُعَجِّلُ لَكَ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ‌[4].

Hadith.3472 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as), about a man who entered into a mukataba (a contract of emancipation) with his slave. After the contract, the slave said: "Forgive me part of my payments, and I will pay off the remainder early." Imam (as) said: "If it is given as a gift,

يَخْدُمُ الثَّانِي يَوْماً وَ يَخْدُمُ نَفْسَهُ يَوْماً[2] قُلْتُ فَإِنْ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ مَالًا قَالَ الْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَانِ بَيْنَ الَّذِي أَعْتَقَ وَ بَيْنَ الَّذِي أَمْسَكَ‌[3].

Hadith.3473 - Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati narrated from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (slave undera contract of emancipation) jointly owned by two partners, and one of them freed his share. Imam (as) said: "The slave serves the second partner one day and serves himself one day." I asked: "What if the slave dies a

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ مَمْلُوكاً لَهُ وَ قَدْ كَانَ مَوْلَاهُ يَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ ضَرِيبَةً فَرَضَهَا عَلَيْهِ‌[4] فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ وَ رَضِيَ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ الْمَوْلَى فَأَصَابَ الْمَمْلُوكُ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ مَالًا سِوَى مَا كَانَ يُعْطِي مَوْلَاهُ مِنَ الضَّرِيبَةِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَدَّى إِلَى سَيِّدِهِ مَا كَانَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ فَمَا اكْتَسَبَ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَهُوَ لِلْمَمْلُوكِ قَ

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who wanted to free his slave. The master had been taking an annual payment (tribute) from the slave and was satisfied with this arrangement. Meanwhile, the slave earned wealth from trade, in addition to paying the required tribute to his master. Abu Abdullah (as), said: "If the sl

غُلَامِي حُرٌّ وَ عَلَيْهِ عُمَالَةُ[4] كَذَا وَ كَذَا سَنَةً قَالَ هُوَ حُرٌّ وَ عَلَيْهِ الْعُمَالَةُ قُلْتُ إِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ حُرٌّ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ كَذَبَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَعْتَقَ- أَبَا نَيْزَرَ وَ عِيَاضاً وَ رِيَاحاً[5] وَ عَلَيْهِمْ عُمَالَةُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا سَنَةً وَ لَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ وَ كِسْوَتُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ فِي تِلْكَ السِّنِينَ‌[6].

I asked him about a man who said: "My slave is free, but he must work for me for such-and-such a number of years." Imam (as) said: "He is free, but he is obligated to fulfill the work." I said: "Ibn Abi Layla claims that he is free and is not obligated to do anything." Imam (as) said: "He has lied! Indeed, Imam Ali ibn

الْمُسْلِمُونَ عِنْدَ شُرُوطِهِمْ.

Hadith.3476 - Al-Qasim ibn Burayd narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who had a condition stipulated that if he failed to fulfill the contract, he would return to slavery. Imam (as) said: "Muslims are boun

يَجُوزُ عَلَيْهِ مَا شَرَطْتَ عَلَيْهِ‌[2].

Hadith.3477 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation). Imam (as) said: "What you have stipulated upon him is binding."

وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌[3] فِي مُكَاتَبَةٍ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَ قَدْ قَضَتْ عَامَّةَ مَا عَلَيْهَا[4] وَ قَدْ وَلَدَتْ وَلَداً فِي مُكَاتَبَتِهَا فَقَضَى فِي وَلَدِهَا أَنْ يُعْتَقَ مِنْهُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي عَتَقَ مِنْهَا وَ يُرَقَّ مِنْهُ مِثْلَ مَا رُقَّ مِنْهَا.

Hadith.3478 - Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), ruled regarding a mukatabah (a female slave under a contract of emancipation) who passed away after having paid most of what was required of her and had given birth to a child during her contract. Imam (as) ruled that the child should be freed in prop

يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ لَا يَتَزَوَّجَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنٍ مِنْهُ إِنَّ لَهُمْ شَرْطَهُمْ‌[5].

Hadith.3479 - Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) whose master stipulated that he should not marry without the master's permission until he fulfills his contract. Imam (as) said: "He should not marry without the master's permission, for

يُؤَدِّي ابْنُهُ بَقِيَّةَ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ وَ يُعْتَقُ وَ يَرِثُ مَا بَقِيَ‌[7].

Hadith.3480 - Jamil ibn Darraj narrated from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who dies after having paid part of his contract. He had a son from his bondwoman and left behind wealth. Imam (as) said: "His son shall pay the remaining amount of the contract, be freed, and i

فَلْيُكَاتِبْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ وَ لَا يَمْنَعُهُ الْمُكَاتَبَةُ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَالٌ‌[1] فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَرْزُقُ الْعِبَادَ بَعْضَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَالْمُحْسِنُ مُعَانٌ‌[2].

Hadith.3481 - Sama'ah asked him about a slave whose master enters into a mukataba (a contract of emancipation) with him, knowing that the slave possesses neither a little nor much wealth. Imam (as) said: "Let him enter into the mukataba, even if the slave has to ask others for help. The lack of wealth should not preven

قَالَ ع‌[3] فِي رَجُلٍ مَلَكَ مَمْلُوكاً لَهُ‌[4] فَسَأَلَ صَاحِبَهُ الْمُكَاتَبَةَ أَ لَهُ أَنْ لَا يُكَاتِبَهُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْغَلَاءِ قَالَ نَعَمْ‌[5].

Hadith.3482 - Imam (as) was asked about a man who owned a slave, and the slave requested a mukataba (a contract of emancipation). Is the master allowed to set the terms of the mukataba at a high price? Imam (as) said: "Yes."

يَأْخُذُهُ‌ مَوَالِيهِ بِشَرْطِهِمْ‌[1].

Hadith.3483 - Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who enters into the contract with his masters, and they stipulate that if he fails to complete the payments, he will return to slavery, and whatever they have already received from him wi

لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يُحْدِثَ فِي مَالِهِ إِلَّا الْأَكْلَةَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ نِكَاحُهُ فَاسِدٌ مَرْدُودٌ قِيلَ فَإِنَّ سَيِّدَهُ عَلِمَ بِنِكَاحِهِ وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئاً قَالَ إِذَا صَمَتَ حِينَ يَعْلَمُ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ أَقَرَّ[3] قِيلَ فَإِنْ كَانَ الْمُكَاتَبُ أُعْتِقَ أَ فَتَرَى أَنْ يُجَدِّدَ نِكَاحَهُ أَوْ يَمْضِيَ عَلَى النِّكَاحِ الْأَوَّلِ قَالَ يَمْضِي عَلَى نِكَاحِهِ‌[4].

Hadith.3484 - Mu'awiyah ibn Wahb narrated from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who entered into the contract on behalf of himself and his wealth. He had a female slave and was under a condition that he should not marry. He then freed the female slave and married her. Im

لَهُمْ خُذُوا مَا بَقِيَ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً قَالَ يَأْخُذُونَ مَا بَقِيَ ثُمَّ يُعْتَقُ‌[5] وَ قَالَ فِي الْمُكَاتَبِ يُؤَدِّي بَعْضَ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ وَ يَتْرُكُ ابْناً وَ يَتْرُكُ مَالًا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ قَالَ يُوَفَّى مَوَالِيَهُ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلِوَلَدِهِ‌[6].

Hadith.3485 - Ali ibn al-Nu'man narrated from Abu al-Sabbah, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who pays half of his contract and still owes the remaining half. Then he offers his masters the remaining amount as a lump sum payment. Imam (as) said: "They may take the r

إِنْ كَانَ اشْتُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ عَجَزَ فَهُوَ مَمْلُوكٌ رَجَعَ ابْنُهُ مَمْلُوكاً وَ الْجَارِيَةُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اشْتُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ أَدَّى ابْنُهُ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ وَ وَرِثَ مَا بَقِيَ.

Hadith.3486 - Ibn Abi Umayr narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who dies after having paid part of his contract and has a son from his bondwoman. Imam (as) said: "If it was stipulated in the contract that if he fails to complete the pa

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمُكَاتَبِ يَمُوتُ وَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ اشْتُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] فَوُلْدُهُ مَمَالِيكُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اشْتُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ سَعَى وُلْدُهُ فِي مُكَاتَبَةِ أَبِيهِمْ وَ عَتَقُوا إِذَا أَدَّوْا.

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who dies and leaves behind children. Imam (as) said: "If it was stipulated in the contract that failure to complete the payments would result in returning to slavery, then his children are slaves. However, if no such condition was sti

وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي مُكَاتَبٍ اشْتُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ وَلَاؤُهُ إِذَا أُعْتِقَ فَنَكَحَ وَلِيدَةً لِرَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَوَلَدَتْ لَهُ وَلَداً فَحُرِّرَ وَلَدُهُ‌[4] ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ الْمُكَاتَبُ فَوَرِثَهُ وَلَدُهُ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي وَلَدِهِ مَنْ يَرِثُهُ فَأَلْحَقَ وَلَدَهُ‌

"If a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) stipulates with his master that there will be no wala' (loyalty) upon him, or if the master stipulates that the wala' of the mukatab will belong to him and the mukatab agrees, then the wala' belongs to the master." Imam (as) said: "Commander of the Faithful, peac

وَ قَضَى عَلِيٌّ ع‌[1] فِي مُكَاتَبَةٍ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَ قَدْ قَضَتْ عَامَّةَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهَا فَوَلَدَتْ وَلَداً فِي مُكَاتَبَتِهَا فَقَضَى فِي وَلَدِهَا أَنَّهُ يَعْتِقُ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَتَقَ مِنْهَا وَ يَرِقُّ مِنْهُ مِثْلُ الَّذِي رَقَّ مِنْهَا.

Hadith.3489 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) ruled regarding a mukatabah (a female slave under a contract of emancipation) who passed away after having paid most of what was required of her and had given birth to a child during her contract. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) ruled that the child would be freed in proportion to

شَرْطُ اللَّهِ قَبْلَ شَرْطِكَ‌[3].

Hadith.3490 - Umar, the companion of al-Karabis, narrated from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a man who entered into a mukataba (a contract of emancipation) with his slave and stipulated that the slave's inheritance would belong to him (the master). This case was presented to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) , who invalidated

الْخَيْرُ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ يَكُونَ بِيَدِهِ عَمَلٌ يَكْتَسِبُ بِهِ أَوْ يَكُونَ لَهُ حِرْفَةٌ[4].

Hadith.3491 - Al-Ala' narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "Then write [a contract of emancipation] for them if you know any good in them" (Surah An-Nur 24:33). Imam (as) said: "The 'good' refers to bearing witness that there is no god

أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَهُمْ شُرُوطُهُمْ وَ قَالَ ع يُنْتَظَرُ بِالْمُكَاتَبِ‌[6] ثَلَاثَةَ أَنْجُمٍ فَإِنْ هُوَ عَجَزَ رُدَّ رَقِيقاً.

Hadith.3492 - It is narrated from Al-Qasim ibn Sulayman, from Abu Abdullah (as): Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) used to allow a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) to continue working to pay off his contract, because at that time they did not stipulate that if he failed, he would return to slavery. Abu Abdu

سَمِعْتُ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ لَا يُكَاتِبْهُ عَلَى الَّذِي أَرَادَ أَنْ يُكَاتِبَهُ ثُمَّ يَزِيدُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَضَعُ عَنْهُ وَ لَكِنَّهُ يَضَعُ عَنْهُ مِمَّا نَوَى أَنْ يُكَاتِبَهُ عَلَيْهِ.

Hadith.3493 - He said: I asked him about the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "And give them from the wealth of Allah (swt) which He has given you" (Surah An-Nur 24:33). Imam (as) said: I heard my father, peace be upon him, say: "He should not set the amount for the mukataba (contract of emancipation) an