Chapter on Ensuring the Absence of Pregnancy in Bondwomen (istibra)

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَشْتَرِي الْجَارِيَةَ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ الْمَأْمُونِ فَيُخْبِرُنِي أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَمَسَّهَا مُنْذُ طَمِثَتْ عِنْدَهُ وَ طَهُرَتْ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِجَائِزٍ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهَا حَتَّى تَسْتَبْرِئَهَا بِحَيْضَةٍ وَ لَكِنْ يَجُوزُ لَكَ مَا دُونَ الْفَرْجِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ الْإِمَاءَ ثُمَّ يَأْتُونَهُنَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْتَبْرِءُوهُنَّ فَأُولَئِكَ‌ الزُّنَاةُ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ‌[1].

I asked Abu Abdillah (as): "I purchase a bondwoman from a trustworthy man who informs me that he has not touched her since she menstruated and then purified herself. Is it permissible for me to have relations with her?" Imam (as) said: "It is not permissible for you to have relations with her until she undergoes one me

إِذَا اشْتَرَى الرَّجُلُ جَارِيَةً وَ هِيَ لَمْ تُدْرِكْ أَوْ قَدْ يَئِسَتْ مِنَ الْحَيْضِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ لَا يَسْتَبْرِئَهَا[2]

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى جَارِيَةً وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ صَاحِبُهَا يَطَؤُهَا أَ يَسْتَبْرِئُ رَحِمَهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ- قُلْتُ جَارِيَةٌ لَمْ تَحِضْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَ أَمْرُهَا شَدِيدٌ[3] فَإِنْ أَتَاهَا فَلَا يُنْزِلْ حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَ لَهُ أَنَّهَا حُبْلَى أَوْ لَا[4] قُلْتُ لَهُ فِي كَمْ يَسْتَبِينُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فِي خَمْسٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً[5].

I asked him about a man who purchased a bondwoman and her previous owner had not had relations with her. Should he still observe an istibra' (waiting period) for her womb? Imam (as) said: "Yes." I asked: "What about a bondwoman who has not yet menstruated? What should he do with her?" Imam (as) said: "Her matter is mor