Chapter on the Rulings Regarding Male Slaves and Female Bondwoman

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى جَارِيَةً مُدْرِكَةً وَ لَمْ تَحِضْ عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى مَضَى لَهَا سِتَّةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَ لَيْسَ بِهَا حَبَلٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مِثْلُهَا تَحِيضُ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْ كِبَرٍ فَهَذَا عَيْبٌ تُرَدُّ مِنْهُ‌[3].

I asked him about a man who purchased a mature bondwoman who had not menstruated while with him for six months, and there was no sign of pregnancy. Imam (as) said: "If it is customary for someone like her to menstruate, and her condition is not due to old age, then this is a defect for which she can be returned."

سَمِعْتُهُ وَ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى جَارِيَةً ثُمَّ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْتَبْرِئَ رَحِمَهَا قَالَ بِئْسَ مَا صَنَعَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَ لَا يَعُودُ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ بَاعَهَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَوَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَمْ يَسْتَبْرِئْ رَحِمَهَا ثُمَّ بَاعَهَا الثَّانِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَوَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا وَ لَمْ يَسْتَبْرِئْ رَحِمَهَا- فَاسْتَبَانَ حَمْلُهَا عِنْدَ الثَّالِثِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ ا

I heard him being asked about a man who purchased a bondwoman and had relations with her before observing an istibra' (waiting period) to ensure she was not pregnant. Imam (as) said: "What he did was wrong. He should seek forgiveness from Allah (swt) and not repeat it." Then it was said: "What if he sold her to another

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع‌ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ مِنَ الْإِمَاءِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَنْكِحُ أَوْ يُنْكِحُ‌[3] فَالْإِثْمُ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ بَغَيْنَ.

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Whoever acquires more bondwomen than he can marry or give in marriage, then the sin is upon him if they commit immorality."

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَحْرُمُ مِنَ الْإِمَاءِ عَشْرٌ لَا تَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الْأُمِّ وَ الِابْنَةِ وَ لَا بَيْنَ الْأُخْتَيْنِ وَ لَا أَمَتَكَ وَ هِيَ حَامِلٌ مِنْ غَيْرِكَ حَتَّى تَضَعَ‌[5] وَ لَا أَمَتَكَ وَ هِيَ عَمَّتُكَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ وَ لَا أَمَتَكَ وَ هِيَ خَالَتُكَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ وَ لَا أَمَتَكَ وَ هِيَ أُخْتُكَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ وَ لَا أَمَتَكَ وَ هِيَ ابْنَةُ أَخِيكَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ[6] وَ لَا

Abu Abdillah (as) said: "Ten categories of bondwomen are prohibited: You may not combine between a mother and her daughter. You may not combine between two sisters. You may not take your bondwoman if she is pregnant by another until she delivers. You may not take your bondwoman if she is your paternal aunt through brea

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَتَزَوَّجُ الرَّجُلُ الْأَمَةَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمِ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ هُوَ زِنًى إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ يَقُولُ- فَانْكِحُوهُنَّ بِإِذْنِ أَهْلِهِنَ‌.

I asked Abu Abdillah (as): "Can a man marry a bondwoman without the knowledge of her owners?" Imam (as) said: "That is considered fornication. Indeed, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, says: 'Then marry them with the permission of their owners' (Surah An-Nisa, 4:25)."

فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع أَنَّ الْوَلَدَ لَا يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئاً وَ يَأْخُذُ الْوَالِدُ مِنْ مَالِ وَلَدِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ[1] وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى جَارِيَةِ ابْنِهِ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ الِابْنُ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا.

In the book of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), it is written: "A child cannot take anything from the wealth of his father, but a father may take whatever he wishes from the wealth of his child. Additionally, a father is permitted to have relations with the bondwoman of his son, provided that the son has not had relations

فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ لَا يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى جَارِيَةِ ابْنَتِهِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهَا[2].

Hadith.4562 - And in another narration: "It is not permissible for a man to have relations with the bondwoman of his daughter except with her permission."

مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ جِمَاعٌ أَوْ مُبَاشَرَةٌ كَالْجِمَاعِ فَلَا بَأْسَ‌[4].

Hadith.4563 - Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj and Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who owns a bondwoman-does she become permissible for his son? Imam (as) said: "As long as there has been no intercourse or intimate contact similar to intercourse, then there is no harm."

قَالَ ع‌ كَانَ لِأَبِي ع جَارِيَتَانِ تَقُومَانِ عَلَيْهِ فَوَهَبَ لِي إِحْدَاهُمَا.

Hadith.4564 - Imam (as) said: "My father (as) had two bondwomans who served him, and he gifted one of them to me."

حُرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ أَرْبَعَ إِمَاءٍ[5].

Hadith.4565 - Imam (as) was asked about what is permissible for a male slave in terms of women. Imam (as) said: "Two free women or four bondwomen."

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ جَارِيَةٌ وَ كَانَ يَأْتِيهَا فَبَاعَهَا فَأُعْتِقَتْ وَ تَزَوَّجَتْ فَوَلَدَتْ ابْنَةً هَلْ تَصْلُحُ ابْنَتُهَا لِمَوْلَاهَا الْأَوَّلِ قَالَ هِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَرَامٌ‌[6].

I asked him about a man who had a bondwoman with whom he had relations. He then sold her, and she was later freed and married, giving birth to a daughter. Is her daughter permissible for her former master? Imam (as) said: "She is forbidden to him."

قَالَ: فِي جَارِيَةٍ لِرَجُلٍ وَ كَانَ يَأْتِيهَا فَأَسْقَطَتْ سِقْطاً مِنْهُ بَعْدَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْهُرٍ قَالَ هِيَ أُمُّ وَلَدٍ[1].

Hadith.4567 - Imam (as) said regarding a bondwoman who belonged to a man and with whom he had relations, and she miscarried his child after three months: "She is considered Umm Walad (the mother of his child)."

قَالَ: وَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ حُرَّةٍ تَزَوَّجَتْ عَبْداً عَلَى أَنَّهُ حُرٌّ ثُمَّ عَلِمَتْ بَعْدُ أَنَّهُ مَمْلُوكٌ قَالَ هِيَ أَمْلَكُ بِنَفْسِهَا إِنْ شَاءَتْ بَعْدَ عِلْمِهَا أَقَرَّتْ بِهِ وَ أَقَامَتْ مَعَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَتْ لَمْ تُقِمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الْعَبْدُ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَلَهَا الصَّدَاقُ بِمَا اسْتَحَلَّ مِنْ فَرْجِهَا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَالنِّكَاحُ بَاطِلٌ فَإِنْ أَقَرَّ

Hadith.4568 - I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a free woman who married a man thinking he was free, but later discovered that he was a slave. Imam (as) said: "She has authority over herself. After learning the truth, if she wishes, she may stay with him and accept him, or if she wishes, she m

إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَوْفَاهَا بَقِيَّةَ الْمَهْرِ حَتَّى بَاعَهَا فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا لِغَيْرِهِ‌[4] وَ إِذَا بَاعَهَا السَّيِّدُ فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنَ الزَّوْجِ الْحُرِّ إِذَا كَانَ يَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ[5]. وَ قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَنَّ بَيْعَ‌ الْأَمَةِ طَلَاقُهَا[1].

Hadith.4569 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Sadan ibn Muslim, from Abu Basir, from one of the Imams (peace be upon them), regarding a man who married his bondwoman to a free man for a dowry of four hundred dirhams. He paid two hundred dirhams in advance and delayed the payment of the remaining two hundred dirhams.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ مَمْلُوكٍ لِرَجُلٍ أَبَقَ مِنْهُ فَأَتَى أَرْضاً فَذَكَرَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ حُرٌّ مِنْ رَهْطِ بَنِي فُلَانٍ وَ أَنَّهُ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ أَهْلِ تِلْكَ الْأَرْضِ فَأَوْلَدَهَا أَوْلَاداً وَ أَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ مَاتَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ فِي يَدِهِ مَالًا وَ ضَيْعَةً وَ وَلَدَهَا ثُمَّ إِنَّ سَيِّدَهُ بَعْدُ أَتَى تِلْكَ الْأَرْضَ فَأَخَذَ الْعَبْدَ وَ جَمِيعَ مَا فِي يَدِهِ وَ أَذْعَنَ لَهُ ا

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a slave belonging to a man who fled and went to another land. There, he claimed to be a free man from a certain tribe and married a woman from that land, fathered children with her, and then she died, leaving behind wealth, property, and her children in his ca

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَذِنَ لِغُلَامِهِ فِي امْرَأَةٍ حُرَّةٍ فَتَزَوَّجَهَا ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ أَبَقَ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ الْعَبْدِ تَطْلُبُ نَفَقَتَهَا مِنْ مَوْلَى الْعَبْدِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ لَهَا عَلَى مَوْلَى الْعَبْدِ نَفَقَةٌ وَ قَدْ بَانَتْ عِصْمَتُهَا مِنْهُ لِأَنَّ إِبَاقَ الْعَبْدِ طَلَاقُ امْرَأَتِهِ وَ هُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُرْتَدِّ عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ هُوَ رَجَعَ إِلَى مَو

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who permitted his slave to marry a free woman. The slave then fled from his master, and the wife of the slave came seeking maintenance from the master of the slave. Imam (as) said: "She has no right to maintenance from the master of the slave, and her marriage bond with the slave i

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي امْرَأَةٍ أَمْكَنَتْ مِنْ نَفْسِهَا عَبْداً لَهَا فَنَكَحَهَا أَنْ تُضْرَبَ مِائَةً وَ يُضْرَبَ الْعَبْدُ خَمْسِينَ جَلْدَةً[3] وَ أَنْ يُبَاعَ بِصُغْرٍ مِنْهَا[4] وَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ‌ أَنْ يَبِيعَهَا عَبْداً مُدْرِكاً بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.

"Commander of the Faithful (as) ruled in the case of a woman who allowed her slave to have relations with her and married him: She is to be given one hundred lashes, and the slave is to be given fifty lashes. The slave is then to be sold in a manner that ensures he is distanced from her (bi-sughrin minha). It is forbid

لِلَّذِي لَمْ يَعْلَمْ وَ لَمْ يَأْذَنْ أَنْ يُفَرِّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا إِذَا عَلِمَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ عَلَى نِكَاحِهِ.

Hadith.4573 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Abdul-Aziz, from Ubayd ibn Zurarah, from Abu Abdillah (as) regarding a slave jointly owned by two men - one of them married him off without the knowledge of the other. Later, the second owner found out about the marriage. Imam (as) said: "The one who was unaware and did n

يُعْطِيهَا سَيِّدُهُ مِنْ ثَمَنِهِ نِصْفَ مَا فَرَضَ لَهَا إِنَّمَا هُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ دَيْنٍ اسْتَدَانَهُ بِإِذْنِ سَيِّدِهِ‌[1].

Hadith.4574 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah, from Abu al-Hasan (as) regarding a man who married his slave to a free woman for a dowry of one hundred dirhams. Then, before the slave consummated the marriage with her, the master sold him. Imam (as) said: "The master must give her half of the agreed

ذَلِكَ لَهُ قَالَ فَإِنْ خَافَ أَنْ تَكُونَ تَمْزَحُ قَالَ فَإِنْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهَا تَمْزَحُ فَلَا[2].

Hadith.4575 - Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Bazi asked Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) about a woman who permitted her husband to have relations with her bondwoman. Imam (as) said: "That is permissible for him." He then asked: "What if he fears that she might be joking?" Imam (as) said: "If he knows that she is joking, then

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِنَا رَوَى عَنْكَ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ إِذَا أَحَلَّ الرَّجُلُ لِأَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَرْجَ جَارِيَتِهِ فَهُوَ لَهُ حَلَالٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ نَعَمْ يَا فُضَيْلُ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ عِنْدَهُ جَارِيَةٌ لَهُ نَفِيسَةٌ وَ هِيَ بِكْرٌ أَحَلَّ لِأَخٍ لَهُ مَا دُونَ الْفَرْجِ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْتَضَّهَا قَالَ لَا لَيْسَ لَهُ إِلَّا مَا أَحَلَّ لَهُ مِنْهَ

I said to Abu Abdillah (as): "May I be your ransom! Some of our companions have narrated from you that you said if a man permits his believing brother to have relations with his bondwoman, then she is lawful for him." Imam (as) said: "Yes, O Fudayl." I asked: "What do you say about a man who has a precious bondwoman wh

هِيَ لَهُ حَلَالٌ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِوَلَدٍ مَا يَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ هُوَ لِمَوْلَى الْجَارِيَةِ[3] إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اشْتَرَطَ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ أَحَلَّهَا لَهُ أَنَّهَا إِنْ جَاءَتْ بِوَلَدٍ مِنِّي فَهُوَ حُرٌّ فَإِنْ كَانَ فَعَلَ فَهُوَ حُرٌّ قُلْتُ فَيَمْلِكُ وَلَدَهُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ اشْتَرَاهُ بِالْقِيمَةِ[4].

Hadith.4577 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Jamil ibn Darraj, from Durays ibn Abdul-Malik, from Abu Abdillah (as) regarding a man who permits his brother to have relations with his bondwoman, and she goes out to fulfill his needs. Imam (as) said: "She is lawful for him." I asked: "What if she gives birth to a child

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع الرَّجُلُ يُحِلُّ لِأَخِيهِ جَارِيَتَهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ جَاءَتْ بِوَلَدٍ فَقَالَ لِيَضُمَّ إِلَيْهِ وَلَدَهُ وَ لْيَرُدَّ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ جَارِيَتَهُ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَمْ يَأْذَنْ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَذِنَ لَهُ وَ لَا يَأْمَنُ أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ‌[6].

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who permits his brother to have relations with his bondwoman. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it." I asked: "What if she gives birth to a child?" Imam (as) said: "Let him take his child and return the bondwoman to her owner." I said: "But what if he

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ جَارِيَةٍ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ دَبَّرَاهَا جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ أَحَلَّ أَحَدُهُمَا فَرْجَهَا لِشَرِيكِهِ قَالَ هِيَ حَلَالٌ لَهُ وَ أَيُّهُمَا مَاتَ قَبْلَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَدْ صَارَ نِصْفُهَا حُرّاً مِنْ قِبَلِ الَّذِي مَاتَ وَ نِصْفُهَا مُدَبَّراً قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَرَادَ الْبَاقِي مِنْهُمَا أَنْ يَمَسَّهَا أَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَثْبُتَ عِتْقُهَا وَ يَتَزَوَّجَهَا بِرِضاً م

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a bondwoman jointly owned by two men, who both designated her as mudabbar (set to be freed after their death). Then, one of them permitted his partner to have relations with her. Imam (as) said: "She is lawful for him. If either of them dies before the other,

الْوُلْدُ أَحْرَارٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُ وَالِدَيْهِ حُرّاً فَالْوَلَدُ حُرٌّ[1].

Hadith.4580 - Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about a free man who marries a bondwoman belonging to a people. Are the children considered slaves or free? Imam (as) said: "The children are free." Then Imam (as) added: "If one of the parents is free, the child is free."

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ بِأَمَةٍ فَجَاءَتْ بِوَلَدٍ قَالَ يَلْحَقُ الْوَلَدُ بِأَبِيهِ قُلْتُ فَعَبْدٌ تَزَوَّجَ حُرَّةً قَالَ يَلْحَقُ الْوَلَدُ بِأُمِّهِ.

Hadith.4581 - Jamil ibn Darraj narrated that he asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who married a bondwoman, and she gave birth to a child. Imam (as) said: "The child is attributed to his father." I asked: "What about a slave who marries a free woman?" Imam (as) said: "The child is attributed to his mother."