Chapter on Miscellaneous Matters Related to Emancipation

Al-Hasan al-Sayqal asked about a man who said: "The first slave I acquire will be free." Then he acquired six slaves. Imam عليه السلام said: "His intention was for one. Let him choose whichever one he wishes and set him free."

Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar narrated from his brother, Ali ibn Mahziyar, who said: I wrote to Imam عليه السلام asking about a slave who is near death, and his master frees him at that moment so that he leaves this world as a free man. Does the master earn a reward for freeing him, or is it better to leave him as a slave so that the master gains a greater reward if he dies while still owned? Imam عليه السلام wrote: "It is better for the master to leave the slave as a servant at the time of his death, for this brings more reward to the master. Freeing him in such an hour offers no benefit."

Muhammad ibn Isa al-Ubaydi narrated from al-Fadl ibn al-Mubarak: He wrote to Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad عليه السلام asking about a man who owns a slave, and the slave becomes ill. Is it better for the man to free him during his illness to gain a greater reward, or to leave him as a servant? Imam عليه السلام replied: "If it is during his illness, then freeing him is better for him because Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, frees a part of the master from the Fire for every part of the slave that is freed. However, if it is at the time of death, then leaving him as a servant is better than freeing him."

Muhammad ibn Isa al-Ubaydi narrated from al-Fadl ibn al-Mubarak al-Basri, from his father, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I said to Imam عليه السلام: "May I be your ransom, a man is required to free a believing slave, but he cannot find one. What should he do?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Resort to the children (among slaves) and free them. If they turn out to be believers, then that fulfills the requirement. But if they do not turn out to be believers, then there is no obligation upon you."

Muawiyah ibn Maytharah narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I asked him about a man who sells his slave at a reduced price so that he may be freed, and the slave says to him in private, "I will give you such-and-such amount." Is it permissible for the man to take it from him? Imam عليه السلام replied: "He may take it from him willingly and ask him for it politely. But if the slave refuses, then let him leave it."

Al-Sakuni narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام (peace be upon them), who said: "Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain عليه السلام was asked about a contract-bound female slave (mukatabah) whose master had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. Imam عليه السلام replied: "He must pay her the equivalent of her dowry, and she must work to pay off her value. If she is unable to do so, then she is considered one of the mothers of children (Umm al-Walad)."

Ibn Abi Sa'id al-Mukari entered upon Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام and said to him: "Has Allah سبحانه وتعالى elevated your status to the extent that you claim what your father claims?" The Imam عليه السلام replied: "What is wrong with you? May Allah سبحانه وتعالى extinguish your light and bring poverty into your house! Do you not know that Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to Imran, 'I will grant you a son,' and then granted him Maryam instead, and granted Maryam, Isa? Isa is from Maryam, and Maryam is from Isa, and Isa and Maryam are one and the same. I am from my father, and my father is from me, and I and my father are one and the same." Then Ibn Abi Sa'id said to Him عليه السلام: "Let me ask you a question." The Imam عليه السلام replied: "I do not think you will accept my answer, for you are not from my followers. But go ahead and ask." The man said: "What if someone, upon his deathbed, declares that all his old slaves are free for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى?" The Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, indeed. Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, says: 'until it becomes like the old date stalk' (Surah Ya-Sin 36:39) Thus, any of his slaves who have been with him for six months are considered old and are set free." The narrator said that Ibn Abi Sa'id left and fell into poverty until he died, without having a shelter to spend the night in. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى curse him!

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Hisham ibn Salim, from Abu al-Ward, who said: I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام about a Christian slave owned by a Muslim man-does the slave have to pay jizyah (tribute tax)? Imam عليه السلام replied: "Yes, because his owner is the one responsible for redeeming him if he is taken, and he (the owner) must pay it on his behalf."