Chapter on Conditional Emancipation (Tadbir)

Abu Ibrahim (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام) was asked about a woman who made her bondwoman mudabbar (to be freed after her death). The bondwoman later gave birth to a precious daughter, and it was unclear whether the child was also mudabbar like her mother or not. Imam عليه السلام said: "When the pregnancy occurred, was it before or after the tadbir (declaration of delayed emancipation)?" I said: "May I be your ransom, I do not know. Please answer regarding both situations." Imam عليه السلام said: "If the bondwoman was pregnant before the tadbir and her pregnancy was not mentioned during the declaration, then the bondwoman is mudabbar, but what is in her womb remains in bondage (not mudabbar). However, if the tadbir occurred before the pregnancy and then she became pregnant, the child is mudabbar along with her, because the pregnancy occurred after the tadbir."