Chapter on the Contract of Manumission (Mukataba)

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 48
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Volume 3, Book 1, Chapter 48

Chapter on the Contract of Manumission (Mukataba)

وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلْقَاسِمِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَسْتَسْعِي اَلْمُكَاتَبَ لِأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَشْتَرِطُونَ إِنْ عَجَزَ فَهُوَ رِقٌّ " وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "لَهُمْ شُرُوطُهُمْ " وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "يُنْتَظَرُ بِالْمُكَاتَبِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَنْجُمٍ فَإِنْ هُوَ عَجَزَ رُدَّ رَقِيقاً".
It is narrated from Al-Qasim ibn Sulayman, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام 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 Abdullah عليه السلام, said: "They are bound by their conditions." Imam عليه السلام also said: "A mukatab is given a period of three installments. If he fails to make the payments, he is returned to slavery."
  • Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 205