Chapter on the Contract of Manumission (Mukataba)

Ibn Mahbub narrated from Umar ibn Yazid, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, about a man who wanted to free his slave. The master had been taking an annual payment (tribute) from the slave and was satisfied with this arrangement. Meanwhile, the slave earned wealth from trade, in addition to paying the required tribute to his master. Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, said: "If the slave has paid his master what was required, then whatever he earns after fulfilling this obligation belongs to the slave." Then Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, said: "Has Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, not prescribed obligations upon His servants? Once they fulfill them, He does not ask them about anything beyond those obligations." I asked: "Can the slave give charity from what he earned and be freed after fulfilling his obligation to his master?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, and he will be rewarded for it." I asked: "If the slave frees another slave from what he earned beyond the obligation, to whom does the loyalty (wala) of the freed slave belong?" Imam عليه السلام said: "He may choose to align himself with whomever he wishes. If the person guarantees his liability and responsibility, then that person becomes his master and inherits from him." I asked: "Did not the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, say, 'Loyalty (wala) is for the one who emancipates'?" Imam عليه السلام said: "This case involves a sa'ibah (freed without specific allegiance), and his loyalty cannot belong to another slave like him." I asked: "If the slave who freed him guarantees his liability and responsibility, does it bind him, and does he then become his master and inherit from him?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No, that is not permissible. A slave cannot inherit from a free person."