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 رَوَى أَبَانٌ عَنْ أَبِي اَلْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ غُلاَمِي حُرٌّ وَ عَلَيْهِ عُمَالَةُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا سَنَةً قَالَ "هُوَ حُرٌّ وَ عَلَيْهِ اَلْعُمَالَةُ " قُلْتُ إِنَّ اِبْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ حُرٌّ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ قَالَ "كَذَبَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَعْتَقَ، أَبَا نَيْزَرَ وَ عِيَاضاً وَ رِيَاحاً وَ عَلَيْهِمْ عُمَالَةُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا سَنَةً وَ لَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ وَ كِسْوَتُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ فِي تِلْكَ اَلسِّنِينَ".
Aban narrated from Abu al-Abbas, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: I asked him about a man who said: "My slave is free, but he must work for me for such-and-such a number of years." Imam عليه السلام said: "He is free, but he is obligated to fulfill the work." I said: "Ibn Abi Layla claims that he is free and is not obligated to do anything." Imam عليه السلام said: "He has lied! Indeed, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام freed Abu Nayzar, 'Iyad, and Riah, while requiring them to work for such-and-such a number of years. They were provided with their sustenance and clothing in a reasonable manner during those years."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 203