Chapter on a Slave Marrying Without His Master's Permission

Musa ibn Bakr narrated from Zurara, who said: I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام about a man whose slave married a woman without his permission and then consummated the marriage. Later, the master found out about it. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is up to the master - if he wishes, he can separate them, and if he wishes, he can approve their marriage. If the master separates them, the woman is entitled to whatever dowry was given to her unless it was excessive, in which case it is reduced. But if the master approves their marriage, they remain upon their original marriage contract." I then said to Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام: "Was the slave sinful in entering into the marriage without permission in the first place?" Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام replied: "What he did was something permissible and lawful; he did not disobey Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. Rather, he disobeyed his master but did not violate any law of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. This is not like committing something forbidden by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, such as marrying a woman who is in her waiting period or similar acts."