The Case of One who Dies without a Will, Leaves behind Small Heirs and it is Sold upon Him

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan عليه السلام, about the case of a man with whom I have a relation of kinship, he dies leaving behind small children, slaves and slave-girls but has not made any will. ‘What do you say about buying a slave-girl for a mother of one’s child and what do you say about selling them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If they have a guardian who supervises for them the sale and looks after them, he will receive good rewards.’ I asked, ‘What do you say about one’s buying from them a slave- girl for a mother of one’s child?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful if it is executed by their guardian who looks after their interests and well-being; and they cannot change their mind about what the guardian has done for them who looks after their well-being.’”