Book Forty Six – The Book on Manumission of Slaves

Hadith Number 693.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allah will save all the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire as he has freed the body-parts of the slave." Said bin Marjana said that he narrated that Hadith to 'Ali bin Al-Husain and he freed his slave for whom 'Abdullah bin Ja'far had offered him ten thousand Dirhams or one-thousand Dinars.


Hadith Number 694.

Narrated by Abu Dhar (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I asked the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause." I then asked, "What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?" He replied, "The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master." I said, "If I cannot afford to do that?" He said, "Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself." I said, "If I cannot do that?" He said, "Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good."


Hadith Number 695.

Narrated by Asma' bint Abu Bakr (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) ordered us to free slaves at the time of solar eclipses.


Hadith Number 696.

Narrated by Asma' bint Abu Bakr (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): We were ordered to free slaves at the time of lunar eclipses.


Hadith Number 697.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever manumits a slave owned by two masters, should manumit him completely (not partially) if he is rich after having its price evaluated."



Hadith Number 698.

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever frees his share of a common slave and he has sufficient money to free him completely, should let its price be estimated by a just man and give his partners the price of their shares and manumit the slave; otherwise (i.e. if he has not sufficient money) he manumits the slave partially."



Hadith Number 699.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever manumits his share of a slave, then it is essential for him to get that slave manumitted completely as long as he has the money to do so. If he has not sufficient money to pay the price of the other shares (after the price of the slave is evaluated justly), the manumitted manumits the slave partially in proportion to his share.


Hadith Number 700.

Narrated by 'Ubaidullah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): As above (briefly).


Hadith Number 701.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "He who manumits his share of a slave and has money sufficient to free the remaining portion of that slave's price (justly estimated) then he should manumit him (by giving the rest of his price to the other co-owners)." Nafi' added, "Otherwise the slave is partially free." Aiyub is not sure whether the last statement was said by Nafi' or it was a part of the Hadith.

Hadith Number 702.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): That he used to give his verdict regarding the male or female slaves owned by more than one master, one of whom may manumit his share of the slave. Ibn 'Umar used to say in such a case, "The manumitted should manumit the slave completely if he has sufficient money to pay the rest of the price of that slave (which is to be justly estimated) and the other share-holders are to take the price of their shares and the slave is freed (released from slavery)." Ibn 'Umar narrated this verdict from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam).


Hadith Number 703.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): That the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever frees his portion of a (common) slave."


Hadith Number 704.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Whoever frees his portion of a common slave should free the slave completely by paying the rest of his price from his money if he has enough money; otherwise the price of the slave is to be estimated and the slave is to be helped to work without hardship till he pays the rest of his price."


Hadith Number 705.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers, unless they put it to action or utter it." (See Hadith No. 657 Book 78)


Hadith Number 706.

Narrated by 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The (reward of) deeds depend on intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he intends. So, whoever migrated for Allah and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), then his migration will be for Allah and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), and whoever migrated for worldly benefits or for marrying a woman, then his migration will be for what he migrated for." (See Hadith No. 1, Book 1)


Hadith Number 707.

Narrated by Qais (Radhi Allahu Anhu): When Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) accompanied by his slave set out intending to embrace Islam they lost each other on the way. The slave then came while Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) was sitting with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "O Abu Hurairah! Your slave has come back." Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "Indeed, I would like you to witness that I have manumitted him." That happened at the time when Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) recited (the following poetic verse): 'What a long tedious tiresome night! Nevertheless, it has delivered us from the land of Kufr (disbelief).


Hadith Number 708.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): On my way to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) I was reciting: 'What a long tedious tiresome night! Nevertheless, it has saved us from the land of Kufr (disbelief).' I had a slave who ran away from me on the way. When I went to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and gave the pledge of allegiance for embracing Islam, the slave showed up while I was still with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) who remarked, "O Abu Hurairah! Here is your slave!" I said, "I manumit him for Allah's Sake," and so I freed him.


Hadith Number 709.

Narrated by Qais (Radhi Allahu Anhu): When Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) accompanied by his slave came intending to embrace Islam, they lost each other on the way. (When the slave showed up) Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said (to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)), "I make you witness that the slave is free for Allah's Cause."


Hadith Number 710.

Narrated by 'Aisha (Radhi Allahu Anha): Utba bin Abi Waqqas authorized his brother Sad bin Abi Waqqas to take the son of the slave-girl of Zam'a into his custody, telling him that the boy was his own (illegal) son. When Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) went (to Makkah) at the time of the Conquest, Sad took the son of the slave-girl of Zam'a to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and also brought 'Abu bin Zam'a with him and said, "O Allah's Messenger! This is the son of my brother 'Utba who authorized me to take him into my custody." 'Abu bin Zam'a said, "O Allah's Messenger! He is my brother, the son of Zam'a' slave-girl and he was born on his bed." Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) looked at the son of the slave-girl of Zam'a and noticed much resemblance (to 'Utba). Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "It is for you, O 'Abu bin Zam'a as he was born on the bed of your father." Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then told Sauda bint Zam'a to observe veil in the presence of the boy as he noticed the boy's resemblance to 'Utba and Sauda was the wife of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam).

Hadith Number 711.

Narrated by Jabir bin 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): A man amongst us declared that his slave would be freed after his death. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) called for that slave and sold him. (*) The slave died the same year.

* The Liberator was needy, so the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) sold the slave for him, permitting him to cancel his promise of freeing the slave after his death.


Hadith Number 712.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) forbade the selling or donating the Wala' of a freed slave.



Hadith Number 713.

Narrated by 'Aisha (Radhi Allahu Anha): I bought Buraira but her masters put the condition that her Wala' would be for them. I told the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) about it. He said (to me), "Manumit her as her Wala' will be for the one who pays the price." So, I manumitted her. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) called Buraira and gave her the option of either staying with her husband or leaving him. She said, "Even if he gave me so much money, I would not stay with him," and so she preferred her freedom to her husband.


Hadith Number 714.

Narrated by Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Some men of the Ansar asked for the permission of Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and said, "Allow us to give up the ransom from our nephew Al-'Abbas. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said (to them), "Do not leave (even) a Dirham (of his ransom)."


Hadith Number 715.

Narrated by Hisham: My father told me that Hakim bin Hizam manumitted one-hundred slaves in the Pre-Islamic period of ignorance and slaughtered one-hundred camels (and distributed them in charity). When he embraced Islam he again slaughtered one-hundred camels and manumitted one-hundred slaves. Hakim said, "I asked Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), 'O Allah's Messenger! What do you think about some good deeds I used to practice in the Pre-Islamic period of ignorance regarding them as deeds of righteousness?' Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "You have embraced Islam along with all those good deeds you did."


Hadith Number 716.

Narrated by Marwan and Al-Miswar bin Makhrama (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): When the delegates of the tribe of Hawazin came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and they requested him to return their properties and captives. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) stood up and said to them, "I have other people with me in this matter (as you see) and the most beloved statement to me is the true one; you may choose either the properties or the prisoners as I have delayed their distribution." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) had waited for them for more than ten days since his arrival from Ta'if. So, when it became evident to them that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was not going to return them except one of the two, they said, "We choose our prisoners." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) got up amongst the people and glorified and praised Allah as He deserved and said, "Then after, these brethren of yours have come to us with repentance, and I see it logical to return them the captives. So, whoever amongst you likes to do that as a favour, then he can do it, and whoever of you likes to stick to his share till we recompense him from the very first war booty which Allah will give us, then he can do so (i.e. give up the present captives)." The people unanimously said, "We do that (return the captives) willingly." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "We do not know which of you has agreed to it and which have not, so go back and let your leaders forward us your decision." So, all the people then went back and discussed the matter with their leaders who returned and informed the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) that all the people had willingly given their consent to return the captives. This is what has reached us about the captives of Hawazin. Narrated Anas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) that 'Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), "I paid for my ransom and Aqil's ransom."


Hadith Number 717.

Narrated by Ibn Aun: I wrote a letter to Nafi and Nafi wrote in reply to my letter that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) had suddenly attacked Bani Mustaliq without warning while they were heedless and their cattle were being watered at the places of water. Their fighting men were killed and their women and children were taken as captives; the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) got Juwairiya on that day. Nafi said that Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) had told him the above narration and that Ibn 'Umar was in that army.

Hadith Number 718.

Narrated by Ibn Muhairiz: I saw Abu Said and asked him about coitus interruptus. Abu Said (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "We went with Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), in the Ghazwa of Barli Al-Mustaliq and we captured some of the 'Arabs as captives, and the long separation from our wives was pressing us hard and we wanted to practice coitus interruptus. We asked Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) (whether it was permissible). He said, "It is better for you not to do so. No soul, (that which Allah has) destined to exist, up to the Day of Resurrection, but will definitely come, into existence."


Hadith Number 719.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): I have loved the people of the tribe of Bani Tamim ever since I heard, three things, Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said about them. I heard him saying, These people (of the tribe of Bani Tamim) would stand firm against Ad-Dajjal." When the Sadaqat (gifts of charity) from that tribe came, Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "These are the Sadaqat (i.e. charitable gifts) of our folk." 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) had a slave-girl from that tribe, and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said to 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha), "Manumit her as she is a descendant of Ismail (Alayhi Salam)."


Hadith Number 720.

Narrated by Abu Musa (Radhi Allahu Anhu): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "He who has a slave-girl and educates and treats her nicely and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward."


Hadith Number 721.

Narrated by Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid: I saw Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari (Radhi Allahu Anhu) wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a cloak. We asked him about that (i.e. how both were wearing similar cloaks). He replied, "Once I abused a man and he complained of me to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) asked me, 'Did you abuse him by slighting his mother?' He added, 'Your slaves are your brethren upon whom Allah has given you authority. So, if one has one's brethren under one's control, one should feed them with the like of what one eats and clothe them with the like of what one wears. You should not overburden them with what they cannot bear, and if you do so, help them (in their hard job)."

Hadith Number 722.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "If a slave is honest and faithful to his master and worships his Lord (Allah) in a perfect manner, he will get a double reward."


Hadith Number 723.

Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ashari (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "He who has a slave-girl and teaches her good manners and improves her education and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward; and any slave who observes Allah's right and his master's right will get a double reward."


Hadith Number 724.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) : Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "A pious slave gets a double reward." Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) added: By Him in Whose Hands my soul is but for Jihad (i.e. holy battles), Hajj, and my duty to serve my mother, I would have loved to die as a slave. (*)


* Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) mentioned Jihad, Hajj and duty towards mother as obstacles in the way of his wish, because a slave cannot practice any of these actions without his master’s permission.

Hadith Number 725.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Goodness and comfort are for him who worships his Lord in a perfect manner and serves his master sincerely."


Hadith Number 726.

Narrated by 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "If a slave serves his Saiyid (i.e. master) sincerely and worships his Lord (Allah) perfectly, he will get a double reward."

Hadith Number 727.

Narrated by Abu Musa : The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The Mamluk (slave) who worships his Lord in a perfect manner, and is dutiful, sincere and obedient to his Saiyid (master), will get a double reward."


Hadith Number 728.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "You should not say, 'Feed your lord (Rabbaka), help your lord in performing ablution, or give water to your lord, but should say, 'my master (e.g. Feed your master instead of lord etc.) (Saiyidi), or my guardian (Maulai), and one should not say, my slave (Abdi), or my girl-slave (Amati), but should say, my lad (Fatai), my lass (Fatati), and 'my boy (Ghulami)."


Hadith Number 729.

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "If one manumits his share of a common slave (Abd), and he has money sufficient to free the remaining portion of the price of the slave (justly estimated), then he should free the slave completely by paying the rest of his price; otherwise the slave is freed partly."


Hadith Number 730.

Narrated by 'Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges. The ruler who has authority over people, is a guardian and is responsible for them, a man is a guardian of his family and is responsible for them; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and children and is responsible for them; a slave ('Abu) is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it; so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges."


Hadith Number 731.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah and Zaid bin Khalid (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "If a slave-girl (Ama) commits illegal sexual intercourse, scourge her; if she does it again, scourge her again; if she repeats it, scourge her again." The narrator added that on the third or the fourth offence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Sell her even for a hair rope."

Hadith Number 732.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "When your servant brings your meals to you then if he does not let him sit and share the meals, then he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or a meal or two meals, as he has prepared it."


Hadith Number 733.

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): That he heard Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) saying, "Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charge; the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian in his family and responsible for his charges; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and responsible for her charges; and the servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for his charge." I definitely heard the above from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and think that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said, "A man is a guardian of his father's property and responsible for his charges; so everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for his charges."


Hadith Number 734.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "If somebody fights (or beats somebody) then he should avoid the face."


Hadith Number 735.

Narrated by 'Urwa : That 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) told him that Buraira came to seek her help in her writing of emancipation (for a certain sum) and that time she had not paid anything of it. 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) said to her, "Go back to your masters, and if they agree that I will pay the amount of your writing of emancipation and get your Wala', I will do so." Buraira informed her masters of that but they refused and said, "If she (i.e. 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha)) is seeking Allah's reward, then she can do so, but your Wala' will be for us." 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) mentioned that to Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) who said to her, "Buy and manumit her, as the Wala' is for the liberator." Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then got up and said, "What about the people who stipulate conditions which are not present in Allah's Laws? Whoever imposes conditions which are not present in Allah's Laws, then those conditions will be invalid, even if he imposed these conditions a hundred times. Allah's conditions (Laws) are the truth and are more solid."

Hadith Number 736.

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma): 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) wanted to buy a slave-girl in order to manumit her. The girl's masters stipulated that her Wala' would be for them. Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said (to 'Aishah), "What they stipulate should not stop you, for the Wala' is for the liberator."


Hadith Number 737.

Narrated by 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): Buraira came (to her) and said, "I have made a contract of emancipation with my masters for nine Uqiyas (of gold) to be paid in yearly installments. Therefore, I seek your help." 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) said, "If your masters agree, I will pay them the sum at once and free you on condition that your Wala' will be for me." Buraira went to her masters but they refused that offer. She (came back) and said, "I presented to them the offer but they refused, unless the Wala' was for them." Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) heard of that and asked me about it, and I told him about it. On that he said, "Buy and manumit her and stipulate that the Wala' should be for you, as Wala' is for the liberator." 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) added, "Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then got up amongst the people, Glorified and Praised Allah, and said, 'Then after: What about some people who impose conditions which are not present in Allah's Laws? So, any condition which is not present in Allah's Laws is invalid even if they were one-hundred conditions. Allah's ordinance is the truth, and Allah's condition is stronger and more solid. Why do some men from you say, O so-and-so! manumit the slave but the Wala will be for me? Verily, the Wala is for the liberator."


Hadith Number 738.

Narrated by Amra bint 'Abdur Rahman (Radhi Allahu Anha): Buraira went to 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha), the mother of the faithful believers to seek her help in her emancipation 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) said to her, "If your masters agree, I will pay them your price in a lump sum and manumit you." Buraira mentioned that offer to her masters but they refused to sell her unless the Wala' was for them. 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) told Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) about it. He said, "Buy and manumit her as the Wala' is for the liberator."


Hadith Number 739.

Narrated by 'Abdul Wahid bin Aiman: I went to 'Aishah and said, "I was the slave of Utba bin Abu Lahab. "Utba died and his sons became my masters who sold me to Ibn Abu Amr who manumitted me. The sons of 'Utba stipulated that my Wala' should be for them." 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) said, "Buraira came to me and she was given the writing of emancipation by her masters and she asked me to buy and manumit her. I agreed to it, but Buraira told me that her masters would not sell her unless her Wala' was for them." 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) said, "I am not in need of that." When the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) heard that, or he was told about it, he asked 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) about it. 'Aishah mentioned what Buraira had told her. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Buy and manumit her and let them stipulate whatever they like." So, 'Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) bought and manumitted her and her masters stipulated that her Wala' should be for them." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam);, said, "The Wala' will be for the liberator even if they stipulated a hundred conditions."