Q&A

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Shaykh Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-Ṣaduq

Chapters on Legal Cases and Rulings

Chapter on Freedom

943. hadíth

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ نَسَمَةً أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ شَيْخاً كَبِيراً أَوْ شَابّاً أَجْرَدَ قَالَ "أَعْتَقَ مَنْ أَغْنَى نَفْسَهُ اَلشَّيْخُ اَلْكَبِيرُ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ اَلشَّابِّ اَلْأَجْرَدِ".

It is narrated from Ali bin Ja'far from his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (a.s), who said: "I asked him about a man who is obligated to free a slave and intends to emancipate one. Which is better-to free an old man or a young, healthy man?" Imam (a.s) replied: 'Free the one who is more self-sufficient. The old man is better than the young, healthy (strong) man.' "

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