Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

وَ رَوَى عَمَّارُ بْنُ مُوسَى اَلسَّابَاطِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي مُكَاتَبٍ بَيْنَ شَرِيكَيْنِ فَيُعْتِقُ أَحَدُهُمَا نَصِيبَهُ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ اَلْخَادِمُ قَالَ "يَخْدُمُ اَلثَّانِي يَوْماً وَ يَخْدُمُ نَفْسَهُ يَوْماً" قُلْتُ فَإِنْ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ مَالاً قَالَ "اَلْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَانِ بَيْنَ اَلَّذِي أَعْتَقَ وَ بَيْنَ اَلَّذِي أَمْسَكَ".

Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati narrated from Abu Abdullah (a.s), regarding a mukatab (slave undera contract of emancipation) jointly owned by two partners, and one of them freed his share. Imam (a.s) said: "The slave serves the second partner one day and serves himself one day." I asked: "What if the slave dies and leaves behind wealth?" Imam (a.s) said: "The wealth is divided equally between the one who freed his share and the one who retained his share."

وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ مَمْلُوكاً لَهُ وَ قَدْ كَانَ مَوْلاَهُ يَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ ضَرِيبَةً فَرَضَهَا عَلَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ وَ رَضِيَ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ اَلْمَوْلَى فَأَصَابَ اَلْمَمْلُوكُ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ مَالاً سِوَى مَا كَانَ يُعْطِي مَوْلاَهُ مِنَ اَلضَّرِيبَةِ فَقَالَ "إِذَا أَدَّى إِلَى سَيِّدِهِ مَا كَانَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ فَمَا اِكْتَسَبَ بَعْدَ اَلْفَرِيضَةِ فَهُوَ لِلْمَمْلُوكِ" قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى اَلْعِبَادِ فَرَائِضَ فَإِذَا أَدَّوْهَا إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَسْأَلْهُمْ عَمَّا سِوَاهَا" قُلْتُ لَهُ فَلِلْمَمْلُوكِ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ مِمَّا اِكْتَسَبَ وَ يُعْتَقُ بَعْدَ اَلْفَرِيضَةِ اَلَّتِي يُؤَدِّيهَا إِلَى سَيِّدِهِ قَالَ "نَعَمْ وَ أَجْرُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ" قُلْتُ فَإِنْ أَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكاً مِمَّا كَانَ اِكْتَسَبَ سِوَى اَلْفَرِيضَةِ لِمَنْ يَكُونُ وَلاَءُ اَلْمُعْتَقِ فَقَالَ "يَذْهَبُ فَيَتَوَلَّى إِلَى مَنْ أَحَبَّ فَإِذَا ضَمِنَ جَرِيرَتَهُ وَ عَقْلَهُ كَانَ مَوْلاَهُ وَ وَرِثَهُ" قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ لَيْسَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "اَلْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ" فَقَالَ "هَذَا سَائِبَةٌ لاَ يَكُونُ وَلاَؤُهُ لِعَبْدٍ مِثْلِهِ" قُلْتُ فَإِنْ ضَمِنَ اَلْعَبْدُ اَلَّذِي أَعْتَقَهُ جَرِيرَتَهُ وَ حَدَثَهُ يَلْزَمُهُ ذَلِكَ وَ يَكُونُ مَوْلاَهُ وَ يَرِثُهُ فَقَالَ "لاَ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ لاَ يَرِثُ عَبْدٌ حُرّاً".

Ibn Mahbub narrated from Umar ibn Yazid, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah (a.s), about a man who wanted to free his slave. The master had been taking an annual payment (tribute) from the slave and was satisfied with this arrangement. Meanwhile, the slave earned wealth from trade, in addition to paying the required tribute to his master. Abu Abdullah (a.s), said: "If the slave has paid his master what was required, then whatever he earns after fulfilling this obligation belongs to the slave." Then Abu Abdullah (a.s), said: "Has Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, not prescribed obligations upon His servants? Once they fulfill them, He does not ask them about anything beyond those obligations." I asked: "Can the slave give charity from what he earned and be freed after fulfilling his obligation to his master?" Imam (a.s) said: "Yes, and he will be rewarded for it." I asked: "If the slave frees another slave from what he earned beyond the obligation, to whom does the loyalty (wala) of the freed slave belong?" Imam (a.s) said: "He may choose to align himself with whomever he wishes. If the person guarantees his liability and responsibility, then that person becomes his master and inherits from him." I asked: "Did not the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace be upon him and his family, say, 'Loyalty (wala) is for the one who emancipates'?" Imam (a.s) said: "This case involves a sa'ibah (freed without specific allegiance), and his loyalty cannot belong to another slave like him." I asked: "If the slave who freed him guarantees his liability and responsibility, does it bind him, and does he then become his master and inherit from him?" Imam (a.s) said: "No, that is not permissible. A slave cannot inherit from a free person."

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 (a.s), 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 (a.s) 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 (a.s) said: "He has lied! Indeed, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) 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."

وَ رَوَى اَلْقَاسِمُ بْنُ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي مُكَاتَبٍ شُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ عَجَزَ أَنْ يُرَدَّ فِي اَلرِّقِّ قَالَ " اَلْمُسْلِمُونَ عِنْدَ شُرُوطِهِمْ ".

Al-Qasim ibn Burayd narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who had a condition stipulated that if he failed to fulfill the contract, he would return to slavery. Imam (a.s) said: "Muslims are bound by their conditions."

وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلْمُكَاتَبِ فَقَالَ "يَجُوزُ عَلَيْهِ مَا شَرَطْتَ عَلَيْهِ ".

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked about a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation). Imam (a.s) said: "What you have stipulated upon him is binding."

وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي مُكَاتَبَةٍ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَ قَدْ قَضَتْ عَامَّةَ مَا عَلَيْهَا وَ قَدْ وَلَدَتْ وَلَداً فِي مُكَاتَبَتِهَا فَقَضَى فِي وَلَدِهَا أَنْ يُعْتَقَ مِنْهُ مِثْلَ اَلَّذِي عَتَقَ مِنْهَا وَ يُرَقَّ مِنْهُ مِثْلَ مَا رُقَّ مِنْهَا".

Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s), ruled regarding a mukatabah (a female slave under a contract of emancipation) who passed away after having paid most of what was required of her and had given birth to a child during her contract. Imam (a.s) ruled that the child should be freed in proportion to the part of the mother that had been freed and remain in bondage in proportion to the part of the mother that was still in bondage.

وَ رَوَى حَمَّادٌ عَنِ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي اَلْمُكَاتَبِ يَشْتَرِطُ عَلَيْهِ مَوْلاَهُ أَنْ لاَ يَتَزَوَّجَ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنٍ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُؤَدِّيَ مُكَاتَبَتَهُ قَالَ "يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ لاَ يَتَزَوَّجَ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنٍ مِنْهُ إِنَّ لَهُمْ شَرْطَهُمْ".

Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (a.s), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) whose master stipulated that he should not marry without the master's permission until he fulfills his contract. Imam (a.s) said: "He should not marry without the master's permission, for they have their condition."

وَ رَوَى جَمِيلُ بْنُ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي مُكَاتَبٍ يَمُوتُ وَ قَدْ أَدَّى بَعْضَ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ وَ لَهُ اِبْنٌ مِنْ جَارِيَتِهِ وَ تَرَكَ مَالاً قَالَ "يُؤَدِّي اِبْنُهُ بَقِيَّةَ مُكَاتَبَتِهِ وَ يُعْتَقُ وَ يَرِثُ مَا بَقِيَ".

Jamil ibn Darraj narrated from Abu Abdullah (a.s), regarding a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) who dies after having paid part of his contract. He had a son from his bondwoman and left behind wealth. Imam (a.s) said: "His son shall pay the remaining amount of the contract, be freed, and inherit what remains."

وَ سَأَلَهُ سَمَاعَةُ: عَنِ اَلْعَبْدِ يُكَاتِبُهُ مَوْلاَهُ وَ هُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ قَلِيلٌ وَ لاَ كَثِيرٌ قَالَ "فَلْيُكَاتِبْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ يَسْأَلُ اَلنَّاسَ وَ لاَ يَمْنَعُهُ اَلْمُكَاتَبَةُ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَرْزُقُ اَلْعِبَادَ بَعْضَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَالْمُحْسِنُ مُعَانٌ ".

Sama'ah asked him about a slave whose master enters into a mukataba (a contract of emancipation) with him, knowing that the slave possesses neither a little nor much wealth. Imam (a.s) said: "Let him enter into the mukataba, even if the slave has to ask others for help. The lack of wealth should not prevent the contract, for Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, provides sustenance to His servants through one another. The one who does good is supported."

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ مَلَكَ مَمْلُوكاً لَهُ فَسَأَلَ صَاحِبَهُ اَلْمُكَاتَبَةَ أَ لَهُ أَنْ لاَ يُكَاتِبَهُ إِلاَّ عَلَى اَلْغَلاَءِ قَالَ "نَعَمْ".

Imam (a.s) was asked about a man who owned a slave, and the slave requested a mukataba (a contract of emancipation). Is the master allowed to set the terms of the mukataba at a high price? Imam (a.s) said: "Yes."