Selections from Muḥammadan Traditions/Chapter 14
XIV
THE BOOK OF THE EMANCIPATION
OF SLAVES
It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Whoever emancipates a Muslim slave, God will emancipate every member of his body from the fire, in return for the members (of his slave)."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.
It is related from ʿAmru bin ʿAbasah that, 'The Prophet said, "Whoever builds a mosque in order that God may be remembered therein; a house will be built for him in paradise. And whoever emancipates a person who is a Muslim, it will be his ransom from hell. And whoever grows grey in the way of God, it will be for him a light on the day of resurrection."'—In Sharhu's-Sunnah.
On the Emancipation of a Slave Who is Jointly
Owned
It is related from ʿImrán bin Ḥusain that, 'A man at his death freed six slaves which belonged to him. He had no other property besides them. Then the Apostle of God called them and divided them into three lots. After that he cast lots amongst them and freed two of them and retained four in slavery. And he spoke severe words about the man.'—Muslim. And in another tradition from Nasái it runs, '"I certainly thought not to pray over him." But he spake severe words of him instead.' And in another tradition from Abú Dáud it runs, "He said, "Had I been present before he was buried, he would not have been buried in a Muslim cemetery."'
It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that, 'The Prophet said, "If a female slave bears a son to her master, then she is free at his death or after it."'—Al Dárimi.
It is related from Jábir that he said, 'We used to sell the mothers of children in the time of the Apostle of God and in that of Abú Bakr; but when ʿOmar (was Khalíf) he forbade us doing it; therefore we brought the practice to an end.'— Abú Dáud.
Concerning Oaths and Vows
It is related from Ibn ʿOmar that he said, 'The oath which the Prophet used to use most was, "No, by the Turner of hearts!"'—Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Ibn ʿOmar that, 'The Apostle of God said, " Verily God has forbidden you to swear by your fathers, Whoever takes an oath, let him swear by God, or remain silent."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.
It is related from ʿImrán bin Ḥuṣain that, 'The Apostle of God said, "There is no performance of a vow requiring disobedience, or regarding anything which the servant does not own."'—Muslim.
It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that he said, 'Whilst the Prophet was making an address, behold! a man remained standing, and he asked about him. They replied, "He is Abu Isráʾil. He has vowed to stand, and to neither sit, nor go into the shade nor speak. And he has vowed to fast, and he is is fasting." The Prophet said, "Order him to speak and go into the shade and sit down and end his fast."'—Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Jábir bin ʿAbduʾlláh that 'A man stood up on the day of the conquest of Mecca and said, "O Apostle of God, verily I have vowed to God, the Exalted and Magnified, that if He gave thee conquest over Mecca, I would pray in two rakʿahs in Jerusalem." The Prophet replied, "Pray here." Then the man repeated what he had said. He replied, "Pray here." Then the man repeated his words. The Prophet said, "Go your own way then!"'—Abú Dáud, Al Dárimi.
It is related from ʿAbduʾlláh bin Málik that, 'ʿUqbah bin ʿÁmir asked the Prophet about his sister who had vowed to perform the pilgrimage barefooted and unveiled. The Prophet said, "Order her to veil herself and ride, and to fast three days."'—Abú Dáud, At Tirmidhí, An Nasái, Ibn Májah.
It is related from Muḥammad binuʾl-Muntashir that he said, 'Verily a man made a vow that if God saved him from his enemies, he would sacrifice himself. So he asked Ibn ʿAbbás about it. The latter said to him, "Ask Masrúq." So he asked him. He replied, " Do not sacrifice thyself, for if thou art a believer, then thou wilt kill a believer; and if thou art an infidel, that will hasten thee to the fire. Therefore buy a ram and kill it for the poor; for verily Isaac was better than thou, and he was ransomed by a ram." Then he informed Ibn Abbás; and he said, "I wished to answer the question in this way."'—Razín.