68/14. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5279 — Three Rulings From Barira's Case
Selling a female slave does not lead to her divorce.
Barira Hadith: Choice, Wala, Charity, and Gift
Sahih Bukhari : 5279
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5279
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَ فِي بَرِيرَةَ ثَلاَثُ سُنَنٍ، إِحْدَى السُّنَنِ أَنَّهَا أُعْتِقَتْ، فَخُيِّرَتْ فِي زَوْجِهَا. وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ". وَدَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالْبُرْمَةُ تَفُورُ بِلَحْمٍ، فَقُرِّبَ إِلَيْهِ خُبْزٌ وَأُدْمٌ مِنْ أُدْمِ الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ " أَلَمْ أَرَ الْبُرْمَةَ فِيهَا لَحْمٌ ". قَالُوا بَلَى، وَلَكِنْ ذَلِكَ لَحْمٌ تُصُدِّقَ بِهِ عَلَى بَرِيرَةَ، وَأَنْتَ لاَ تَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ. قَالَ " عَلَيْهَا صَدَقَةٌ، وَلَنَا هَدِيَّةٌ ".
A'isha Narrated from:
Three traditions were established concerning situations in which Barra was involved: When she was manumitted, she was given the option to keep her husband or leave him; Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The wala is for the one who manumits, Once Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) entered the house while some meat was being cooked in a pot, but only bread and some soup of the house were placed before, him.He said, "Don't I see the pot containing meat?" They said, "Yes, but that meat was given to Barira in charity (by someone), and you do not eat what it given in charity." The Prophet (ﷺ) said "That meat is alms for her, but for us it is a present."
[1] Walā' : See the glossary.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5279In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 28USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 202
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5279
This Hadith brings together three rulings from the case of Barira. ʿAisha said that when Barira was freed, she was given the choice to remain with her husband or leave him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said that wala belongs to the one who frees the slave. Then another issue happened with meat that had been given to Barira as charity. Since the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not eat charity, only bread and soup were served. He explained that the meat was charity for Barira, but for them it was a gift. The Hadith teaches that rulings can change with the person and situation described in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- After being freed, Barira was given a choice regarding her husband.
- Wala belongs to the one who manumits, as stated by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- Meat given as charity to Barira was treated as a gift for the Prophet's household.
- The same item can have a different ruling depending on how it reaches a person.
