20/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1504a — Wala and Emancipation
Al-Wala' (Right of inheritance) belongs to the one who manumits the slave
Hadith About Wala Belonging to the Emancipator
Sahih Muslim : 1504a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1504a
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا أَرَادَتْ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ، جَارِيَةً تُعْتِقُهَا فَقَالَ أَهْلُهَا نَبِيعُكِهَا عَلَى أَنَّ وَلاَءَهَا لَنَا . فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لاَ يَمْنَعُكِ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ".
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
'A'isha decided to buy a slave-girl and then set her free, but her masters said: We are prepared to sell her to you on the condition that her right of inheritance would vest with you. She (Hadrat A'isha) made a mention of that to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) whereupon he said: This should not stand in your way. The right of inheritance vests in one who emancipates.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1504aIn-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3584
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1504a
This Hadith about wala, the right of inheritance tied to emancipation, tells of A’isha wanting to buy a slave-girl and set her free. The sellers agreed to sell only if the wala remained with them. A’isha mentioned this to Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. He told her that this condition should not stop her, because the right of inheritance belongs to the one who emancipates. The narration is short and direct. It teaches that the act of freeing is what gives the right of wala, not a seller’s claim. For readers searching Barira hadith or wala belongs to the one who emancipates, this report gives the core rule in a simple form.
What we learn from this hadith
- The right of wala belongs to the person who emancipates.
- A seller’s condition does not change the rule stated in the Hadith.
- A’isha was encouraged to continue with buying and freeing the slave-girl.
