20/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1504c — Barira’s Contract
Al-Wala' (Right of inheritance) belongs to the one who manumits the slave
Barira Hadith About Her Freedom Contract
Sahih Muslim : 1504c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1504c
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ جَاءَتْ بَرِيرَةُ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَتْ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنِّي كَاتَبْتُ أَهْلِي عَلَى تِسْعِ أَوَاقٍ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ أُوقِيَّةٌ . بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ وَزَادَ فَقَالَ " لاَ يَمْنَعُكِ ذَلِكِ مِنْهَا ابْتَاعِي وَأَعْتِقِي " . وَقَالَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّاسِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَمَّا بَعْدُ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Barira came to me and said: 'A'isha, I have entered into contract for securing freedom with my family (who owns me) for nine 'uqiyas (of silver), one 'uqiya every year The rest of the hadith is the same (but with this addition):" This (the problem of the right of inheritance) should not stand in your way. Buy her, and set her free. He said in a hadith: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up among men, extolled Allah, praised Him, and then said:" for......"
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1504cIn-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3586
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1504c
This narration gives a detail from the Barira Hadith: Barira had entered into a contract with her owners for nine uqiyas, one uqiya each year. She came to A’isha, and the same issue of wala came up. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that the condition should not stop A’isha from buying her and setting her free. The narration also mentions that Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم stood among the people, praised Allah, and then continued the sermon found in the related wording. The core topic remains clear: Barira’s freedom, the condition about wala, and the rule that wala belongs to the one who emancipates. The report should not be stretched beyond these points.
What we learn from this hadith
- Barira’s case involved a freedom contract with payments over years.
- A’isha was told not to let the false condition stop the emancipation.
- The right of wala remained tied to the one who freed her.
