20/5. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1508a — Warning Against False Wala
The prohibition of a manumitted slave taking anyone as a Mawla except the one who manumitted him
Hadith Warning Against Wala Without Consent
Sahih Muslim : 1508a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1508a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقَارِيَّ - عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ تَوَلَّى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ عَدْلٌ وَلاَ صَرْفٌ " .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: He who takes anyone as his ally without the consent of his previous master, there will be the curse of Allah and that of His angels upon him, and neither, any obligatory act of his nor the supererogatory one will be accepted (by Allah).
[1] The word Mawla refers to the one who manumits a slave, who has the right to inherit from the ex-slave. Changing one's Mawla means giving the right of inheritance to the new Mawla .Reference : Sahih Muslim 1508aIn-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 22USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3599
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1508a
This Hadith from Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) gives a strong warning about taking someone as an ally without the consent of his previous masters. Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that the one who does this has upon him the curse of Allah and the angels. The Hadith also says that neither an obligatory act nor a supererogatory act will be accepted from him. The wording shows that this is not a small matter in the text. The main message of this hadith about wala without consent is respect for rightful ties and serious care in claims of alliance connected to emancipation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Taking wala without consent is strongly warned against.
- The Hadith mentions the curse of Allah and the angels for this act.
- The text connects the act to rejection of obligatory and voluntary deeds.
- Rights linked to previous masters must not be ignored.
