27/28. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3446 — Starting with the Male Slave
Choosing Which Of The Two Married Slaves To Free First
Hadith About Freeing Slaves in Order
Sunan an-Nasai : 3446
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3446
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَوْهَبٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ كَانَ لِعَائِشَةَ غُلاَمٌ وَجَارِيَةٌ قَالَتْ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُعْتِقَهُمَا فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " ابْدَئِي بِالْغُلاَمِ قَبْلَ الْجَارِيَةِ " .
al-Qasim ibn Muhammad Narrated from:
Aishah had a male slave and a female slave. She said: 'I wanted to set them free, and I mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah. He said: Start with the male slave before the female slave.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3446In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 58English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3476
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3446
This hadith speaks about manumission, or setting slaves free. Aishah had a male slave and a female slave, and she wanted to set both of them free. She mentioned this intention to the Messenger of Allah. He told her to start with the male slave before the female slave. The narration does not explain a reason, so the explanation should not add one as if it is part of the text. The clear point is the Prophet's instruction about order in this specific case. For people searching for a hadith about freeing slaves, this report shows Aishah seeking guidance and then receiving a direct instruction on which person to free first.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aishah wanted to set both slaves free.
- She asked the Messenger of Allah before acting.
- The Prophet instructed her to begin with the male slave in this case.
