44/86. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4656 — Contract Conditions
If A Mukatib Is Sold Before He Pays Off His Contract Of Manumission
Hadith About Contract Conditions: Wala Belongs to the One Who Frees
Sunan an-Nasai : 4656
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4656
أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي رِجَالٌ، مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْهُمْ يُونُسُ وَاللَّيْثُ أَنَّ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَهُمْ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ جَاءَتْ بَرِيرَةُ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَتْ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنِّي كَاتَبْتُ أَهْلِي عَلَى تِسْعِ أَوَاقٍ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ أُوقِيَّةٌ فَأَعِينِينِي . وَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَضَتْ مِنْ كِتَابَتِهَا شَيْئًا فَقَالَتْ لَهَا عَائِشَةُ وَنَفِسَتْ فِيهَا ارْجِعِي إِلَى أَهْلِكِ فَإِنْ أَحَبُّوا أَنْ أُعْطِيَهُمْ ذَلِكَ جَمِيعًا وَيَكُونَ وَلاَؤُكِ لِي فَعَلْتُ . فَذَهَبَتْ بَرِيرَةُ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا فَعَرَضَتْ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَبَوْا وَقَالُوا إِنْ شَاءَتْ أَنْ تَحْتَسِبَ عَلَيْكِ فَلْتَفْعَلْ وَيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ لَنَا . فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ عَائِشَةُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لاَ يَمْنَعُكِ ذَلِكَ مِنْهَا ابْتَاعِي وَأَعْتِقِي فَإِنَّ الْوَلاَءَ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ " . فَفَعَلَتْ وَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّاسِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَمَا بَالُ النَّاسِ يَشْتَرِطُونَ شُرُوطًا لَيْسَتْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ مَنِ اشْتَرَطَ شَرْطًا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِائَةَ شَرْطٍ قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ وَشَرْطُ اللَّهِ أَوْثَقُ وَإِنَّمَا الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Barirah came to me and said: 'O 'Aishah, I have drawn up a contract of manumission with my master, (to buy my freedom) in return for nine Uwqiyah, one Uwqiyah to be paid each year; help me,' she had not yet paid anything toward her contract of manumission.''Aishah, who liked her and wanted to help her, said: 'Go back to your masters and if they agree to let me pay the whole sum and that your loyalty will be to me, I will do it.' So Barirah went to her masters and suggested that to them, but they refused and said: 'if she wants to seek reward (with Allah) by freeing you, let her do so, but (you loyalty) will be to us, 'Aishah told the Messenger of Allah about that and he said: 'Do not let that stop you. Buy her and set her free, and loyalty belongs to the one who sets the slave free.; so she did that, then the Messenger of Allah stood up before the people, praised and glorified Allah, then said: 'What is the matter with people who stipulate conditions that are not in the Book of Allah?Whoever stipulates conditions that are not in even if there are a hundred conditions? The decree of Allah takes priority, and the conditions of Allah binding. And loyalty belongs to the one who sets the slaves free.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4656In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 208English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4660
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4656
This hadith about Barirah gives more detail about her manumission contract. She had agreed to pay nine uqiyah, one each year, and had not yet paid anything. Aishah wanted to help by paying the full amount, but the masters wanted the wala to stay with them. The Messenger of Allah told Aishah not to let that stop her. He said to buy Barirah and set her free, because wala belongs to the one who frees. Then he praised Allah and addressed the people about conditions not in the Book of Allah. He stated that Allah's decree has more right and Allah's condition is more binding. The main topic is valid contract conditions and wala.
What we learn from this hadith
- Barirah asked for help with a nine-uqiyah manumission contract.
- The masters' condition about wala did not stop Aishah from freeing her.
- Wala belongs to the one who sets the slave free.
- Conditions not in the Book of Allah are described as invalid here.
