15/27. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1364 — Fair Manumission at Death
What Has Been Related About One Who Frees His Slaves When He Dies, While He Has No Wealth Aside From Them
Hadith About Freeing Slaves at Death
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1364
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1364
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمُهَلَّبِ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَعْتَقَ سِتَّةَ أَعْبُدٍ لَهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ غَيْرُهُمْ فَبَلغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لَهُ قَوْلاً شَدِيدًا ثُمَّ دَعَاهُمْ فَجَزَّأَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَأَعْتَقَ اثْنَيْنِ وَأَرَقَّ أَرْبَعَةً . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ مَالِكٍ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ يَرَوْنَ اسْتِعْمَالَ الْقُرْعَةِ فِي هَذَا وَفِي غَيْرِهِ . وَأَمَّا بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ فَلَمْ يَرَوُا الْقُرْعَةَ وَقَالُوا يُعْتَقُ مِنْ كُلِّ عَبْدٍ الثُّلُثُ وَيُسْتَسْعَى فِي ثُلُثَىْ قِيمَتِهِ . وَأَبُو الْمُهَلَّبِ اسْمُهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الْجَرْمِيُّ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ وَيُقَالُ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو . وَأَبُو قِلاَبَةَ الْجَرْمِيُّ اسْمُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زَيْدٍ .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
A Man From The Ansar Freed Six Slaves Of His Upon His Death, And He Did Not Have Any Wealth Aside From Them. That Was Conveyed To The Prophet (ﷺ), And He Said Some Harsh Words About Him. He Said: "Then He Called For Them And He Divided Them And Had Them Draw Lots. So He Freed Two Of Them And Left Four As Slaves."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1364In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 44English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 1364
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1364
This hadith about freeing slaves at death reports a man from the Ansar who freed six slaves when he was dying, while he had no other wealth. When this reached the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he spoke strongly about it. Then he called the slaves, divided them, and had them draw lots. Two were freed, and four remained slaves. The hadith shows that even a good act, such as freeing slaves, was handled with limits when it involved all of a person's remaining wealth. The text highlights balance, responsibility, and fair procedure. It also shows the use of lots in this case to decide who would be freed, rather than making a random personal choice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Good intentions still need fair limits.
- A person should not ignore the wider effects of decisions made near death.
- The Prophet used a fair process by drawing lots in this case.
- Charity and freedom should be handled with responsibility.
