“O Umair, I have set you free in a good way. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'Any man who frees a slave and does not say anything about his (the slave's) wealth, it belongs to him (the slave).' So tell me, how much wealth do you have?”
Another chain reports a similar hadith.
Narrated by It was narrated from Ishaq bin Ibrahim, from his grandfather 'Umair, who was the freed slave of Ibn Mas'ud, that `Abdullah said to him:
Context
In this narration, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud informs his freed slave, Umair, that he will free him in a good manner. He recalls the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) teaching that any man who frees a slave without specifying the slave's wealth, that wealth belongs to the slave. This highlights the importance of clarity and fairness in transactions and relationships.
Modern Application
This principle is relevant today as it encourages transparency and fairness in all dealings, especially in employment and contractual relationships. It serves as a reminder to ensure that all parties are treated justly and that their rights are respected.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Wages and Labor and Manumission of Slaves because it emphasizes the rights of freed individuals and the importance of clarity in financial matters.
But let them who find not [the means for] marriage abstain [from sexual relations] until Allah enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.
And those who pronounce thihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
Allah presents an example: a slave [who is] owned and unable to do a thing and he to whom We have provided from Us good provision, so he spends from it secretly and publicly. Can they be equal? Praise to Allah! But most of them do not know.
This hadith is #2266 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of The Chapters on Manumission (of Slaves). It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Ishaq bin Ibrahim, from his grandfather 'Umair, who was the freed slave of Ibn Mas'ud, that `Abdullah said to him:.
