Chapter

Setting Free and Wala'

كتاب العتق والولاء

Arabic Text

وَحَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَرَادَتْ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ جَارِيَةً تُعْتِقُهَا فَقَالَ أَهْلُهَا نَبِيعُكِهَا عَلَى أَنَّ وَلاَءَهَا لَنَا فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّكِ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English Translation

Malik related to me from Nafi from Abdullah ibn Umar that A'isha umm al-muminin wanted to buy a slave-girl and set her free. Her people said, "We will sell her to you provided that her wala' is ours." She mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he said, "Don't let that hinder you, for the wala' only belongs to the one who sets free."