This is what we mean when we say that he possesses what will suffice him on a continuing basis. But if we say that what is meant by ongoing maintenance is cash, then cash can never be precisely determined. So we say: as long as you have wealth with which you can purchase a slave, then purchase one. If he says, “What I have will barely suffice me for fifty years,” we say, “How do you know that you will remain alive for fifty years?!” The jurists, may Allah have mercy on them, only meant someone who has a continuous income sufficient for him.
His statement, “and the maintenance of those whom he supports,” means those whose expenses he provides for, such as his wife, children, and relatives whose maintenance is obligatory upon him. Their maintenance takes priority over the emancipation that is obligatory upon him; indeed, in reality, emancipation is not obligatory upon him at all.
His statement, “and the dwelling he needs”: if this man has a dwelling which he needs, and he says, “If I sell this dwelling and rent a place instead, I will be able to emancipate a slave,” he is not required to sell it, because he needs it.
But if he has a dwelling of which only half is sufficient for him, he must sell the other half in order to emancipate a slave. If he says, “If I sell half of it, it will become jointly owned property, and the person who purchases it may cause me harm,” we say: there is a way around this: he may sell it all and purchase a dwelling suitable for him.
His statement, “and a servant”: what they mean is an owned servant, since a free servant is not your property. A person may keep a servant as a luxury and for comfort, or out of need. Thus, if he is an elderly man who needs someone to assist him when he goes to relieve himself, stands to pray, puts on his clothes, and the like, then this is a need. But if he has a servant whom he does not need except to say, “Bring me my shoes,” or, “Make my bed,” then he has no need for him. We say: sell him and purchase a slave. But if he needs him, should we say: emancipate him, or sell him and purchase a slave? The answer is no, because this is connected to