Dalīl al-Ṭālib - Marʿi al-Karmi - (221)

Book of Manumission
Introduction
…
Book of Manumission

Manumission is one of the greatest acts of devotion to Allah. Hence it is recommended to free a slave who is strong and able to earn. It is disliked when the slave has no strength and no means of livelihood, or when one fears he may fall into fornication or other wrongdoing; and it is forbidden if such behavior is actually known.1 The same rulings apply to a kitāba (self-purchase contract).

Manumission is effected by a verbal declaration. Its explicit formula consists of the words ʿitq and ḥurriyya (manumission and freedom) in whatever grammatical form they occur, provided they are not used as an imperative, in the imperfect, or as an active participle.

Its indirect formulas—which require the accompanying intention—number sixteen:
• khalaytuka (“I have set you free”);
• aṭlaqtuka (“I have released you”);
• alḥaqtuka bi-ahlika (“I have joined you to your family”);
• idhhab ḥaythu shiʾta (“Go wherever you wish”);
• lā sabīla lī ʿalayka (“I have no claim over you”), or lā sulṭān, or lā milk, or lā riqq;
• or2 lā khidmata lī ʿalayka (“I have no service due from you”);
• and3 wahabtuka lillāh (“I have donated you for the sake of Allah”);
• anta lillāh (“you belong to Allah”);
• rafaʿtu yadī ʿanka ilā Allāh (“I have lifted my hand from you unto Allah”);
• anta mawlāy (“you are my freedman”);
• or4 sāʾiba (“released”);
• or fakkaktu raqabataka5 (“I have unshackled your neck”).

A female slave may likewise be freed by the words anti ṭāliq or ḥarām (“You are divorced” or “unlawful to me”).

(1) The main text cites three legal rulings concerning manumission, whereas two others are still missing: manumission becomes obligatory when it is the object of a vow or an expiation, and it is merely permissible when it is not intended as a deed seeking reward in the Hereafter. Thus all five legal valuations apply. Hashiyat al-Labbadi, p. 289. (2) In manuscript “A” the conjunction is written with the letter waw (and). (3) In manuscript “N” the reading is “aw” (or) instead of the conjunction waw. (4) Manuscript “N” inserts the additional word “anta” (you). (5) The phrase “wa fakkaktu raqabatak” (and I have freed your neck) appears in manuscripts “B” and “M” immediately after the words “aw la khidmata li ‘alayk” (or I have no claim to your service), and it is absent from manuscripts “B” and “N”.

كتاب العتق مدخل ... كتاب العتق وهو من أعظم القرب فيسن عتق رقيق له كعب ويكره إن كان لا قوة له ولا كسب أو يخاف منه الزنا أو الفساد ويحرم إن علم ذلك منه١ وهكذا الكتابة. ويحصل العتق بالقول وصريحه لفظ: العتق والحرية كيف صرفا غير أمر ومضارع واسم فاعل. وكنايته مع النية ستة عشر: خليتك وأطلقتك وألحق بأهلك واذهب حيث شئت ولا سبيل لي أو لا سلطان أو لا ملك أو لا رق أو٢: لا خدمة لي عليك و٣وهبتك لله وأنت لله ورفعت يدي عنك إلى الله وأنت مولاي أو٤ سائبة أو فلككت رقبتك٥ وتزيد الأمة بأنت طالق أو حرام.

١ ذكر في المتن للعتق ثلاثة أحكام وبقي اثنان: وذلك أنه يجب بنذر وعن كفارة ويباح إن لم يقصد به ثواب الآخرة فتعتريه الأحكام الخمسة. حاشية اللبدي "ص: ٢٨٩". ٢ في "أ" "بالواو". ٣ في "ن" "أو" بدل الواو ٤ في "ن" زيادة "أنت". ٥ قوله: "وفككت رقبتك" في "ب" و "م" قبل هذا بعد قوله: "أو لا خدمة لي عليك" ولا يوجد في "ب" ولا في "ن".