Shaykh al-Islām Taqī al-Dīn—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—also said:

Section: On the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to ʿĀʾishah:

“Buy her and stipulate that they shall have the rights of patronage, for the rights of patronage belong only to the one who sets a slave free.”

This has puzzled many people. Some have even said that Hishām alone transmitted it, whereas al-Zuhrī did not, and considered this a defect in the hadith. Yet the hadith is recorded in both Sahīh collections and has no defect.

Others have said that “stipulate in their favour” means “stipulate against them.” They cited as a parallel the words of Allah Most High, “For them is the curse,” meaning, “Upon them is the curse.” Harmalah transmitted this interpretation from al-Shāfiʿī, and it has also been transmitted from al-Muzanī. This interpretation is weak.

First, the words “stipulate in their favour” are explicit in their meaning: the preposition lām denotes a particular association. As for His words, “For them is the curse,” they resemble His words, “For them is punishment,” and “For them is disgrace.” This conveys a valid meaning; it does not mean that they own the curse;