Overall meaning:
A man from the Anṣār made the emancipation of his slave contingent upon his own death, and he owned no other property. When this reached the Prophet ﷺ, he deemed it an act of negligence and self-harm. He therefore revoked the manumission, sold the slave for eight hundred dirhams, and sent the proceeds to the owner, for a man’s duty to provide for himself and his family takes priority over freeing a slave, lest he become dependent on other people.

Lessons derived from the ḥadith:

1. It is proof that tadbīr (deferred emancipation) is valid, a point on which the scholars unanimously agree.
2. The mudabbar is freed from one-third of the estate, not from its entirety, because his ruling is that of a bequest: neither becomes effective until after death. This is the view held by the majority.
3. Selling a mudabbar is permissible whenever there is a need—such as settling a debt or providing maintenance. Indeed, al-Shāfiʿī and Aḥmad allowed his sale in all circumstances, whether need exists or not, citing this ḥadith, which confirms one concrete instance of such a sale and therefore applies generally. They also drew an analogy with a bequest, from which the testator may withdraw.
4. For the person whose means are limited, it is better and more appropriate to devote his wealth to himself and those he supports, for they have the greatest claim to it; he should not spend it on optional acts such as voluntary charity or the manumission of slaves. As for one to whom Allah has granted ample provision, he should seize every opportunity to spend in the paths of goodness: “Whatever you spend of anything, you will find it with Allah.” (Qur’an 2:110)

All praise is due to Allah, by whose favor righteous deeds are completed, and may blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his family, and his Companions, the forerunners in all good.

Thereafter, this blessed commentary was completed—by Allah’s help and His praise—on the blessed night of Friday, corresponding to the night of the eighth of the blessed month of Rajab in the year 1379 AH, in Mecca the Honored. I began composing it on the fifth day of the blessed month of Ramaḍān, 1376 AH, and my work on it was interrupted at intervals by various duties and vacations, which I spent in ʿUnayzah.

Written and signed by ʿAbd-Allah ibn ʿAbd-al-Raḥmān ibn the Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Ḥamad ibn Muḥammad ibn Ḥamad ibn Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd-Allah ibn the Shaykh Aḥmad Āl al-Bassām. May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his family, and his Companions.

Subsequently, I finished revising this volume, verifying it, and adding supplementary notes in preparation for the sixth edition, on Saturday afternoon, the twenty-ninth of the blessed month of Ramaḍān, 1400 AH, in the city of Ṭāʾif, the summer resort of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where I was spending the summer. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon the noblest of messengers and upon all his family and Companions.