Rulings of Manumission

**Four Rulings:** **1. Joint Ownership:** It is permissible for multiple people to jointly own a slave. **2. Freeing a Partial Share:** If someone frees his share in a jointly-owned slave: - **If he is wealthy:** The partner's share is also freed, and he must pay the partner fair compensation. - **If he is poor:** His share alone is freed, and the slave must work to earn the value of the remaining share, after which he becomes free (like a mukatab). **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever frees his share in a jointly-owned slave, if he has enough wealth, the slave is appraised at fair value, and he pays his partners their shares, and the slave is freed. Otherwise, he has freed what he freed" [Bukhari & Muslim]. And: "Whoever frees a share - the slave is appraised from his wealth if he has it, otherwise he is made to work without hardship" [Bukhari & Muslim] **3. Inheritance (Wala'):** The emancipator inherits all the wealth of the one he freed, but not vice versa. Because the wala' (patronage) belongs to the emancipator. - **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "The wala' belongs to the one who frees" [Bukhari & Muslim] - **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "The wala' is a bond like the bond of lineage" [Shafi'i, Hakim, Bayhaqi - sahih] **4. Abuse Leads to Freeing:** Whoever strikes his slave unjustly, or severely, or mutilates him, or harms him, or severs a limb, the slave is freed. - **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever strikes his slave for a sin he did not commit, or slaps him, his expiation is to free him" [Muslim] - Light discipline for correction does not result in this.