Buying Slaves

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about the case of a man who is of my relatives who has left behind small children, slave-boys and slave-girls, and has not made any will. ‘What do you say about one who buys from…

“A certain person of our people died without a will and his case was presented before a judge of al- Kufah. ‘Abd al-Hamid was appointed as the supervisor over his affairs. The man had left behind small heirs, assets and…

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a slave, who is a runaway one, from his people. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid unless he buys something else along with him and says, “I buy…

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I have made a deal with a man in the manner of Musawamah (fixed price regardless of capital) about his slave-girl. He sold her to me on my demand and I took possession on that…

“This is about the case of a slave who is owned by several people and one of them sells his share and the other says, ‘I am more rightful to buy it if his claim is right.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a right if there is…

“About the case of buying and the sale of Romans, Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘(If they are for sale), buy and sell them.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying slaves of tax payers if their government approves. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the authority over them approves you can buy and marry them.’”

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the enemy people who make peace, then breach it because justice was not practiced with them; if it is permissible to buy their captives. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are open enemies…

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about Romans who invade al-Saqalibah (a people who lived between Bulgaria and Constantinople (Istanbul)), steal their children, slave-girls and slave-boys, then castrate the…

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the slaves of the taxpayers; if I can buy from them. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can buy them if they certify their slavery.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a slave-girl for a certain price, then sells her (on credit) and makes a profit before paying the owner. The owner comes and…

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), issued a judgment in the case of a slave-girl who is the mother of a child who is sold by the son of her master in the absence of his father. The buyer made her…

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I go to the market to buy a slave-girl and she says that she is free. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can buy her unless she presents proof of her freedom.’”

“Once I was sitting with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man came in with his son. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked, ‘What kind of business does your son do?’ He replied, ‘He sells slaves.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘You…

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who looks at his own price when he is weighed, he does not succeed.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about the case of a man who shares a slave-girl with another man and says, ‘If we made profit half is for you, if it is a loss then there is nothing on you.’ He (the Imam) said,…

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of slave- girls and conditions that say, ‘She must not be sold or transferred in inheritance or given as gift.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is…

“Once I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he asked, ‘Young man, what you do for a living?’ I replied, ‘It is slaves.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I recommend you so keep my recommendations safe. You must not buy physically or…