“I once asked abu Ibrahim, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who owed al-Hajjah al-Islam and wanted to perform al-Hajj. He was told to become married first, then perform al-Hajj. He said, ‘If I become married before al-Hajj my slave is free.’ He married before performing al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must free his slave.’ I then said, ‘He did not free his slave for the sake of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a vow and commitment in the way of Allah and al-Hajj is of a greater priority than marriage and an obligation of a greater degree than marriage.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if al- Hajj is optional?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Even if it is optional it is an act of obedience that has made his slave free.’”