رقبة بن مصقلة العبدي الكوفي

6. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) says, “One who recites Bismillaahi wa billaahi wa a’laa millaati rasoolillaah while trimming nails and moustache on Friday would get the reward of freeing a slave from the progeny of Ismail (a.s.) for each hair and nail trimmed.”

“Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) asked, ‘How much is the value of setting free a slave?’ The Imam said, ‘It is equal to feeding a Muslim man to his satisfaction.’”

Hadith.1875 - Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Does one of you not feel ashamed that they cannot endure (fasting) until the evening? It was said in the past that the beginning of fighting is slapping."

"I prefer that he frees a slave, fasts for two consecutive months, and feeds sixty needy people, and then he should repent after that."

Feeding your brother a mouthful is more loveable to me than giving a dirham in charity; and giving him a dirham is more lovable to me than giving ten in charity; and giving him ten Dirhams is more loveable to me than freeing a slave.

“Visiting the believing brother (in belief) is certainly better than setting free ten believing slaves. Whoever sets free a believing slave for each part of the body of the slave, one part of his body will be protected against fire, and even the private part will be protected.”

“A meal that (I may provide) for a Muslim brother (in belief) is more beloved to me than setting free a slave.”

“Certain persons of our people asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has purchased with money from Zakat of his assets his own father. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has purchased the best slave and it is not harmful.’”

“Every pilgrim should enter Mecca for Hajj with extreme humility. When he enters Masjidul Haraam, he should take small steps out of the fear of Allah. He should perform circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba and offer two rakat Salaat. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would note seventy thousand rewards for him, wipe his seventy thousand sins, increase his position seventy thousand levels, fulfill his seventy thousand wishes and grant him the reward of freeing seventy thousand slaves each costing ten thousand dirhams.”

"He must free a slave, or fast for two consecutive months, or feed sixty poor people. If he cannot afford any of these, he should give charity to the extent of his ability."

"I asked him about a man who is obligated to free a slave and intends to emancipate one. Which is better-to free an old man or a young, healthy man?" Imam (as) replied: 'Free the one who is more self-sufficient. The old man is better than the young, healthy (strong) man.' "

Hadith.1953 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Sadir entered upon my father (as) during the Month of Ramadan. My father said to him: 'O Sadir, do you know what nights these are?' Sadir replied: 'Yes, may I be your ransom; these are the nights of the Month of Ramadan. Why do you ask?' My father (as) said to him: 'Can you free ten slaves from the descendants of Isma'il every night of these nights?' Sadir replied: 'May I be your ransom, my wealth cannot reach that amount.' My father (as) continued to reduce the number until he said: 'Can you free one slave every night?' Sadir replied: 'I cannot do that either.' My father (as) then asked: 'Can you provide iftar for one Muslim every night?' Sadir replied: 'Yes, I can, and even for ten Muslims.' My father (as) said: 'That is what I intended, O Sadir. Providing iftar to your Muslim brother is equal to freeing one slave from the descendants of Isma'il (as).'"

“Helping to meet the needs of a believer is better than setting free one thousand slaves and better than donating one thousand horses loaded (with good) in the way of Allah.’’ Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Ziyad a Hadith similar to the two above Ahadith.

"Whoever gives water in a place where water is available is like one who frees a slave. And whoever gives water in a place where water is not available is like one who revives a soul. And whoever revives a soul, it is as though they have revived all of humanity."

"He must pay the value of the slave and be severely beaten." And regarding a man who kills his own slave, Imam (as) said: "He must free a slave, fast for two consecutive months, and feed sixty needy people, and then repent after that."

I asked him about someone who said: "By Allah (swt)," and then did not fulfill it. Abu Abdillah (as) said: "Its expiation is feeding ten needy people with a measure (mudd) each of flour or wheat, or freeing a slave. If he cannot find any of these, then he must fast for three consecutive days."

“Once, during the month of Ramadan, Sadir went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The Imam asked, ‘O Sadir, do you know which nights are these days?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul and the soul of my father in service for your cause, these are the nights of the month of Ramadan, but what do they signify?’ The Imam then said, ‘Can you set free ten slaves from the descendants of Isma‘il in every one of these nights?’ Sadir replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep the souls of my parents in service for your cause, my belongings are not that much.’ The Imam then reduced the number of slaves until it was only one slave, but he kept saying, ‘My belongings are not enough.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Can you serve food to a Muslim every night.’ He replied, ‘Yes, I can do so. I can even serve food to ten people every night.’ The Imam then said, ‘That is what I meant, O Sadir. Your serving food to your Muslim brother is equal in reward to setting free of ten slaves from the descendants of Isma‘il.’”

“I informed abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about the passing away of my two sons and that only one small son is living. The Imam said, ‘You should give charity for his safety.’ When I was about to leave, he said, ‘Ask your son to give charity with his own hands; it can be a piece, a handful or even something very small. Anything whereby one can seek the pleasure of Allah with true intention, even though very small, is a great thing. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, “Whoever does a good deed, even if it is as small as the size of an atom, he will find its result; so also is the case of one who does a bad deed. (99:7-8) ”He has also said, “They have not yet entered al-‘Aqabah (mountain-pass). What do you think al-‘Aqabah is? Al-‘Aqabah is the setting free of a slave or providing food during a famine for a relative’s orphan or to a destitute person. (90:11-16)” He has also said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, knows that everyone is unable to set a slave free. Thus, in the giving of charity, He has considered feeding an orphan or a destitute person the same as setting free a slave.’”

I said to Imam (as): "May I be your ransom, a man is required to free a believing slave, but he cannot find one. What should he do?" Imam (as) replied: "Resort to the children (among slaves) and free them. If they turn out to be believers, then that fulfills the requirement. But if they do not turn out to be believers, then there is no obligation upon you."

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife that she is like the back of his mother to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘The expiation for it is setting free of a slave or fasting for two consecutive months or feeding sixty destitute people. For freeing a slave, a child born in Islam is sufficient.’”