It is narrated from Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man had six slaves and he freed them at the time of his death, and he had no wealth other than them. The matter was brought before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), "and he (peace and blessings be upon him) disliked it. He divided them into three parts and cast lots between them, then freed two and kept four in slavery."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب العين / 15425