Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 35060 — What they said on fulfilling

Muhammad bin Suqah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: A man asked Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) about a man whom the Daylamites had taken captive. They took the covenant and pledge of Allah from him and released him on the condition that if he sent them the ransom, he would be free of obligation. They had fixed the ransom. And if he did not send the ransom, then according to the covenant and pledge he would return to them. The man could not obtain the ransom money because he was in hardship. What should he do now? He said: "He must fulfil the covenant." The man said: "Sir, they are polytheists!" Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) refused and said: "The covenant must be fulfilled in every case."