If a Man Frees His Slave Woman for Allah, Can He Marry Her?

Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib say that if a person frees his slave girl for the sake of Allah, then he should not turn back regarding her. However, if he frees her for the purpose of marriage, then there is no harm in it.

Hazrat Nakha'i says that if (a slave) is freed for the sake of Allah, then marrying her is disliked.

Ibrahim considers it disliked that a man frees a woman and then marries her.

Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib considers it undesirable for a man to set a woman free for the sake of Allah and then marry her.

Hazrat Qatadah narrates that once Basheer bin Ka'b recited this verse { فَامْشُوا فِی مَنَاکِبِہَا } and then said to his slave girl, "If you can tell me the meaning of 'manakibaha', you are free." She replied that it means "mountains." Upon hearing this, Basheer bin Ka'b's complexion changed! He loved this slave girl. Now he began to ask people whether he should free her or not. Some advised him to free her, while others discouraged him. He asked Hazrat Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him), who said, "Leave that which puts you in doubt and choose that which does not put you in doubt. Goodness is peace of mind, and evil is in doubt." Therefore, Basheer bin Ka'b let go of that slave girl.