A man who frees his slave and has no other property

It is narrated from Abu Yahya al-A'raj that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a slave whose master freed him at the time of his death, when he had no other wealth besides him and owed a debt (the owner, that is). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that the slave should work toward his master's debt.

It is narrated from al-Hasan that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about a man who freed his slave at the time of his death, when he had no other wealth besides him and owed a debt. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "He will be freed, but he will work to the extent of his value."

It is narrated from al-Qasim (may Allah have mercy on him) that a woman freed her slave girl when she had no other wealth besides her. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "She will work toward her value."

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning a person who freed his slave in his final illness and then died owing a debt, with no wealth besides this slave: "He will work to the extent of his value. If his value is greater than the debt, he will work for the creditors for what they are owed; then what remains will be considered, and two thirds of it will go to the heirs and one third to him."

Al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If a person frees a slave in his final illness and has no other wealth besides him, the slave is to be valued at a fair price, and then the slave will work toward that value.