Those Who Say a Found Newborn on the Road Is Free

It is narrated from Hazrat Zuhair that a man found a newborn child lying somewhere. He brought the child to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set the child free. (He did not consider the child a slave.)

Hazrat Sinin Abu Jameelah narrates: I found a child. My acquaintance mentioned this to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: He is free, his allegiance is for you, and his upbringing is our responsibility.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) says regarding a newborn child who is found abandoned: if the person who picks him up intends to set him free, then he is free; and if he intends slavery, then he is a slave.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) said that if a newborn child is found, he will be considered free.

The same is narrated from Hazrat Aamir (may Allah have mercy on him).

Hazrat Aamir (may Allah have mercy on him) says that if a foundling child is found somewhere, he will not be made a slave.

Hazrat Ata says that if a newborn child is found lying (somewhere), he will be considered free.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) set free a newborn child who was found lying abandoned.

Hazrat Shu’bah (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I asked Hazrat Hakam and Hazrat Hammad about a newborn child who is found lying (somewhere); they said he will be considered free. Hazrat Shu’bah says that I asked Hazrat Hakam from whom this is narrated; he (may Allah have mercy on him) said: from Hasan Basri and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

23294 - Shu’bah said: I asked al-Hakam, “From whom?” He said: “From al-Hasan (al-Basri) (1) from Ali.”

Hazrat Tamim bin Maseeh, may Allah have mercy on him, says that I left my house and I had no children. I found a newborn child lying there. I took him to Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. He, may Allah be pleased with him, included the child among the people of the neighborhood.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that they will be counted as slaves.

Musa al-Juhani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: I saw a child of adultery lying on the road. Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, included him among the people of the neighborhood.

Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote to the people of Makkah: A newborn child who is found lying (abandoned) will be considered free.