Aswad narrates from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she intended to buy Barirah in order to free her, and her owners wanted to stipulate her wala' (the right of inheritance through clientship) for themselves. Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Buy her; the wala' belongs only to the one who frees." Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Meat was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: I said: "This was given in charity to Barirah." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is charity for her and a gift for us." Ibrahim said: Her husband was free, so Barirah was given the choice regarding her husband.
Al-Hakam said: Barirah's husband was free. (It is mursal.)
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw him as a slave.
The Shaykh said: Al-Qasim bin Muhammad, Urwah bin al-Zubayr, Mujahid and Amrah bint Abd al-Rahman all narrate from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Barirah's husband was a slave.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب النكاح / 14279