Chapter - Section 1

'Urwa told on' A’isha’s authority that God’s Messenger said to her concerning Barira, “Take her and set her free.” Now her husband was a slave, so God’s Messenger gave her her choice and she chose to separate from him; but if he had been free he would not have given her her choice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَهَا فِي بَرِيرَةَ: «خُذِيهَا فَأَعْتِقِيهَا» . وَكَانَ زَوْجُهَا عَبْدًا فَخَيَّرَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاخْتَارَتْ نَفسهَا وَلَو كَانَ حرا لم يخيرها

Ibn ‘Abbas said:

Barira’s husband was a negro slave called Mughith whom I can still picture going round behind her in the streets of Medina weeping with the tears flowing on his beard. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to al- ‘Abbas, “Are you not astonished, ‘Abbas, at Mughith’s love; of Barira and Barira’s hatred of Mughith?" The Prophet (ﷺ) expressed a wish that she would take him back, but when she asked whether he was giving her a command and he replied that he was merely interceding, she said, “I have no need of him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ زَوْجُ بَرِيرَةَ عبدا أسود يُقَالُ لَهُ مُغِيثٌ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ يَطُوفُ خلفهَا فِي سِكَك الْمَدِينَة يبكي وَدُمُوعُهُ تَسِيلُ عَلَى لِحْيَتِهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَىَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِلْعَبَّاسِ: «يَا عَبَّاسُ أَلَا تَعْجَبُ مِنْ حُبِّ مُغِيثٍ بَرِيرَةَ؟ وَمِنْ بُغْضٍ بَرِيرَة مغيثاً؟» فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْ راجعته» فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَأْمُرُنِي؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّمَا أَشْفَعُ» قَالَتْ: لَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِيهِ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘A’isha said she wanted to set free two slaves of hers who were married, so she consulted the Prophet (ﷺ) and he ordered her to begin with the man before the woman. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّهَا أَرَادَتْ أَنْ تَعْتِقَ مَمْلُوكَيْنِ لَهَا زَوْجٌ فَسَأَلَتِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَبْدَأَ بِالرَّجُلِ قَبْلَ الْمَرْأَةِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

She said that Barira became free when she was with Mughith and God’s Messenger gave her her choice saying, “If he has intercourse with you, you will not be allowed to exercise choice.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْهَا: أَنْ بَرِيرَةَ عَتَقَتْ وَهِيَ عِنْدَ مُغِيثٍ فَخَيَّرَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ لَهَا: «إِنْ قَرِبَكِ فَلَا خِيَارَ لَكِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهَذَا الْبَابُ خَالٍ عَنِ الْفَصْلِ الثَّالِثِ