The life of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is filled with lessons that guide Muslims in every aspect of their lives: spiritual, social, and financial. One such lesson comes from Hadith 2415 in Sahih al-Bukhari , where the Prophet (ﷺ) intervened in a situation involving a slave. This incident sheds light on Islamic principles of justice, compassion, and financial responsibility.
The Story Behind Hadith
A man from the Ansar declared his slave as Mudabbar , meaning the slave would be freed upon the master’s death. However, this man had no other property or wealth besides the slave. When the Prophet (ﷺ) learned about this situation, he took action.
Instead of allowing the man to proceed with the Mudabbar arrangement, the Prophet (ﷺ) canceled the manumission and sold the slave. Nu'aim bin Al-Nahham purchased the slave for 800 dirhams . The money was then given to the man, who used it to pay off his debts and support his family.
Key Details from Other Narrations
Bulugh al-Maram :
The man became needy, prompting the Prophet (ﷺ) to sell the slave.
In another version, the man had a debt, so the Prophet (ﷺ) sold the slave and instructed him:
"Pay off your debt and spend on your dependents."
Nasa'i :
The man owed a debt, and the Prophet (ﷺ) ensured the proceeds from the sale were used to settle it.
------------------
Hadith 2415 (Sahih al-Bukhari)
A man manumitted a slave and he had no other property than that, so the Prophet (ﷺ) canceled the
manumission (and sold the slave for him). Nu'aim bin Al-Nahham bought the slave from him.
Bukhari »
Expiation for Unfulfilled Oaths - كتاب كفارات الأيمان » Hadith 6716
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 85, Hadith 80
Bukhari » (Statements made under) Coercion - كتاب الإكراه » Hadith 6947
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 79, Hadith 707
Narrated `Amr:Jabir said:
An Ansari man made his slave a Mudabbar and he had no other property than him. When
the Prophet (ﷺ) heard of that, he said (to his companions), "Who wants to buy him (i.e., the slave) for
me?" Nu'aim bin An-Nahham bought him for eight hundred Dirhams. I heard Jabir saying, "That was
a coptic slave who died in the same year."
حَدَّثَنَا
أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو،
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ دَبَّرَ مَمْلُوكًا لَهُ،
وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ غَيْرُهُ فَبَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
فَقَالَ
" مَنْ يَشْتَرِيهِ مِنِّي ".
فَاشْتَرَاهُ نُعَيْمُ بْنُ النَّحَّامِ بِثَمَانِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ،
فَسَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ عَبْدًا قِبْطِيًّا مَاتَ
عَامَ أَوَّلَ.
To understand this hadith, we must read other versions to get the whole story:
Bulugh al-Maram » Emancipation كتاب العتق » Hadith
Jabir
bin ·Abdullah (RAA) narrated that:
A man from the Ansar declared that
his slave lad would be free after his death (would be Mudabbar), yet he
had no other property. When the Prophet heard of that he said, “Who will
buy him from me?” And Nu'aim bin 'Abdullah bought him for eight hundred
Dirhams. Agreed upon. In a narration by Al-Bukhari:
“The
man became needy,’ (so the Prophet took the slave and said...).’ A
version by An-Nasa’i says, “The man had a debt, so the Prophet sold the
slave for eight hundred Dirhams and gave him the money and said, “Pay
off your debt.”
عَنْ جَابِرٍ - رضى الله عنه - { أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ اَلْأَنْصَارِ أَعْتَقَ غُلَامًا لَهُ عَنْ دُبُرٍ, لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ غَيْرُهُ, فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ اَلنَّبِيَّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -. فَقَالَ: "مَنْ يَشْتَرِيهِ مِنِّي?" فَاشْتَرَاهُ نُعَيْمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بِثَمَانِمَائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْه ِ
. وَفِي لَفْظٍ لِلْبُخَارِيِّ: فَاحْتَاج َ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلنَّسَائِيِّ: { وَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ, فَبَاعَهُ بِثَمَانِمَائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ, فَأَعْطَاهُ وَقَالَ: " اِقْضِ دَيْنَكَ" }.
English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5420
It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah
said:
"A man among the Ansar stated that his salve was to be set free after he
died; he was in need, and he owed a debt. The Messenger of Allah [SAW]
sold him (the slave) for eight hundred Dirhams, and he gave (the money)
to him and said: 'Pay off your debt and spend on your dependents.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ وَاصِلِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَاضِرُ بْنُ الْمُوَرِّعِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَعْتَقَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ غُلاَمًا لَهُ عَنْ دُبُرٍ وَكَانَ مُحْتَاجًا وَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ فَبَاعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَمَانِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأَعْطَاهُ فَقَالَ " اقْضِ دَيْنَكَ وَأَنْفِقْ عَلَى عِيَالِكَ " .
-------------
These details clarify that the Prophet’s decision was not arbitrary but
rooted in addressing the man’s financial struggles and ensuring
fairness. While freeing slaves is a noble act, it must align with practical realities. The Prophet (ﷺ) provided a solution that addressed the root cause of the man’s hardship rather than allowing a symbolic gesture to exacerbate his difficulties. As a leader, the Prophet (ﷺ) acted decisively to resolve the issue. He took proactive steps to address societal challenges.
Allah knows best!