Hadith 3455

(1) The statement: “Will it benefit her if I emancipate on her behalf? He said: Yes”: Because emancipation is among the best forms of charity, and all types of charity, as well as financial and physical worship, their reward reaches the deceased, prompting forgiveness and raising their ranks. Narrations and reports confirm this, as detailed by As-Suyuti in Sharh As-Sudur on the states of the dead and graves, and others elsewhere. Among the best reports on emancipation for the deceased is what An-Nasa’i narrated from Wathilah, who said: We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Tabuk expedition and said: “Our companion died.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Free a slave on his behalf, and Allah will free for every limb of his a limb from him from the Fire.” Thus, in At-Ta‘liq Al-Mumajjad.

(2) The statement: “Aisha freed many slaves on his behalf”: Muhammad said in Al-Muwatta: “We adopt this; there is no issue with emancipating for the deceased. If he bequeathed it, patronage is his; if he did not, patronage is for the emancipator, and the reward reaches the deceased.” In At-Ta‘liq Al-Mumajjad, it is said: There is no doubt the reward reaches the deceased if a living person emancipates for him and directs the reward to him, even without a bequest. If the emancipation or charity is obligatory on the deceased and he bequeathed it, the executor must fulfill it from one-third of his estate, and his obligation is cleared. If he did not bequeath and the executor voluntarily fulfills what was obligatory, his obligation is cleared, by Allah’s grace and favor, if He wills.