Is freeing a portion of a slave sufficient for fulfilling the expiation (kaffara) requirement if the emancipator intended it as such?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Expiations

Book 60 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the emancipator intended the partial freeing of the slave to be counted as expiation, it suffices for the expiation. This is because freeing a part of the slave is tantamount to freeing the entirety of the slave.

Supporting text

If the emancipator intended the expiation to apply only to the specific portion directly acted upon and not the remainder of the slave, the act is not sufficient for the expiation covering the whole slave. There are two differing scholarly opinions on whether the intention regarding the expiation is counted in this scenario.