Is it required for an Umm Walad (a female slave who bore her master's child) to cover her head during prayer?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Freeing Mothers of Children
Primary text
It is disliked for an Umm Walad to uncover her head during prayer because she has acquired a likeness to free women due to the prohibition of her being sold. Imam Ahmad was asked about how an Umm Walad prays and stated she covers her head and feet because she cannot be sold. Al-Hasan preferred that if her master had intercourse with her, she should only pray in a gathered state. However, if she prays with her head uncovered, her prayer is valid because she is a slave, and her ruling follows that of female slaves.
Supporting text
Ibrahim stated that an Umm Walad prays without a veil (qina') even if she is sixty years old. Another narration from Imam Ahmad suggests her 'awrah (intimate parts) are the 'awrah of a free woman. The correct position is that her ruling follows that of female slaves, differing only in her entitlement to freedom and the prevention of transferring ownership, which does not necessitate a change in the ruling concerning her 'awrah, like the Mudabbara.