How should emancipation be handled when slaves have unequal values that make grouping into three parts by value difficult?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Manumission
Primary text
If one slave is valued at 1000, two at 2000, and two at 3000, it is permissible to group them into three parts: the most valuable slave as one part, the next most valuable combined with the least valuable remaining slave as the second part, and the remainder as the third part, drawing with one share for freedom and two for property, as this approximates the practice of the Prophet, peace be upon him, adjusting the third by value. Alternatively, a draw can be held for each slave individually until the one-third is fulfilled, by writing five slips with their names, drawing one for freedom, and then drawing a second to complete the third from the person named in that second draw.