What is the ruling on the emancipation of a slave woman's offspring upon her master's statement, 'Every child you bear is free'?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Manumission
Primary text
Every child born to a female slave after her master declares, 'Every child you bear is free,' is emancipated. This is the position held by the majority of scholars, including Malik, Al-Shafi'i, Al-Awza'i, Al-Layth, and Al-Thawri. Ibn Al-Mundhir stated that he does not know of any scholarly opinion contrary to theirs. The evidence for this ruling is derived directly from the explicit wording of the master's declaration.
Supporting text
If the master sells the female slave, and she subsequently gives birth, the child is not freed by the initial declaration, because the child was born after the ownership of the master had ceased.