What is the ruling if a master declares manumission (tadbir) or wills the manumission of three slaves, and one of them dies during the master's lifetime?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Manumission
Primary text
If a master declares manumission for three slaves (tadbir) or wills their manumission, and one of them dies during the master's life, both the tadbir and the bequest regarding that specific slave become void. Lots are cast among the remaining two slaves, and one is manumitted from the portion of the deceased. The rationale is that manumission cannot be confirmed for the deceased slave because death occurred before the specified time for manumission or before the condition for manumission was fulfilled. This differs from a prior case where manumission is effective immediately upon utterance, with the casting of lots merely revealing and confirming it, meaning the freed slave's earnings belong to him from the moment of the utterance.
Supporting text
If the manumitted slave (mudabbar) dies after the master's death, lots are cast between that slave and the living ones because the manumission has taken effect from the moment of the master's death.