What is the ruling on a master saying to his slave, 'You are free whenever you wish'?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Manumission
Primary text
The slave is not freed until he expresses his wish to be free through speech. Upon expressing this wish, emancipation occurs immediately, whether the master intended it for immediate effect or for a later time.
Supporting text
It is argued that this statement is equivalent to giving the slave an option (*takhyeer*), which might require the exercise of that option to be confined to the current sitting or council.