What is the ruling if a specific, defined part of a slave is manumitted, such as a limb?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Manumission
Primary text
If a specific part of the slave, such as the head, hand, or finger, is manumitted, the entire slave is freed. This view is held by Qatadah, Al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq. The basis is that freeing one limb of a human chattel results in the freeing of the whole, similar to freeing the head.
Supporting text
The Ashab al-Ra'y (Hanafis) maintain that if the part essential for life, such as the head, back, belly, body, or private parts, is freed, the whole is freed because life cannot continue without it. If a limb that can be removed while life remains, such as a hand, is freed, the remainder is not freed, similar to hair or a tooth. Qatadah and Al-Layth, however, state that freeing a slave's nail results in the freeing of the entire slave, as it is a part similar to a finger. The established principle is that things which naturally fall off and regenerate (like hair, saliva) are analogous to things that result in the full manumission, following the ruling established for divorce.