Can a man who converts to Islam choose among his existing female slaves if one was freed and converted before the others?

Chapter on Marriage of Polytheists

Al-Mughni

Book of Marriage

Book 35 · Issue 1 · Bab 3

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a free man converts to Islam and has female slaves under him, and one of them is freed and then converts, followed by the conversion of the rest, he is not permitted to choose among the slaves. This is because at the time of their collective conversion to Islam, he was the master of a free woman (the one previously freed and converted).