Forgiving the slaves is a custom of the imams

Question:

Have the infallible (a.) ever freed any of their servants?

Answer:

Abdullah Ibn Muhammad reported that Abd-ur-Razzaq said: “A servant of Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.) started pouring water for him to get ready for prayer, but she got tired and the jug fell out of the servant’s hand and inflicted cuts on him. He lifted his head up to her and the maid said to him: “God says: “Those who suppress anger.” He said: “I have suppressed my anger.” She said: “Those who forgive men.” He said: “God forgive you.” She said: “God loves the beneficent.” (3:134) He said: “Go forth, you are free.” [Al-Irshad of Al-Mufid, volume 2 page 146 – 147]

عن عبد الله بن محمد عن عبد الرزاق قال: جعلت جارية لعلي بن الحسين عليهما السلام تسكب عليه الماء ليتهيأ للصلاة فنعست فسقط الإبريق من يد الجارية فشجه فرفع رأسه إليها فقالت له الجارية إن الله يقول والكاظمين الغيظ قال قد كظمت غيظي قالت والعافين عن الناس قال لها عفا الله عنك قالت والله يحب المحسنين قال اذهبي فأنت حرة

Ali Ibn Isa reported that there were guests at Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.): “One of his servants rushed over with a barbecue that was in the oven, but the servant came over so quickly that the spit fell under the step on the head of one of the sons of Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.) and hit his head and killed him. Then he said to the servant, who was confused and upset: “You are free, you did not intend it.” He took the body of his son and buried him.” [Kashf-ul-Ghummah of Al-Irbili, Volume 2 Page 293]

عن علي بن عيسى عن الإمام زين العابدين عليه السلام أنه كان عنده عليه السلام قوم أضياف فاستعجل خادما له بشواء كان في التنور فأقبل به الخادم مسرعا فسقط السفود منه على رأس بنى لعلى بن الحسين تحت الدرجة فأصاب رأسه فقتله فقال على للغلام وقد تحير الغلام واضطرب أنت حر فانك لم تعتمده وأخذ في جهاز ابنه ودفنه

Thabit Ibn Dinar reported that Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.) said: “As for the right of your servant, remember that he is the creation of your Lord, the son of your father and mother, your flesh and blood. Neither do you possess him because you would have made him without Allah, nor did you create anything of his form, nor did you provide for him, but Allah was sufficient for you in that. Then He made him subservient to you, entrusted him to you and secured him with you so that he would preserve for you the good you gave him, so be good to him as God was good to you, and if you hate him, you substitute him and do not torture the creation of God and there is no power except through God.” [Al-Khisal of As-Saduq, page 568 Hadith 1]

عن ثابت بن دينار عن الإمام زين العابدين عليه السلام قال: وأما حق مملوكك فأن تعلم أنه خلق ربك وابن أبيك وأمك ولحمك ودمك لم تملكه لأنك صنعته دون الله ولا خلقت شيئا من جوارحه ولا أخرجت له رزقا، ولكن الله عز وجل كفاك ذلك، ثم سخره لك وائتمنك عليه واستودعك إياه ليحفظ لك ما تأتيه من خير إليه فأحسن إليه كما أحسن الله إليك وإن كرهته استبدلت به، ولم تعذب خلق الله عز وجل، ولا قوة إلا بالله