She bought Barirah in order to free her, but her former owners stipulated that the right of guardianship (wala) would remain with them. She said, "Messenger of Allah, I have bought Barirah to free her, but her owners are stipulating that they retain her wala."He replied, "Free her, for the wala belongs only to the one who frees," or he said, "to the one who pays the price."So she bought her and freed her. Barirah was then given the choice regarding her marriage, and she chose herself. She said, "Even if I were given such and such, I would not remain with him."Aswad said, "Her husband was a free man."Aswad's statement is disconnected, and the report of Ibn Abbas, "I saw him as a slave," is more authentic.
حدثنا موسى حدثنا أبو عوانة عن منصور عن إبراهيم عن الأسود أن
اشترت بريرة لتعتقها واشترط أهلها ولاءها فقالت يا رسول الله إني اشتريت بريرة لأعتقها وإن أهلها يشترطون ولاءها فقال أعتقيها فإنما الولاء لمن أعتق أو قال أعطى الثمن قال فاشترتها فأعتقتها قال وخيرت فاختارت نفسها وقالت لو أعطيت كذا وكذا ما كنت معه قال الأسود وكان زوجها حرا قول الأسود منقطع وقول ابن عباس رأيته عبدا أصح