سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ نَسَمَةً أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ شَيْخاً كَبِيراً أَوْ شَابّاً أَجْرَدَ قَالَ أَعْتَقَ مَنْ أَغْنَى نَفْسَهُ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ الضَّعِيفُ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الشَّابِّ الْأَجْرَدِ .
Translation
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Al Amraky Bin Ali, (It has been narrated) from Ali son of Ja’far<sup>asws</sup>, from his brother<sup>asws</sup> Abu Al-Hassan Musa<sup>asws</sup>, said, ‘I asked him<sup>asws</sup> about a man upon whom is the emancipation of a neck, and he intended to emancipate a person. Which of these two is better, if he emancipates an old man, or a beardless youth?’ He<sup>asws</sup> said: ‘Emancipate the one who can be self-sufficient himself. The old weak sheikh is better than the beardless youth’.
Compiled by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni
Source
License: Free for educational and research use (Thaqalayn Data API)
Provided for research and educational purposes. Original source: Thaqalayn Project. Open License.