فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

[It is] the freeing of a slave.

EXEGESIS

Fakk (freeing) literally means to remove barriers from something, freeing it to do that which it previously could not, and as such the word has been used when freeing someone from prison, as he is now able to freely traverse the earth. Based on this, the meaning in this verse would be to alleviate someone from his state of servitude and slavery by giving him freedom.^{‎[1]Tibyan, 10/354; Razi, 31/169.}

Raqabah literally means neck. However, it is common in Arabic to use it metaphorically to mean slave.^{‎[2]Ibn Ashur, 30/316.}

In light of a narration, it has been said that the term fakk is wider in meaning than ʿitq, though both are loosely translated as freeing a slave. ʿItq means one independently frees a slave, but fakk means collectively freeing a slave such as by pooling together enough wealth to pay the owner of a slave.^{‎[3]Mudarrisi, 18/122.}

EXPOSITION

The first act that is mentioned as an instance of the uphill task is freeing a slave. The reason why this is the first action mentioned is due to the significance that Islam gives to freeing slaves.^{‎[4]Mizan, 20/293.}

This verse clearly indicates that freeing a slave is an act that pleases God. This shows that Islam did not initiate slavery and neither did it encourage it. Slavery was a historical reality that existed at that time, and by encouraging the freeing of slaves, Islam gradually reduced slavery within Muslim societies, unlike in other societies where slavery ended due to revolutions and uprisings.^{‎[5]Fadlallah, 24/270.}

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. In a report from Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib, a nomad came to the Prophet and asked about an act that would make him enter paradise. The Prophet said: ‘Free a slave (iʿtiq al-nasamah) or free a neck (fakki raqabah).’ So he asked: ‘Aren’t they the same?’ He said: ‘No; ʿitq of a slave means to single-handedly free a slave, whilst fakk of a slave means to aid someone in paying the price [of freeing the slave].’^{‎[6]Nur, 5/581.}
2. It has been reported from Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) regarding [It is] the freeing of a slave, that he said: ‘Through us the necks have been freed, and through our recognition.’^{‎[7]Qummi, 2/423.}

Note: This hadith is giving a wider meaning to manumission to include freeing people from ignorance. Similar meanings are suggested by other commentators as will be discussed further on.

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

According to some, the verse is commanding man to first free his own neck from the plots of Satan and then free the necks of others from all sorts of hardships.^{‎[8]Al-Balāgh fī Tafsīr al-Qurʾān bil-Qurʾān, Tehrānī, 1/594.}

It has been attributed to Abū Ḥanīfah that he opined that due to the ordering of the verses, freeing a slave is more meritorious than giving charity which is mentioned in the following verse.^{‎[9]Razi, 31/169.} However, it is clear that the ordering of the verses cannot be used as evidence for the size of merit each act has in the eyes of God.

It has been attributed to ʿIkramah that freeing the neck means freeing the neck from sins through seeking forgiveness; and it has been attributed to Jubbāʾī, that freeing the neck means freeing it from punishment by carrying out the commands of God.^{‎[10]Tabrisi, 10/750.}

[1] Tibyan, 10/354; Razi, 31/169.
[2] Ibn Ashur, 30/316.
[3] Mudarrisi, 18/122.
[4] Mizan, 20/293.
[5] Fadlallah, 24/270.
[6] Nur, 5/581.
[7] Qummi, 2/423.
[8] Al-Balāgh fī Tafsīr al-Qurʾān bil-Qurʾān, Tehrānī, 1/594.
[9] Razi, 31/169.
[10] Tabrisi, 10/750.