Hazrat Ubaidah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "My and Sayyiduna Umar's (may Allah be pleased with him) decision was that the mothers of children (ummuhat al-awlad) should be set free, but when I attained authority, I wished to keep them in slavery." Ubaidah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The opinion of the group is more beloved than the solitary opinion of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)."