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IN SAHIH BUKHARI
Sahih Bukhari >
Book 18 Eclipses
Sahih Bukhari > Book 18 Eclipses
CHAPTER 6. Whoever loved manumission (of slaves) during the solar eclipses.
2:163 Narrated by Asma
No doubt the Prophet ordered people to manumit slaves during the solar eclipse.
Sahih Bukhari >
Book 46 Freeing Slaves
The Book Of Manumission (Of Slaves) And Its Superiority
3:693 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allah will save all the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire as he has freed the body-parts of the slave.” Said bin Marjana said that he narrated that Hadith to ‘Ali bin Al-Husain and he freed his slave for whom ‘Abdullah bin Ja’far had offered him ten thousand Dirhams or one-thousand Dinars.
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 1. What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?
3:694 Narrated by Abu Dhar
I asked the Prophet, “What is the best deed?” He replied, “To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause.” I then asked, “What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?” He replied, “The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master.” I said, “If I cannot afford to do that?” He said, “Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself.” I said, “If I cannot do that?” He said, “Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good.”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 2. If one manumits a male slave owned by two persons or a female slave owned by a number of partners.
3:698 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar
Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever frees his share of a common slave and he has sufficient money to free him completely, should let its price be estimated by a just man and give his partners the price of their shares and manumit the slave; otherwise (i.e. if he has not sufficient money) he manumits the slave partially.”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 3. What is said about manumission and divorce by mistake or by forgetfulness.
3:705 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my followers, unless they put it to action or utter it.” (See Hadith No. 657 Vol. 8)
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 4. If somebody says to his slave that he is for Allah; and by that he intends to manumit him (the slave is manumitted). And the witness for manumission.
3:707 Narrated by Qais
When Abu Huraira accompanied by his slave set out intending to embrace Islam they lost each other on the way. The slave then came while Abu Huraira was sitting with the Prophet. The Prophet said, “O Abu Huraira! Your slave has come back.” Abu Huraira said, “Indeed, I would like you to witness that I have manumitted him.” That happened at the time when Abu Huraira recited (the following poetic verse):– ‘What a long tedious tiresome night! Nevertheless, it has delivered us From the land of Kufr (disbelief).
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 5. Manumission of a Mushrik (polytheist, idolater, pagan, etc.).
3:715 Narrated by Hisham
My father told me that Hakim bin Hizam manumitted one-hundred slaves in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance and slaughtered one-hundred camels (and distributed them in charity). When he embraced Islam he again slaughtered one-hundred camels and manumitted one-hundred slaves. Hakim said, “I asked Allah’s Apostle, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! What do you think about some good deeds I used to practice in the prelslamic period of ignorance regarding them as deeds of righteousness?’ Allah’s Apostle said, “You have embraced Islam along with all those good deeds you did.”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 6. Whoever possessed ‘Arab slaves.
3:717 Narrated by Ibn Aun
I wrote a letter to Nafi and Nafi wrote in reply to my letter that the Prophet had suddenly attacked Bani Mustaliq without warning while they were heedless and their cattle were being watered at the places of water. Their fighting men were killed and their women and children were taken as captives; the Prophet got Juwairiya on that day. Nafi said that Ibn ‘Umar had told him the above narration and that Ibn ‘Umar was in that army.
3:719 Narrated by Abu Huraira
I have loved the people of the tribe of Bani Tamim ever since I heard, three things, Allah’s Apostle said about them. I heard him saying, These people (of the tribe of Bani Tamim) would stand firm against Ad-Dajjal.” When the Sadaqat (gifts of charity) from that tribe came, Allah’s Apostle said, “These are the Sadaqat (i.e. charitable gifts) of our folk.” ‘Aisha had a slave-girl from that tribe, and the Prophet said to ‘Aisha, “Manumit her as she is a descendant of Ishmael (the Prophet).”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 7. It is disliked to look down upon a slave.
3:728 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “You should not say, ‘Feed your lord (Rabbaka), help your lord in performing ablution, or give water to your lord, but should say, ‘my master (e.g. Feed your master instead of lord etc.) (Saiyidi), or my guardian (Maulai), and one should not say, my slave (Abdi), or my girl-slave (Amati), but should say, my lad (Fatai), my lass (Fatati), and ‘my boy (Ghulami).”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 8. When your servant brings your meal to you?
3:732 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “When your servant brings your meals to you then if he does not let him sit and share the meals, then he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or a meal or two meals, as he has prepared it.”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 9. If somebody beats a slave, he should avoid his face.
3:734 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “If somebody fights (or beats somebody) then he should avoid the face.”
Sahih Bukhari > Book 46 Freeing Slaves
CHAPTER 10. What conditions are permissible for a writing of emancipation.
3:735 Narrated by ‘Urwa
That ‘Aisha told him that Buraira came to seek her help in her writing of emancipation (for a certain sum) and that time she had not paid anything of it. ‘Aisha said to her, “Go back to your masters, and if they agree that I will pay the amount of your writing of emancipation and get your Wala’, I will do so.” Buraira informed her masters of that but they refused and said, “If she (i.e. ‘Aisha) is seeking Allah’s reward, then she can do so, but your Wala’ will be for us.” ‘Aisha mentioned that to Allah’s Apostle who said to her, “Buy and manumit her, as the Wala’ is for the liberator.” Allah’s Apostle then got up and said, “What about the people who stipulate conditions which are not present in Allah’s Laws? Whoever imposes conditions which are not present in Allah’s Laws, then those conditions will be invalid, even if he imposed these conditions a hundred times. Allah’s conditions (Laws) are the truth and are more solid.”
FROM SAHIH MUSLIM
Sahih Muslim >
Book 15: The Book Of OathsSahih Muslim > Book 15: The Book Of Oaths
Chapter 8: How should the masters treat their slaves and expiation if they show high handedness
Book 15: Number 4078: Zadhan Abl Umar reported: I came to Ibn ‘Umar as he had granted freedom to a stave. He (the narrator further) said: He took hold of a wood or something like it from the earth and said: It (freedom of a slave) has not the reward evert equal to it, but the fact that I heard Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upon him) say: He who slaps his slave or beats him, the expiation for it is that he should set him free.
Book 15: Number 4079: Zadhan reported that Ibn Umar called his slave and he found the marks (of beating) upon his back. He said to him: I have caused you pain. He said: No. But he (Ibn Umar) said: You are free. He then took hold of something from the earth and said: There is no reward for me even to the weight equal to it. I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who beats a slave without cognizable offence of his or slaps him (without any serious fault), then expiation for it is that he should set him free.
Book 15: Number 4080: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of words.
Book 15: Number 4081: Mu’awiya b. Suwaid reported: I slapped a slave belonging to us and then fled away. I came back just before noon and offered prayer behind my father. He called him (the slave) and me and said: Do as he has done to you. He granted pardon. He (my father) then said: We belonged to the family of Muqarrin during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him. and had only one slave girl and one of us slapped her. This news reached Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he said: Set her free. They (the members of the family) said: There is no other servant except she. Thereupon he said: Then employ her and when you can afford to dispense with her services, then set her free.
Book 15: Number 4082: Hilal b. Yasaf reported that a person got angry and slapped his slave girl. Thereupon Suwaid b. Muqarrin said to him: You could find no other part (to slap) but the prominent part of her face. See I was one of the seven sons of Muqarrin, and we had but only one slave girl. The youngest of us slapped her, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded us to set her free. 2097
Book 15: Number 4083: Hilal b. Yasaf reported: We used to sell cloth in the house of Suwaid b. Muqarrin, the brother of Nu’man b. Muqarrin. There came out a slave girl, and she said something to a person amongst us, and he slapped her. Suwaid was enraged the rest of the hadith is the same.
Book 15: Number 4084: Suwaid b. Muqarrin reported that he had a slave girl and a person (one of the members of the family) slapped her, whereupon Suwaid said to him: Don’t you know that it is forbidden (to strike the) face. He said: You see I was the seventh one amongst my brothers during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and we had but only one servant. One of us got enraged and slapped him. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded us to set him free.
Book 15: Number 4085: Wahb b. Jarir reported: Shu’ba informed that Muhammad b. Munkadir said to me: What is your name? The rest of the hadith is the same.
Book 15: Number 4086: Abu Mas’ud al-Badri reported: I was beating my slave with a whip when I heard a voice behind me: Understand, Abu Masud; but I did not recognise the voice due to intense anger. He (Abu Mas’ud) reported: As he came near me (I found) that he was the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he was saying: Bear in mind, Abu Mas’ud; bear in mind. Abu Mas’ud. He (Aba Maslad) said: threw the whip from my hand. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Bear in mind, Abu Mas’ud; verily Allah has more dominance upon you than you have upon your slave. I (then) said: I would never beat my servant in future.
Book 15: Number 4087: This hadith has been narrated on the authorityo A’mash but with this variation of words:” There fell from my hand the whip on account of his (the Prophet’s) awe.”
Book 15: Number 4088: Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari reported: When I was beating my servant, I heard a voice behind me (saying): Abu Mas’ud, bear in mind Allah has more dominance over you than you have upon him. I turned and (found him) to be Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). I said: Allah’s Messenger, I set him free for the sake of Allah. Thereupon he said: Had you not done that, (the gates of) Hell would have opened for you, or the fire would have burnt you.
Book 15: Number 4089: Abu Mas’ud reported that he had been beating his slave and he had been saying: I seek refuge with Allah, but he continued beating him, whereupon he said: I seek refuge with Allah’s Messenger, and he spared him. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: By Allah, God has more dominance over you than you have over him (the slave). He said that he set him free. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters, but made no mention of (these words) of his: I seek refuge with Allah, I seek refuge with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him).
Sahih Muslim > Book 15: The Book Of Oaths
Chapter 9: It is improper to accuse the slave of adultery
Book 15: Number 4090: Abu Huraira reported that Abu’l Qasim (one of the names of Allah’s Messenger [may peace be upon him] said: He who accused his slave of adultery, punishment would be imposed upon him on the Day of Resurrection, except in case the accusation was as he had said.
Book 15: Number 4091: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Ghazwan (and the words are):” I heard Abu’l Qasim (may peace be upon him) as the Prophet of repentance.”
Sahih Muslim > Book 15: The Book Of Oaths
Chapter 10: Feeding of slave with what the master eats himself and clothing him with what he wears himself and not to burden him beyond capacity
Book 15: Number 4092: Al-Ma’rur b. Suwaid said: We went to Abu Dharr (Ghifari) in Rabadha and he had a mantle over him, and his slave had one like it. We said: Abu Dharr, had you joined them together, it would have been a complete garment. Thereupon he said: There was an altercation between me and one of the persons among my brothers. His mother was a nonArab. I reproached him for his mother. He complained against me to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him). As I met Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) he said: Abu Dharr, you are a person who still has (in him the remnants) of the days (of Ignorance). Thereupon I said: Allah’s Messenger, he who abuses (other) persons, they abuse (in return) his father and mother. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Abu Dharr, you are a person who still has (the remnants) of Ignorance in him They (your servants and slaves) are your brothers. Allah has put them in your care, so feed them with what you eat, clothe them with what you wear. and do not burden them beyond their capacities; but if you burden them (with an unbearable burden), then help them (by sharing their extra burden).
Book 15: Number 4093: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A’mash but with a slight variation of words, e. g. in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Zuhair and Abu Mu’awiya after his words (these words of the Holy Prophet):” You are a person having the remnants of Ignorance in him.” (these words also occur, that Abu Dharr) said: Even up to this time of my old age? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. In the tradition transmitted on the authority of Abu Mu’awiya (the words are):” Yes, in this time of your old age.” In the tradition transmitted on the authority of ‘Isa (the words are):” If you burden him (with an unbearable burden), you should sell him (and get another slave who can easily undertake this burden).” In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Zuhair (the words are):” Help him in that (work).” In the hadith transmitted by Abu Mu’awiya (separately) there is no such word: Then sell him or help him.” This hadith concludes with these words:” Do not burden him beyond his capacity.”
Book 15: Number 4094: Ma’rur b. Suwaid reported: I saw Abu Dharr wearing clothes, and his slave wearing similar ones. I asked him about it, and he narrated that he had abused a person during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he reproached him for his mother. That person came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: You are a person who has (remnants of) Ignorance in him. Your slaves are brothers of yours. Allah has placed them in your hand, and he who has his brother under him, he should feed him with what he eats, and dress him with what he dresses himself, and do not burden them beyond their capacities, and if you burden them, (beyond their capacities), then help them.
Book 15: Number 4095: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is essential to feed the slave, clothe him (properly) and not burden him with work which is beyond his power.
Book 15: Number 4096: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the slave of anyone amongst you prepares food for him and he serves him after having sat close to (and undergoing the hardship of) heat and smoke, he should make him (the slave) sit along with him and make him eat (along with him), and if the food seems to run short, then he should spare some portion for him (from his own share) (another narrator) Dawud said:” i. e. a morsel or two”. 4097
Sahih Muslim > Book 15: The Book Of Oaths
Chapter 11: Reward of the salve when he is loyal to his master and is good in worshipping Allah
Book 15: Number 4097: Ibn Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When a slave looks to the welfare of his master and worships Allah well, he has two rewards for him.
Book 15: Number 4098: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar through another chain of transmitters.
Book 15: Number 4099: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: For a faithful slave there are two rewards. By him in Whose hand is the life of Abu Huraira, but for Jibad in the cause of Allah, and Pilgrimage and kindness to my mother, I would have preferred to die as a slave. He (one of the narrators in the chain of transmitters) said: This news reached us that Abu Huraira did not perform Pilgrimage until his mother died for (keeping himself constantly) in her service. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Tahir but with a slight variation of words.
Book 15: Number 4100: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When a slave fulfils obligation of Allah and obligation of his master, he has two rewards for him. I narrated this to Ka’b, and Ka’b said: (Such a slave) has no accountability, nor has a poor believer.
Book 15: Number 4101: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is good for a slave that he worships Allah well, and serves his master (well). It is good for him.
Sahih Muslim > Book 15: The Book Of Oaths
Chapter 12: He who emancipates his share in the slave
Book 15: Number 4102: Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who gives up his share in a slave, and has enough money to pay the full price of the slave, then full emancipation devolves upon him; but if he has not the money, then he emancipated what he emancipated.
Book 15: Number 4103: Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who emancipates his share in the slave, it is his responsibility to secure full freedom for him provided he (the slave) has enough money to pay the (remaining) price, but it he has not so much money he would be emancipated to the extent that the first man emancipated.
Book 15: Number 4104: ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who gives up his share in a slave, and he has money enough to meet the full price, a fair price for him should be fixed; otherwise be has emancipated him to the extent that he has emancipated.
Book 15: Number 4105: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of words.
Book 15: Number 4106: Salim b. ‘Abdullah reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: He who emancipates a slave (shared) by him and another one, his full price may be justly assessed from his wealth, neither less nor more, and he (the slave) would be emancipated if he (the partner) would be solvent enough (to forgo the amount of his share).
Book 15: Number 4107: Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who gives up his share in a slave, the remaining (share) will be paid out of his riches if his riches are enough to meet the price of the slave.
Book 15: Number 4108: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: In case the slave is owned by two persons, and one of them emancipates him, he will guarantee (his full freedom).
Book 15: Number 4109: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):” He who emancipates a portion in a slave, he should (secure full) freedom for him from his property.”
Book 15: Number 4110: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who emancipates his portion in a slave, full emancipation may be secured for him out of his property (if he has money) if he has enough property to meet (the required expenses), but if he has not enough property, the slave should be put to extra labour (in order to earn money for buying his freedom), but he should not be overburdened.
Book 15: Number 4111: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters (and the words are):” He will be required to work (in order to secure freedom) for that portion in which he has not been emancipated, without overburdening him.”
Book 15: Number 4112: ‘Imran b. Husain reported that a person who had no other property emancipated six slaves of his at the time of his death. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) called for them and divided them into three sections, cast lots amongst them, and set two free and kept four in slavery; and he (the Holy Prophet) spoke severely of him.
Book 15: Number 4113: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters (and the words are):” A person from among the Ansar willed away the freedom of six slaves of his at the time of his death.”
Book 15: Number 4114: This hadith has been reported on the authority of Imran b. Husain through another chain of narrators.
Sahih Muslim > Book 15: The Book Of Oaths
Chapter 13: The permissibility of buying a mudabbar slave
Book 15: Number 4115: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah said that a person among the Ansar declared his slave free after his death, as he had no other property. This news reached the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he said: Who will buy him from me? And Nu’aim b. al-Nahham bought him for eight hundred dirhams and he handed them over to him, ‘Amr (one of the narrators) said: I heard Jabir b. ‘Abdullah as saying: He was a Coptic slave, and he died in the first year (of the Caliphate of ‘Abdullah b. Zubair).
Book 15: Number 4116: Jabir is reported to have said: A person amongst the Ansar who had no other property declared a slave free after his death. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) sold him, and Ibn al-Nahham bought him and he was a Coptic slave (who) died in the first year of the Caliphate of Ibn Zubair.
Book 15: Number 4117: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Jabir through another chain of transmitters.
Book 15: Number 4118: This hadith has been narrated from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) through other chains of transmitters.
RIYAD ALSALIHEEN
Riyadh AlSaliheen >
Book 17: The Book of the Prohibited Actions
Riyadh AlSaliheen > Book 17: The Book of the Prohibited Actions
Chapter 349 : Prohibition for a Slave to run away from his Master
Hadith: 1768. Jarir bin Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “If a slave runs away from his master, his responsibility to him is absolved.” [Muslim].
Hadith: 1769. Jarir bin Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “When the slave runs away from his master, his Salat (prayer) will not be accepted.” [Muslim].
Another narration is: “He is guilty of disbelief (i.e., in case he believes in the lawfulness of doing so).”
Commentary: The institution of slavery does not exist in the modern world, but if it exists anywhere or a situation arises in which it re-emerges, the principle stated in this Hadith will be applicable. The Hadith also makes it clear that if someone has expressed his commitment to serve somebody, he should not back out. It also urges us to show gratefulness to one’s benefactors and to reciprocate the good, one receives.
FROM ADAB AL MUFRAD
Adab Al Mufrad >
Book 9. Being a master
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 82. Being a good master
156.’Ali ibn Talib reported that when the illness of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, deepened, he said, “‘Ali! Bring me a page on which I can write something for my community after which they will not go astray.” ‘Ali said, “I feared that he would die before I could do that, so I said, ‘I will remember better than the paper.’ His head was between my forearm and my leg. He recommended the prayer, zakat and kind treatment of slaves. he spoke like that until he died.” He commanded him to testify, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. Anyone who testifies to that is saved from the Fire.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Commentary: As regards the expression, innee la ahfadhu min dhiraa’ee asSaheefah (I will remember the leaf better than my forearm), Imam AlAlbaanee (الله رحمه (said: “the expression is confusing, ambiguous; perhaps the word Saheefah is an interpolation and the correct thing is: innee ahfadh fa a’ee (I memorize and understand). This is because it is contained in the Musnad (1/90) that: ‘fa khasheetu an tafootanee nafsuhu, Qaala: qultu, innee ahfadh wa a’ee’ (I feared that he would die before I could do that. He said: ‘So I said, I memorize and understand)”.
157.’Abdullah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Respond to invitations. Do not reject gifts. Do not beat Muslims.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The orders of the Prophetﷺ indicate that it is obligatory to accept invitations to feasts except due to a valid excuse or a disincentive, that it is prohibited to reject gifts except due to a pressing counterbenefit or beat the Muslim except while implementing legal punishments or disciplining. One should inculcate the habit of pardoning those who are preordained to be our subordinates.
158.’Ali reported that the last words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were: “The prayer! The prayer! Fear Allah concerning your slaves!”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: That is, the Prayers should be observed at their stipulated times in congregation with other Muslims and in the right manner. The hadeeth shows the importance of the Prayer and exhorts towards kind treatment of our subordinates.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 83. Being a bad owner
159. Abu’d-Darda’ used to say to people. “We know you better than the veterinarian knows his animals. We recognise the best of you from the worst of you. The best of you is the one whose good is hoped for and the one whose evil you are safe from. As for the worst of you, that is the person whose good is not hoped for and whose evil you are not safe from and he does not free slaves.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The narration teaches that one should be clever and should recognize people as the veterinarian knows animals: Good and bad people may well be recognized through their actions. It also teaches that the teacher should always guide the students towards what benefits them from which is setting slaves free.
160.Abu Umama said, “Ingratitude is typified by someone who refuses to give, lives alone, and beats his slave.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
161.Al-Hasan reported that a man ordered one of his slaves to draw water using one of his camels and the man fell asleep. The master came with a torch and put it in his face and the slave fell into the well. In the morning, the slave went to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab and ‘Umar saw what had happened to his slave and therefore ‘Umar set him free.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 84. Selling a slave among the Bedouins
162. ‘Amra reported that ‘A’isha had made one of her slavegirls a mudabbar (one who would be set free after her death). Then ‘A’isha became ill and her nephews consulted a gypsy doctor. He said, “You are asking me for information about a bewitched woman. A slavegirl of hers has bewitched her.” ‘A’isha was told and asked the girl, “Have you put a spell on me?” “Yes,” she replied. “Why?’ she asked. “Because you will never free me,” she answered. Then ‘A’isha said, “Sell her to the worst masters among the Arabs.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: In other wordings of the hadeeth, the girl told ‘A’isha that, “I want you to die so that I will be set free”. The hadeeth indicates that one should not accept that a person has bewitched him until the person truly affirms having done so. It is permissible that a person evens score with a person that harms him as indicated in verses of the Qur’an and the Prophet’s narrations. Yet, it is better to pardon such persons as is also indicated in the verses and other narrations from the Messengerﷺ
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 85. Forgiving a slave
163. Abu Umama said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came with two slaves and gave one of them to ‘Ali and said, ‘Do not beat him. I have forbidden beating the people of the prayer and I saw him praying before we came.’ He gave Abu Dharr a slave and said, “I recommend that you treat him well,’ so Abu Dharr set him free. He said, ‘What have you done?’ He replied, ‘You commanded me to treat him well, so I set him free.'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The hadeeth highlights the fact that the Muslim should not be beaten; the exemption to this being while implementing legal punishments or disciplining as mentioned earlier. The companions of the Prophetﷺ would swiftly respond to his counsels in the best of forms.
164. Anas said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to Madina without any servant. Abu Talha took my hand and brought me to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘Prophet of Allah!’ This is Anas, a clever and intelligent boy. Let him serve him.'” Anas said, “I served him when he was at home and on journeys from the time he came to Madina until he died, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He never said to me about anything I had done, ‘Why did you do this?’ nor did he say to me about something I had not done, ‘Why did you not do such-and-such?'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: A young boy serving the greatest leader of all times and keeping the best of his company day and night; in travel and at home, in times of peace and war. Yet the feelings of this little boy were not hurt; not even with a knitted brow or a frowned face as he reported in other wordings of the hadeeth. There is an important lesson here on leaving blame and avoiding criticism except when really necessary. The hadeeth shows that one could praise a person in his front if it will not make him become proud.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 86. When a slave steals
165. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When a slave steals, sell him, even for a half an awqiya.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 87. A slave who commits wrong actions
166. Laqit ibn Sabira reported that his father said, “I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when a shepherd had driven a lamp into the evening pasture. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Do not suppose that we have a hundred sheep and do not want to give you more than only a lamb. When the shepherd brought the lamb, we sacrificed a sheep in its place.'” Laqit said, “Part of what he said is, ‘Do not beat your wife as you would beat your slavegirl. When you wash your nose, snuff up water freely unless you are fasting.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Read this hadīth with Abū Dāwūd’s narration of the same hadīth in more detail Laqīt b. Sabira reported: “I was the leader of the delegation of Banu’l- Muntafiq or (the narrator doubted) I was among the delegation of Banu’l- Muntafiq that came to the Messenger of Allahﷺ. When we reached the Prophet, we did not find him in his house. We found there ‘Ā’isha, the Mother of the Believers. She ordered that a dish called Khazīra should be prepared for us. It was then prepared. A tray containing dates was then presented to us. Then the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) came. He asked: ‘Has anything been served to you or ordered for you?’ We replied: ‘Yes. Messenger of Allah.’ While we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) we suddenly saw that a shepherd was driving a herd of sheep to their abode. He had with him a newly-born kid that was crying. He (the Prophet) asked him: ‘What did it deliver, O so-and-so?’ He replied: ‘female sheep.’ He then said: ‘Slaughter for us in its place a sheep. Do not think that we are slaughtering it for you. We have one hundred sheep and we do not want that their number may increase. Whenever a female kid is born, we slaughter a sheep in its place.’ I (the narrator Laqīt) then said: ‘Messenger of Allah, I have a wife who has something (wrong) in her tongue, i.e. she is insolent.’ He said: ‘Then divorce her.’ I said: ‘Messenger of Allah, she had company with me and I have children from her.’ He said: ‘Then ask her (to obey you). If there is something good in her she will do (obey); and do not beat your wife as you beat your slave-girl.’ I said: ‘Messenger of Allah. tell me about ablution.’ He said: ‘Perform ablution in full and make the fingers go through the beard and snuff up water well except when you are fasting.’ ” Sunan Abee Daawood (142), and graded .)الله رحمه )Saheeh (authentic) by Imam al-Albaanee placed this hadeeth here to show that a )الله رحمه )Perhaps Imam al-Bukhaari slave who commits a sin could be beaten by way of correction. The exchange of gold or silver or wheat or barley or dates or salt or what shares cause with these items for its kind with an increment in any of the two traded items over the other or that one of them is collected on the spot while the other is collected at a later time is from the forms of Riba (Usury) called, Riba al-Fadl. The Prophetﷺ said, “A kind for its kind, equal amounts. When these kinds differ, then you should transact as you wish if it is hand to hand.” (Muslim). The hadeeth also shows that it is permissible to beat a servant when he acts upon a prohibition by way of correcting him.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 88. Someone who finishes something for his slave, fearing people’s bad opinion
167. Abu’l-‘Aliyya said, “We were ordered to finish off things for the servant and to measure and count because we did not want to allow them to accustom themselves to bad habits nor for anyone to think evil of us.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: So, when they are sealed, weighed and counted the servants are protected from bad behaviour and we are protected from suspecting them unjustly. This teaches that we should be transparent in our dealings and take steps that ensure rest of mind and prevents distrust.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 89. Someone who counts things for his slave fearing people’s opinion
168. Salman said, “I count the soup bones for my slave, fearing people’s opinion.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Suspecting people unjustly is prohibited; Allah the Mighty and Exalted says, “Indeed some suspicions are sins…” (Q 49: 12)
169.same as 168.
Commentary: Similar to No. 168, with a different isnād.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 90. Disciplining the servant
170. Yazid ibn ‘Abdullah said, “‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar sent a slave of his with some gold or silver – and he changed it and deferred the exchange (i.e. he changed gold into silver or vice versa and did not take the money straightaway. This is haram.) Then he went back to Ibn ‘Umar who gave him a painful beating. He said, ‘Go and take what is mine and do not exchange it!'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The exchange of gold or silver or wheat or barley or dates or salt or what shares cause with these items for its kind with an increment in any of the two traded items over the other or that one of them is collected on the spot while the other is collected at a later time is from the forms of Riba (Usury) called, Riba al-Fadl. The Prophetﷺ said, “A kind for its kind, equal amounts. When these kinds differ, then you should transact as you wish if it is hand to hand.” (Muslim). The hadeeth also shows that it is permissible to beat a servant when he acts upon a prohibition by way of correcting him.
171. Abu Mas’ud said, “I was beating a slave of mine when I heard a voice behind me, ‘Know, Abu Mas’ud, that Allah is able to call you to account for this slave.’ I turned around and there was the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he is free for the sake of Allah!’ He said, ‘If you had not done that, the Fire would have touched you (or the Fire would have burned you).'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Perhaps the Prophetﷺ got aware that the beating exceeded the limits of discipline; and so heﷺ gave him a strong word of restrain. In the version of Muslim in the Saheeh, it says, “the whip fell off my hand out of reverence for him” and “I will never beat any other servant”. The hadeeth warns against unfair treatment of servants and shows that the atonement for that is to free such servants.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 91. Do not say, “May Allah make your face ugly”
172. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Do not say, ‘May Allah make your face ugly.'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Do not attribute his face to ugliness for Allah fashioned him and “He made everything He created good”. (Q32: 7). Quite badly, this is an expression people loosely employ against their surbodinates.
173. Abu Hurayra said, “Do not say, ‘May Allah make your face ugly and any face like your face.’ Allah Almighty created Adam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the form that He ordained.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: That is, the face of the person being cursed, like all human beings is like the face of Adam – peace be upon him. So if you abuse anyone in this way you are actually abusing your ancestors including Adam, peace be upon him.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 92. Avoid striking the face
174. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When one of you strikes his servant, let him avoid his face.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth shows the permissibility of beating the servant for the purpose of discipline; yet the face should be avoided. The prohibition of beating the face includes while beating a person for legal punishment or censure.
175. Jabir said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by an animal which had been branded and its nostrils were smoking. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Allah curses any person who does this. No one should mark the face nor strike it.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth proves that to mark the face of a beast is prohibited, worst still human faces. However, it is encouraged to brand the animals for Zakat, and it is generally permissible for other animals, but the face must be avoided as is shown in other narrations. Branding is done as a means of identifying animals.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 93. Someone who slaps his slave should free him even though he is under no obligation to do so
176. Hilal ibn Yasaf said, “We used to sell linen in the house of Suwayd ibn Muqarrin. A slavegirl came out and said something to one of the men and that man slapped her. Suwayd ibn Muqarrin asked him, ‘Did you slap her face? We were seven and we only had a single servant. Then one of us slapped her and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered him to set her free.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The order of the Prophetﷺ that the slave-girl should be freed necessitated that the slave is freed as a matter of obligation; but his saying “let them engage her and when they can spare her, let her go on her way” as in another wording of the hadeeth (no. 178 below) when they mentioned to him that she was the only servant they had takes off the ruing of obligation; thus, the author’s chapter title. The hadeeth teaches that the wrongdoing committed by an individual or people could be mentioned out of necessity such as to explain the ways out of such problems. Also, the Muslims should correct one another when they fall into an error. The hadeeth also encourages us to kindly treat our servants.
177. Ibn ‘Umar said, “I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘The expiation for someone who slaps his slave or beats him more than he deserves is to set him free.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
178. Mu’awiya ibn Muqarrin said, “I slapped a mawla of mine and he fled. Then my father called me and said, ‘I will tell you a story. We, the sons of Muqarrin, were seven, and we had one servant. Then one of us slapped her and that was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said, ‘Order them to set her free.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was told. ‘She is the only servant they have.’ He said, ‘Then let them hire her and when they no longer need her, let her go on her way.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The order of the Prophetﷺ that the slave-girl should be freed necessitated that the slave is freed as a matter of obligation; but his saying “let them engage her and when they can spare her, let her go on her way” as in another wording of the hadeeth (no. 178 below) when they mentioned to him that she was the only servant they had takes off the ruing of obligation; thus, the author’s chapter title. The hadeeth teaches that the wrongdoing committed by an individual or people could be mentioned out of necessity such as to explain the ways out of such problems. Also, the Muslims should correct one another when they fall into an error. The hadeeth also encourages us to kindly treat our servants.
179. Shu’ba said, “Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said to me, ‘What is your name?’ I replied, ‘Shu’ba.’ He said, ‘Abu Shu’ba related to me that when Suwayd ibn Muqarrin al-Muzani saw a man strike his slave, he said. ‘Do you not know that the face is forbidden? In the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we were seven brothers and we only had one servant. Then one of us slapped him (sic.) and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded that we set him free.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
180. Abu ‘Umar Zadhan said, “We were with Ibn ‘Umar when he summoned a slave of his whom he had beaten and he uncovered his back. ‘Does it hurt?’ he asked. ‘No,’ he replied. Then he set him free. He picked up a stick from the ground and then said, ‘I do not have a reward (for him) worth as much as this stick.’ I asked, ‘Abu ‘Abdu’r-Rahman, why do you say this?’ He replied, ‘I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “The expiation of someone who beats a slave more than he deserves or slaps his face is that he must set him free.”‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Perhaps, Abdullah bin ‘Umar (عنهام الله ريض (beat the servant to discipline him but exceeded the limits resulting in the marks on the slave’s back. Then based on what he had heard from the Messengerﷺ, freeing the slave was the only way he could atone for the mistake, so he freed him. It shows that one should regularly evaluate his deeds and readdress them as apprioprate; by giving thanks to Allah and seeking to do more in some cases and by turning to Allah in repentance and returning the rights of people in other cases. The student should not hesitate to seek clarifications from his teacher about any of his statement or action he did not understand.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 94. The qisas (retaliation) of the slave
181.’Ammar ibn Yasir said, “None of you beats his slave unjustly without the slave receiving retaliation from him on the Day of Rising.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It warns against injustice and reminds of the Day of Judgement and the punishment of Allah the Mighty and Exalted.
182. Abu Layla said, “Salman went out and when his animal fodder fell from the manger, he told his servant, ‘If it were not that I fear retaliation, I would make you hurt (i.e. by beating you).”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It exibits the piety of the Salaf as-Saalih (the pious predecessors), may Allah be pleased with them, and their fear of Allah’s punishment; they would leave their rights for the sake of Allah the most High, suppress their anger and overlook the shortcomings of people to seek Allah’s Countenance.
183. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Give people their rights. Even the hornless sheep will take retaliation from the horned sheep.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This is evidence that the beasts will also be resurrected on the Day of Judgement. Apparently, Imam Al-Bukhaari included this hadeeth in this chapter to show that since the horned and hornless sheep will get retaliation as apprioprate, every human being; servant and boss, weak and strong will also be paid their dues on the Day of Resurrection.
184. Umm Salama reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in his house and called for a slave of his (or hers) and she was slow in coming. The anger showed in his face. Umm Salama went to the curtain and found the slavegirl playing. He had a siwak-stick with him and said, ‘”Were it not that I fear retaliation on the Day of Rising with this siwak.” Muhammad ibn al-Haytham added: She was playing with an animal. He said, “When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought her, Umm Salama said, ‘Messenger of Allah! Let her swear that she did not hear you!’ She said, ‘He had a siwak stick in his hand.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
185. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “On the Day of Rising, retaliation will be taken from anyone who gives a beating.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It warns against injustice and reminds of the Day of Judgement and the punishment of Allah the Mighty and Exalted. This is evidence that the beasts will also be resurrected on the Day of Judgement. Apparently, Imam Al-Bukhaari included this hadeeth in this chapter to show that since the horned and hornless sheep will get retaliation as apprioprate, every human being; servant and boss, weak and strong will also be paid their dues on the Day of Resurrection.
186. same as 185.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 95. “Clothe them from the clothes you yourself wear.”
187.’Ubada ibn al-Walid said, “My father and I went out to seek knowledge from the Ansar in this area before they died. The first one we met was Abu’l-Yasar, the Companion of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who had been one of his salves. Abu’l-Yasar was wearing one striped robe and one mu’afiri robe and his slave was also wearing one striped robe and one mu’afiri robe. I said to him, ‘Uncle! Why don’t you take your slave’s striped robe and give him your mu’afiri robe, or take his mu’afiri robe and give him your striped robe? Then he would have a complete outfit and you would have a complete outfit.’ He wiped his head and said, ‘O Allah, bless him in it! Nephew, these two eyes of mine have seen and these two ears of mine have heart and my heart has retained,’ and he pointed towards his heart, ‘that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Feed them from what you yourself eat and clothe them from the clothes you yourself wear.” It is easier for me to give him the goods of this world than to have my good actions taken away from me on the Day of Rising.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth contains a great deal of benefits; including: the companions’ love for knowledge, and the humility of the father to learn along with his child. The companions (RA)gave serious consideration to the words of the Messengerﷺ; and so, they memorized it, acted upon it and feared the evil consequences of contradicting his orders. One should kindly treat his dependants and servants; providing them from he eats and wears.
188. Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, advised that slaves should be well-treated. He said, ‘Feed them from what you eat and clothe them from what you wear. Do not punish what Allah has created.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It reminds us of the greatness of the Creator, Allah the Mighty and Exalted and cautions against ill-treatment of His creatures. So, the Prophetﷺ regularly admonished that we kindly treat our servants.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 96. Insulting slaves
189. Al-Ma’rur ibn Suwayd said, “I saw Abu Dharr wearing a robe and his slave was also wearing a robe. We asked him about that and he said, ‘I insulted a man and he complained about me to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, ‘Did you insult him by his mother?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. He said, ‘Your brothers are your property. Allah has put them under your authority. If someone has his brother under his authority, he should feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears and not burden him with anything that will be too much for him. If you burden him with what will be too much for him, then help him.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: A person could mention something he did wrong if doing so brings about benefits and does not cause greater harms. The hadeeth strongly condemns insulting people, especially their parents; it is contained in a wording of the hadeeth that the Prophetﷺ asked him: “Did you insult his mother?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “You still have (traits of the Period of) Ignorance!” It also shows that the companions (RA)quickly turned to Allah in repentance whenever they were corrected. From kind treatment of servants is that they should not be over burdened with work; when the works is much, they should be helped.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 97. Should a person help his slave?
190. Sallam ibn ‘Amr reported from one of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Your slaves are your brothers, so treat him well. Ask for their help in what is too much for you and help them in what is too much for them.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
191. Abu Hurayra said, ‘Help the worker in his work. The one who works for Allah will not be disappointed,” i.e. the servant.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth shows the virtue of the servants: they will not be disappointed. However, their work will not be for Allah the Most High, if it involves prohibited matters.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 98. Do not burden a slave with work which he is incapable of doing
192. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The slave has his food and clothing. Do not burden a slave with work which he is incapable of doing.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: A person could mention something he did wrong if doing so brings about benefits and does not cause greater harms. The hadeeth strongly condemns insulting people, especially their parents; it is contained in a wording of the hadeeth that the Prophetﷺ asked him: “Did you insult his mother?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “You still have (traits of the Period of) Ignorance!” It also shows that the companions (RA)quickly turned to Allah in repentance whenever they were corrected. From kind treatment of servants is that they should not be over burdened with work; when the works is much, they should be helped.
193.Same as 192.
Commentary:As No. 192, with a different isnād
194. Ma’rur said, “We passed by Abu Dharr and he was wearing a garment and his slave had a robe on. We said, ‘Why do you not take this and give this man something else instead of the robe?’ He replied that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Allah has put your brothers under your authority. If someone has his brother under his authority, he should feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears and not burden him with what will be too much for him. If he burdens him with what will be too much for him, he should help him.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: A person could mention something he did wrong if doing so brings about benefits and does not cause greater harms. The hadeeth strongly condemns insulting people, especially their parents; it is contained in a wording of the hadeeth that the Prophetﷺ asked him: “Did you insult his mother?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “You still have (traits of the Period of) Ignorance!” It also shows that the companions (RA)quickly turned to Allah in repentance whenever they were corrected. From kind treatment of servants is that they should not be over burdened with work; when the works is much, they should be helped.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 99. A man’s maintenance of his slave and servant is sadaqa
195. Al-Miqdam heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “What you feed yourself is sadaqa. What you feed your child, your wife and your servant is sadaqa.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: There is great reward in feeding one’s self and other members of the household including one’s slaves. However, since all actions are judged according to intentions, one should seek to please Allah the Most High, alone therefrom and anticipate His reward
196. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The best sadaqa is that which leaves you free of want. The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Begin with those you look after. Your wife says, ‘Spend on me or divorce me.’ Your slave says, ‘Spend on me or sell me.’ Your child asks, ‘On whom can we rely?'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It shows that charity has grades, and it is better to be the giver than the a receiver. So, the best charity is that which is given such that one’s dependents do not start begging thereafter and one is able to give many more times. The hadeeth is evidence that it is obligatory upon a man to maintain his wives, children and other dependents.
197. Abu Hurayra said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded sadaqa. A man said, ‘I have a dinar.’ He said, ‘Spend it on yourself.’ He said, ‘I have another.’ He said, ‘Spend it on your wife.’ He said, ‘I have another.’ He said, ‘Spend it on your servant and then on whomever you see fit.'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: It exhorts towards spending upon one’s self, wife, children (as is contained in other wordings of the hadeeth) and servants showing that all of that is from charity. Leaders and teachers should guide people towards what will bring benefits to them in this world and hereafter.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 100. When someone dislikes eating with his slave
198. Ibn Jurayj related that Abu’z-Zubayr heard him ask Jabir about when a man’s servant has finished his work and heat (i.e. cooking). Did the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, command that the servant be invited to eat? “Yes,” he replied. If one of you dislikes to have his servant eat with him, he should give him his food by his own hand.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth teaches us to be modest, and to show deference to other people including our subordinates, not being unnecessarily assuming in attitude and behaviour.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 101. A slave should eat from what his master eats
199. Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, advised that slaves be well treated. He said, ‘Feed them from what you eat and clothe them from what you wear and do not punish Allah’s creation.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It reminds us of the greatness of the Creator, Allah the Mighty and Exalted and cautions against ill-treatment of His creatures. So, the Prophetﷺ regularly admonished that we kindly treat our servants.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 102. Does a man’s servant sit with him when he eats?
200. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When one of your servants brings you food, he should sit with him. If you do not accept that, then you should give it to him.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
201. Abu Mahdhura said, “I was sitting with ‘Umar when Safwan ibn Umayya brought him a bowl which some people were carrying in a robe. They set it down in front of ‘Umar. ‘Umar then invited some poor people and some slaves belonging to the people around him and they ate with him. Then he aid, ‘Allah will do a people or else he said, ‘Allah will curse a people’ who dislike having their slaves eat with them.’ Safwan said, ‘By Allah, we do not dislike them, but we prefer ourselves to them, and by Allah, we do not find good food which we can eat and feed it to them as well.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Every Muslim should emulate the companions (y). They had great concerns for the poor, the needy and slaves. They would eat the same food with them from the same containers in the same sitting; and they were displeased with the one who disliked showing kindness to the weak in the society. Allah the Mighty and Exalted provides for His creatures; so whomever He grants the ability to eat good food should not be wasteful in it and should remember to invite the needy to partake in this favour.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 103. When a slave advises his master
202.’Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When the slave advises his master and is assiduous in the worship of his Lord, he receives a double reward.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: From the sincerity of the slave to his master is to be dutiful to him. So, his first reward comes from his dutifulness to his master and the second, for his assiduous worship of his Lord. Imam Ibn Abdil-Barr (الله رحمه ( said: “It could be deduced from here that: the one who had two obligations and fulfilled them is better than the one who had only an obligation which he fulfilled. Such as the one upon whom the Prayer and Zakat became due and he fulfilled them; he is better than the one upon whom only the prayer is due (and he fulfilled it).”
203. Salih ibn Hayy reported that a man said to ‘Amir ash-Shu’bi, “Abu ‘Amr! We say that when a man frees his umm walad and then marries her, he is like the one who rides his camel.” ‘Amir said, “Abu Burda related to me from his father that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to them: ‘Three have a double reward: one of the People of the Book who believes in his Prophet and then believes in Muhammad has two rewards. When a slave carries out the due of Allah and the due of his master, he has a double reward. And (the third is) a man who has a slavegirl with whom he has intercourse and teaches her well and instructs her well and then sets her free and marries her. He has two rewards.'” ‘Amir said, “We have given it to you for nothing. He was on his way to Madina.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Each of the three had two different obligations which they fulfilled each of which earned them distinct reward except the one from the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet but disbelieves in Muhammadﷺ. His disbelief in Muhammadﷺ is actually disbelief in his Prophet too; so he has no reward at all. The hadeeth also encourages dealing nicely with and educating slave-girls and then marrying them. Imam An-Nawawee (رحمه الله (said, “…this is from kindly dealing with her after treating her well.”
204. Abu Musa reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The slave who is excellent in the worship of his Lord and fulfils the duties of obedience and counsel which he owes to his master, has two rewards.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
205. Abu Burda reported from his father that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The slave has two rewards when he carries out Allah’s due in worship (or he said that he is excellent in his worship) and the right of his owner who owns him.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: From the sincerity of the slave to his master is to be dutiful to him. So, his first reward comes from his dutifulness to his master and the second, for his assiduous worship of his Lord. Imam Ibn Abdil-Barr (الله رحمه ( said: “It could be deduced from here that: the one who had two obligations and fulfilled them is better than the one who had only an obligation which he fulfilled. Such as the one upon whom the Prayer and Zakat became due and he fulfilled them; he is better than the one upon whom only the prayer is due (and he fulfilled it).”
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 104. The slave is a guardian
206. Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock. The amir of a people is a shepherd and he is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of the people of his house and he is responsible for his flock. A man’s slave is the shepherd of his master’s property and he is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: As the slave is accountable for the property of his master, the master has a greater responsibility: he is accountable for each of his dependents and slaves. So, as the slave exerts efforts to carry out his dues towards his master, the master requires greater efforts to discharge his responsibilities over his dependents. He should feed them, clothe them and teach them the religion and their wordly affairs. Allah is the source of strength. In other wordings of the hadeeth, it adds, “…and the wife is the shepherd of her husband’s house and she is responsible for it.”
207. Abu Hurayra said, “When a slave obeys his master, he has obeyed Allah Almighty. When he rebels against his master, he rebels against Allah Almighty.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 105. The person who wished he were a slave
208. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When the Muslim slave performs the due of Allah and the due of his master, he will have two rewards.” Abu Hurayra said, “By the One who has the soul of Abu Hurayra in His hand! If it had not been for jihad in the Way of Allah, the hajj, and dutifulness to my mother, I would wish to die a slave!”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: As for performing the dues of Allah, it is his giving worship to Him and not joining any partner with Him, and carrying out the due of his master is to be sincere and dutiful to him as mentioned earlier. The hadeeth shows the permissibility of calling Allah to witness to affirm the importance of what one says even though he had not been requested to swear. It also indicates the eargerness of the companions (RA)to earn rewards, and that good deeds have grades; each of jihād in the way of Allah, the hajj and dutifulness to parents earns a person more rewards than the slave’s dutifulness to Allah and his master.
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 106. Do not say “‘abdî” (my slave)
209. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “None of you should say, ‘My slave (‘abdi)’ or ‘my slavegirl (amati)’ All of you are slaves of Allah and all of your women are slaves of Allah. Rather you should say, ‘My boy (ghulami)’, my slavegirl (jariyyati)’, ‘my lad (fatayi)’ or ‘my girl (fatati).'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth prohibits exceeding bounds in our statements and actions; the word, my slave shows ownership while the master and slave truly belong to Allah the Mighty and Exalted. My boy and My girl are more friendly expressions. Teachers should always guide their students to that which takes away harm from them and brings them benefits here and hereafter
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 9. Being a master
Chapter 107. Does one say “my master (sayyidi)”?
210. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “None of you should say ‘my slave (‘abdi or amati)’ and a slave should not say, ‘my lord (rabbi or rabbati)’. They should say, ‘my boy’ or ‘my girl’ (fatayi and fatati) and ‘my master’ or ‘mistress’ (sayyidi and sayyidati)’. All of you are slaves, and the Lord is Allah, Almighty and Exalted.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
211. Mutarrif reported that his father said, “I went in the delegation of the Banu ‘Amir to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. They said, ‘You are our master.’ He said, ‘The Master is Allah.’ They said, ‘The best of us in excellence and the greatest of us in generosity.’ He said, ‘Say what you like, but do not let Shaytan provoke you.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: mam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (said, “When the Prophetﷺ feared that some of the companions – especially those who only newly accepted Islam – could exceed bounds about praising him, he said to them, ‘The Master is Allah’ meaning, the true Master is Allah.” The hadeeth prohibits praising a person excessively and overburdening one’s self during speech. It shows the humility of the Prophetﷺ.
Adab Al Mufrad >
Book 53. Circumcision
Adab Al Mufrad > Book 53. Circumcision
Chapter 600. Circumcising slavegirls
1249. See 1245.
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
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