Authentic Hadith pertaining to SERVITUDE Extracted from Imam Nawawi’s Reference “The Gardens of Righteousness” translated and presented by Shaykh Ahmad Darwish, Anne (Khadeijah) Stephens Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com ©1984-2012 Darwish Family. All rights reserved BOOK 17 THE VIRTUE OF FREEING A SLAVE Allah, the Exalted says: “Yet he has not scaled the height. What could let you know what the height is! (It is) the freeing of a slave. 90:11-13 Koran REWARD FOR FREEING A BELIEVING SLAVE |H 1387 “Whosoever frees the neck of a believer, Allah will free from the Fire a limb for each limb, even his genitals.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. AMONG THE BEST OF DEEDS |H 1388 “I (Abu Dharr) asked the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, ‘Which deeds are best?’ He replied, ‘The belief in Allah and fighting in the Way of Allah.’ I asked, ‘The freeing of which slave is best?’ He replied, ‘The one whom his master likes best and whose value is highest.’ I asked, ‘What if one is unable to do that?’ He replied, ‘Then help someone with his work, or do something for someone who is unable to do it himself.’ I asked, ‘What if one does not have the strength?’ He replied, ‘Then restrain yourself from harming anyone because that also is charity for yourself.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Dharr who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. KINDNESS TOWARDS THOSE WHO YOUR RIGHT HAND OWNS Allah, the Exalted says: “Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be kind to parents and near kinsman, to the orphans and to the needy, and to the neighbor who is your kindred, and to the neighbor at your far side, and the companion at your side, and to the destitute traveler, and to that which your right hands own. Allah does not love he who is proud and struts.” 4:36 Koran FAIR TREATMENT |H 1389 “I (Ma'arur the son of Su'ud) saw Abu Dharr wearing a cloak and also noticed his servant wore one similar. I asked him about this and he explained that in the time of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, he had an argument with a man and humiliated him by making reference to his mother. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said to me (Abu Dharr) ‘You still have traces of the pre-Islamic disposition in you. Your servants are your brothers whom your Lord has placed under your authority. Whosoever has a brother under his authority should feed him out of that which he eats himself and should clothe him as he clothes himself. He should not assign a task to him beyond his strength, but if you do, help him with it.’" Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Ma'arur the son of Su'ud who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. TREATING YOUR SERVANT WITH THOUGHTFULNESS |H 1390 “When a servant of yours brings you your food, if you do not ask him to sit down with you, you should at least give him some from it, because he has worked in its preparation.” Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. VIRTUOUS SERVANT WHO DISCHARGES HIS DUTY TO ALLAH AND HIS MASTER Islam has many regulations to free slaves. As for the slavery in the west, it was illegal because free people were taken captive and sold into slavery, this practice was started by Portuguese Jews. THE REWARD OF A GOOD SERVANT |H 1391 “A servant who serves his master well and worships Allah well will have a double reward.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Omar who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. DOUBLE REWARD FOR A BELIEVING SERVANT |H 1392 “A pious, diligent servant receives a double reward.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. THE OBEDIENCE OF A BELIEVING SERVANT |H 1393 “A servant who worships his Sustainer well and discharges his obligations diligently and obediently to his master will have a double reward.” Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Musa Ash'ari who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. THREE CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE A DOUBLE REWARD |H 1394 “There are three (kinds of people) who will receive a double reward. Whosoever among the People of the Book believes in his prophet, and then believes in Muhammad. A servant who discharges his obligation due to Allah and the obligation he owes to his master. A man who owns a female servant, teaches her good manners, educates and feeds her well, and marries her.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Musa Ash'ari who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. PUNISHMENT FOR FALSE ACCUSATION OF ADULTERY |H 1604 “Whosoever falsely accuses his female servant with adultery will be subjected to the punishment of adultery on the Day of Judgement unless what he said was true." Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. ADULTERY |H 243 “If a slave-girl commits adultery and is proven guilty she should be punished but not be rebuked. If she commits it a second time she should be punished likewise, but if she commits it a third time she should be sold even for as little as a hair rope.” Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this. BE KIND TO THOSE IN YOUR CARE |H 1646 ”I (Abu Ali Su'ud) was one of seven from the Bani Muqrin; between us we had only one female slave. The youngest amongst us slapped her whereupon the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, ordered that she be set free.” Muslim with a chain up to Abu Ali Su'ud the son of Muqrin who related this. BEWARE OF BEATING |H 1647 “I (Abu Mas'ud Badri) was striking a slave with a whip when I heard a voice from behind me say, 'Beware Abu Mas'ud. At that time I was so upset I did not recognize the voice until the person drew near and I discovered it was the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and it was he who was saying, 'Beware Abu Mas'ud, Allah has more power over you than you have over this slave.' Thereupon I responded, 'I will never strike a slave again.' The whip fell from my hand in awe of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I set him free seeking the pleasure of Allah. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, commented, ‘If you had not done so you would have been burned by the Fire.’" Muslim with a chain up to Abu Mas'ud Badri who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. DO NOT BEAT OR SLAP THOSE IN YOUR CARE ON THE FACE |H 1648 “The atonement for beating or slapping a slave on the face for something he has not done is that he should be set free.” Muslim with a chain up to ibn Omar who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. RUNAWAY SLAVE |H 1817 “If a slave runs away from his master the favorable safety and covenant becomes void.” Muslim with a chain up to Jabir who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. OBEDIENCE OF A BELIEVING SLAVE H 1818 “If a slave runs away from his master, his prayer is not accepted.” We are also informed: “He is guilty of disbelief.” Muslim with a chain up to Jabir who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. INDEX SERVITUDE BOOK 17 THE VIRTUE OF FREEING A SLAVE KORAN REWARD FOR FREEING A BELIEVING SLAVE AMONG THE BEST OF DEEDS KINDNESS TOWARDS THOSE WHO YOUR RIGHT HAND OWNS KORAN FAIR TREATMENT TREATING YOUR SERVANT WITH THOUGHTFULNESS VIRTUOUS SERVANT WHO DISCHARGES HIS DUTY TO ALLAH AND HIS MASTER THE REWARD OF A GOOD SERVANT DOUBLE REWARD FOR A BELIEVING SERVANT THE OBEDIENCE OF A BELIEVING SERVANT THREE CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE A DOUBLE REWARD PUNISHMENT FOR FALSE ACCUSATION OF ADULTERY ADULTERY BE KIND TO THOSE IN YOUR CARE BEWARE OF BEATING DO NOT BEAT OR SLAP THOSE IN YOUR CARE ON THE FACE RUNAWAY SLAVE OBEDIENCE OF A BELIEVING SLAVE