Riyad as-Salihin, 1363
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The faithful and diligent slave will have a double reward." (Abu Hurairah added:) By Him in Whose Hand the soul of Abu Hurairah is! but for Jihad in the Cause of Allah, and Hajj and kindness to my mother, I would have preferred to die as a slave. <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :
للعبد المملوك المصلح أجران، والذي نفس أبي هريرة بيده لولا الجهاد في سبيل الله والحج، وبر أمي لأحببت أن أموت وأنا مملوك
((متفق عليه))
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Book 11, Hadith 79
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadiths:</b><br>
1) If a slave worships Allah properly and serves his master sincerely, he will receive a double reward. This is an honor that the Shariah bestows on the slave and an elevation of the rank of his servitude to Allah Almighty so that his reward would be greater.<br>
2) A slave is trusted with his master’s property and is responsible for it. So, everyone should fear Allah with regard to his responsibilities.<br>
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<b>Benefit:</b><br>
Imām Al-Hāfizh Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “In my view, this Hadith indicates the following: Since a slave is required to perform two obligations - to obey and worship his Lord and obey his master in what is good - and he actually fulfills them, he obtains a reward like a free man who obeys Allah Almighty, in addition to that, he gets a reward for obeying his master, whom Allah has commanded him to obey.”<br>
Al-Hāfizh Ibn Hajar said: “The great merit that the slave deserves is apparently due to the hardship associated with slavery.” [Fat'h al-Bāri Sharh Sahih al-Bukhāri]