Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 236

The Merit of Emancipation of Slaves

باب فضل العتق

This short chapter lifts up the freeing of a slave (itq) as among the deeds most beloved to Allah. In a world that took bondage for granted, Islam made setting a person free a direct path to one's own freedom from the Fire, limb for limb, a striking measure of how dearly Allah values the restoring of human liberty.

Read these two hadith together: the first reveals the immense reward, and the second teaches that the gift is greatest when it costs the most, freeing the one most prized and valuable. The lesson is that true generosity gives what is dear, not merely what is spare.

Hadith 1358

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏من أعتق رقبة مسلمة أعتق الله بكل عضو منه عضوًا منه من النار حتى فرجه بفرجه‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who sets free a Muslim slave, Allah will deliver from the fire of Hell every limb of his body in return for every limb of the slave's body, even his private parts." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

Whoever frees a Muslim slave will have each limb of his own body saved from the Fire in return for a limb of the freed person. Restoring another's freedom becomes a cause of one's own deliverance.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1358 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 74

Hadith 1359

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قلت يا رسول الله أي الأعمال أفضل‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏الإيمان بالله، والجهاد في سبيل الله‏"‏ قلت‏:‏ أي الرقاب أفضل‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أنفسها عند أهلها وأكثرها ثمنًا” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "Which deed is most excellent?" He replied, "Faith in Allah and Jihad in His path." I then asked, "Which slaves are most excellent (to set free)?" He replied, "Those who are held in high esteem by their people and whose value is higher." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

Asked which slaves are best to free, the Prophet (peace be upon him) named those most prized and valued by their people. The finest generosity gives up what is most dear, not merely what is easy to part with.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1359 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 75