The Book of Jihad

Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 237

The Excellence of Kind Attitude towards Slaves

باب فضل الإحسان إلى المملوك

This chapter turns to those who serve under us, and its heart is one startling word from the Prophet (peace be upon him): your slaves are your brothers. In a world that treated the enslaved as property, Islam reframed the whole relationship around dignity, mercy, and shared humanity. The Arabic ihsan in the title means doing good in the fullest sense, going beyond bare duty to genuine kindness.

Notice how the teaching is concrete, not abstract. It is not enough to feel kindly; you feed them from your own food, clothe them from your own clothing, and never load them with what they cannot carry. As you read, watch how the Prophet (peace be upon him) ties our treatment of the powerless directly to the state of our own hearts.

Hadith 1360

Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن المعرور بن سويد قال‏:‏ رأيت أبا ذر رضي الله عنه وعليه حلة وعلى غلامه مثلها، فسألته عن ذلك فذكر أنه ساب رجلا على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فعيره بأمه فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏إنك امرؤ فيك جاهلية‏" ‏ ‏:‏ هم إخوانكم، وخولكم جعلهم الله تحت أيديكم فمن كان أخوه تحت يده فليطعمه مما يأكل ويلبسه مما يلبس ولا تكلفوهم ما يغلبهم، فإن كلفتموهم فأعينوهم” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

I saw Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) wearing a nice gown, and his slave was also wearing one similar to it. I asked him about it, and he said that he had exchanged harsh words with a person during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and put him to shame by making a reference to his mother. That person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah said, "You are a person who has remnants of the 'Days of Ignorance' in you. Your slaves are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your authority. He who has his brother under him, should feed him from whatever he eats, and dress him with whatever he wears, and do not burden them (assign burdensome task to them) beyond their capacity; and if you burden them then help them." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

Rebuked for shaming a man over his mother, Abu Dharr was taught that those under one's authority are brothers, to be fed and clothed as one feeds and clothes oneself, and never overburdened. Power over others calls for mercy and shared dignity.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1360 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 76

Hadith 1361

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

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏إذا أتى أحدكم خادمه بطعامه، فإن لم يجلسه معه فليناوله لقمة أو لقمتين أو أُكلة أو أُكلتين فإنه ولي علاجه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ (9)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When your servant brings food for you and you do not seat him with you, you should at least give him a morsel or two out of it because he has prepared it himself." [Al- Bukhari].

In plain words

When a servant who cooked your food is not seated with you, you should at least offer him a morsel or two of what he prepared. Even small acts keep kindness and fairness alive toward those who serve.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1361 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 77