If the previous chapter addressed the master, this one lifts up the one who serves. The Prophet (peace be upon him) promises a double reward to the slave who is faithful to two masters at once: sincere worship of Allah and honest service to the one over them. No station in life, however humble in the eyes of people, shuts a person out from the highest ranks with Allah.
The recurring phrase here is the double reward, and the message is liberating: worth before Allah is measured by faithfulness, not by social rank. Watch how Abu Hurairah, hearing this, says he would almost have wished to die a slave were it not for jihad, Hajj, and serving his mother, so dear was this promise to him.
Hadith 1362
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إن العبد إذا نصح لسيده، وأحسن عبادة الله، فله أجره مرتين" ((متفق عليه))
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "When a slave is sincere to his master and worships Allah well, He will have a double reward." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
A servant who is sincere to the one over him and worships Allah well receives a double reward. Faithfulness to both Allah and one's responsibilities is doubly honoured.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1362 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 78
Hadith 1363
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
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))
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. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The faithful, diligent servant has a double reward, a promise Abu Hurairah found so dear he would have wished such a life but for jihad, Hajj, and serving his mother. Worth before Allah rests on faithfulness, not on social rank.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1363 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 79
Hadith 1364
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي موسى الأشعري قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "المملوك الذي يحسن عبادة ربه ويؤدي إلى سيده الذي عليه من الحق، والنصيحة والطاعة له أجران" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A slave who worships his Rubb (Allah) well and discharges efficiently and faithfully the duties which are assigned to him by his master, will have a double reward." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
A servant who worships Allah well and faithfully fulfils the duties given to him by the one over him earns a double reward. Doing both well, devotion and duty, is rewarded twice.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1364 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 80
Hadith 1365
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "ثلاثة لهم أجران: رجل من أهل الكتاب آمن بنبيه، وآمن بمحمد، والعبد المملوك إذا أدى حق الله، وحق مواليه، ورجل كانت له أمة فأدبها فأحسن تأديبها وعلمها فأحسن تعليمها، ثم أعتقها فتزوجها فله أجران" ((متفق عليه))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Three kinds of people will have a double reward: A man from the People of the Book who believes in his Prophet and (also) believes in Muhammad; a slave who discharges properly the duties towards Allah and towards his master; and a man who possesses a slave-girl and teaches her manners, educates her well, and frees her and then marries her." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Three earn a double reward: a believer from the People of the Book who also believes in Muhammad (peace be upon him); a servant faithful to Allah and to the one over him; and a man who teaches a slave-girl well, frees her, and marries her. Each combines two goods, and Allah doubles the reward.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1365 In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 81