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How to Treat Servants (Hadith No. 2422)
Bismillah.
Volume 4, Book 51, Number 29 :
Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu)
When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came to Medina; he did not have any servant. Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) (Anas’ step-father) took me to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Anas is a wise boy, so let him serve you.” So, I served him at home and on journeys. If I did anything, he never asked me why I did it, and if I refrained from doing anything, he never asked me why I refrained from doing it.
This hadith gives evidence for employment of an orphan and showing kindness to servants. We treat our servants as if they owe us their lives, belittling them and scolding them for every little thing. Look at the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), he wouldn’t even ask him questions like ‘Why didn’t you do this?’, or ‘Why did you do it?’. I’m sure there must have been incidents where he fell short, he was just a ten-year-old boy when he started and spent all his teen years with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). There must have been times when he didn’t complete a task or committed mistakes etc. But he was never rebuked by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).
And isn’t it amazing how he mentions this specific trait of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) when narrating this hadith? He could’ve said something more general, like “He was extremely nice to me”, or “He never scolded me”, or “He was the best”. You get the point. But when he recalls his time with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), he remembers specifically what we could call “forgiveness”. Imagine what our servants would recall their time with us ten, twenty years down the line. Would they remember our pleasantness or the constant insults we throw at them?
Interesting fact about Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):
His mother once asked the Prophet, upon him be peace, to supplicate for Anas. He, upon him be peace, said,
‘O Allah, increase him in wealth and sons, give him long life and forgive him his sins.’
Anas would recollect that he had 125 offspring in his lifetime and only two of them were girls, his garden gave fruit twice a year and had basil which smelt like musk and he had lived long and had even survived poison and he hoped for the fourth part of the supplication. He was the last companion to die in Basra in the year 93H aged 103 years old. [Abdul Aziz Ahmed]
Read more on his life here.
Rights of Servants (Hadith No. 2230)
Bismillah.
Ahadith 2227 – 2229 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.
Volume 3, Book 46, Number 729:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If one manumits his share of a common slave (Abd), and he has money sufficient to free the remaining portion of the price of the slave (justly estimated), then he should free the slave completely by paying the rest of his price; otherwise the slave is freed partly. “
Volume 3, Book 46, Number 730:
Narrated ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges. The ruler who has authority over people, is a guardian and is responsible for them, a man is a guardian of his family and is responsible for them; a woman is a guardian of her husband’s house and children and is responsible for them; a slave (‘Abu) is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it; so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges.”
Volume 3, Book 46, Number 731:
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid (radiallaahu `anhumaa):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If a slave-girl (Ama) commits illegal sexual intercourse, scourge her; if she does it again, scourge her again; if she repeats it, scourge her again.” The narrator added that on the third or the fourth offence, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Sell her even for a hair rope.”
Today’s Hadith:
Volume 3, Book 46, Number 732:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When your servant brings your meals to you then if he does not let him sit and share the meals, then he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or a meal or two meals, as he has prepared it.”
Rights of a servant over his employer based on this article are as follows:
1- He should give his servant the same food as he eats
2- He should clothe him as he clothes himself.
3- He should not give him more to do than he is able for, and if he does that he should help him.
4- He should pay him a wage that is appropriate to his work and his efforts.
5- He should not insult him or hit him.
6- He should treat him well and be kind to him.
7- He should overlook his mistakes and shortcomings.
Read more here.
The Three Persons Allah will be Against on the Day of Judgement (Hadith No. 1925)
Bismillah.
Hadith no. 1924 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.
Volume 3, Book 34, Number 429 :
Narrated by ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
When the last verses of Surat-al-Baqara were revealed, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) went out (of his house to the Mosque) and said, “The trade of alcohol has become illegal.”
Today’s Hadith:
Volume 3, Book 34, Number 430 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Allah says, ‘I will be against three persons on the Day of Resurrection:
1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but he proves treacherous.
2. One who sells a free person (as a slave) and eats the price.
3. And one who employs a laborer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages.’ “
Allah (SWT) saying “I will be against so and so” is a huge thing. It’s not like the president of United States is saying it so one shouldn’t be afraid. This is Allah, King of all kings, Master of all masters, the One with most authority and power. When He says He’s against someone, it’s a big deal!
Imagine what Allah would do to the person He’s against on the Day of Judgement.. would He look at Him, make any friendly conversation with him, or extend any protection or help? That person would be in some serious trouble that day! May Allah not make us of those who earn His wrath.
We have to make sure we don’t fall in either of the above 3 categories:
- Taking an oath in Allah’s Name and then not fulfilling it. This can happen quite easily if we’re not cautious. Extra care required.
Don’t think the everyday promises/commitments you make aren’t included. Just saying! - Selling a free person as a slave.. not really a problem in this day and age, but we can be careful about taking advantage of other people. Never take credit for something you didn’t do. Never accept compensation for a task you didn’t perform.
- Employing someone and not paying them even after getting all the work done by them. This includes servants in your home and employees in your office/business. It’s better to pay the salary early.. Abdullah ibn Umar (Radhi-Allahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” [Tirmidhi Hadith: 2987 and Ibn Majah]
Pulpit of the Prophet (SAW) (Ahadith 439 – 440)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Narrated Sahl:
Allah’s Apostle sent someone to a woman telling her to order her slave carpenter to prepare a wooden pulpit for him to sit on.
Narrated Jabir:
A woman said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall I get something constructed for you to sit on as I have a slave who is a carpenter?” He replied, “Yes, if you like.” So she had that pulpit constructed.
Do you know which wood the pulpit was made out of? Read this to find out!
Tamarisk - Prophet (SAW)'s pulpit was made out of its wood.
This Hadith proves that women can also take part in social work and charity. :D
Wassalam.
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