The Merit of Emancipation of Slaves
باب فضل العتق
Riyad as-Saliheen, Book of Jihad(view book)
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
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].
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))
Classification
Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
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].
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 ﷺ فعيره بأمه فقال النبي ﷺ : "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))