CHAPTER 3 : SERVANTS AND SLAVES – PART 1
The dealings of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, with servants and slave girls.
Introduction:
We always urge those who serve us to perfect their work and fulfil their duties, yet we probably forget – or pretend to have forgotten, the rights of those poor servants due on us. These rights have been ordained by Allah and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, set the most splendid of examples with regard to good dealings with servants, freed slaves, and slaves (both females and males). He, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, set the best example of leniency and mercy towards them, whilst being just and fair with them. This is in complete accordance with his kind character, as well as the commands he, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, gave his nation.
His Dealings with Servants and Slaves:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, treated his servants in a manner that was similar to a compassionate father towards his child, or like a merciful brother towards his brother; he never differentiated between a slave, a hired hand or helper. This caused Zayd ibn Haarithah (his freed slave) to favor the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, over his parents and tribe.
The scholars of the Prophetic biography mention that Su`da bint Tha`labah, the mother of Zayd ibn Haarithah – visited her tribe while Zayd was with her. The homes of Banu Ma`n were invaded by some horsemen, and Zayd was taken as a captive when he was a child. He was then taken to the market of `Ukaath where he was put up for sale, and was purchased by Hakeem ibn Hizaam for four hundred Dirhams (silver coins). He purchased Zayd for his aunt Khadeejah (the wife of the Prophet).
When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, married Khadeejah she gave him Zayd. Later on, some people from Kalb made the pilgrimage to Makkah and saw Zayd. They recognized each other and he (Zayd) said some lines of poetry that he asked to be conveyed to his father.
They left and conveyed the message to his father. They also described his location to him, and Haarithah and Ka`b (his brother) headed for Makkah upon hearing Zayd was there. When they reached Makkah, they asked about the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and were told, “He is in the Mosque,” so they entered the area in which he was sitting.
They said to him, “O son of `Abd Al-Muttalib; O son of the chief of your people, you are the neighbours of (the House of) Allah (referring to the Sacred Mosque). You relieve those who are suffering, and feed those who are hungry. We have come to you regarding our son who is a slave of yours, so that you may be kind to us by allowing us to ransom him.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, responded: “I propose something else.” They said: “And what do you propose?” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I will call him here and I will give him the choice. If he chooses you two, then that is fine, and if he chooses me, then by Allah, I will not refuse the choice of someone who chooses me.” They both said to him, “You have been more than just.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called Zayd and when he came he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked him: “Who are these two?” Zayd said: “This is my father Haarithah ibn Sharaheel, and that is my paternal uncle, Ka`b ibn Sharaheel.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I will give you the choice, if you wish, you can go with them, and if you wish, you can remain with me.” He said: “Rather, I will stay with you.” His father said to him, “O Zayd, do you choose servitude over freedom, and over your father, mother, town and tribe?” Zayd said: “I have seen something from this man, and I will never part from him.”
At this, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took his hand, stood in front of the people, and said aloud: “Bear witness that this is my son, he inherits from me and I inherit from him.”
The father’s feelings were eased and Zayd was called “Zayd, the son of Muhammad,” until Allah revealed the verse (which means): «Call them by [the names of] their fathers.» [Quran: 33:5] (Reported by Ibn Sa`d in his book At-Tabaqat Al-Kubra (3/42), Ibn Hajar in his book Al-Isaabah fi Ma’rifat Al-Sahabah (1/392) and Az-Zubayr ibn Bakkar in his book Al-Akhbaar Al-Muwaffaqiyyaat (page 188).)
How did he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, treat his servants such that they began loving him as much as they did, and favoured staying with him over going back to their families and tribes?
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was never averse to walking with his servant or slave girl to any place they wished to take him, in order to take care of their affairs.
Anas ibn Maalik (a Companion) said: “A young slave girl from Madinah would take the hand of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and take him wherever she wanted.” (Reported by Ahmad (11530) and Al-Bukhari (6072).)
Another narration reads, “A young girl from Madinah would go and take the hand of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he would not take his hand out of her hand until she took him wherever she wished to take him.” (Reported by Ahmad (12369) and Ibn Majah (4177).)
Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said: “The expression, ‘took by the hand’ is in reference to his behaviour, even if her need was outside Madinah, she would ask for his help in that matter. This shows the great extent of his humbleness, and shows that he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was free from all types of arrogance.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (10/490).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never haughtily rejected that one of his servants eat with him; in fact, he encouraged his nation to eat with their servants:
Abu Hurayrah (a Companion) reported that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When your servant brings your meals to you then if he does not let him sit and share the meals, he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal, or a meal or two meals, as the slave is the one who has prepared it and undergone the heat in cooking it.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5460) and Muslim (1663).)
In the wording of Muslim (a scholar), the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If one of your servants prepares a meal for you and brings it, while being the one who cooked it and endured the heat and smoke when cooking it, then allow that servant to sit and eat with him, and if the food is insufficient for those who are sitting to eat it, then let one of you spare him at least a morsel or two.”
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered those who had servants to feed them the same food that they eat and dress them in the same clothes that they dress in:
Al-Ma`roor ibn Suwayd (a Companion) said: “I saw Abu Tharr in Ar-Rabathah (a town near Madinah which is three days away and is on the way to the peninsula. Mu`jam Al-
Buldaan (24/3). ) and he was wearing a cloak, as was his servant. I asked him about that and he said to me, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Your brothers are your servants that Allah has put under your command. So if any of you has one of his brothers under his command, let him feed him the same food that he eats, and dress him in the same clothes that he wears. Also, do not ask them to do anything beyond their capacity,and if you do, help them in doing that task.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (30) and Muslim (1661).)
When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said the words: “Your brothers,” and made them precede, “Your servants,” it shows that great care is given to brotherhood.
Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said: “The meaning of the term: “Let him feed him from the same food that he eats,” is that he should feed him the same type of food.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (5/174).) The meaning of the term: “and if you do, help them in doing that task,” is that a servant should be asked to do what he is able to do. If the servant is able to do it on his own then that is fine, otherwise, the owner should have someone else help the servant.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (5/175).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade asking them to do work that was beyond their capacity:
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “It is essential to feed the slave, clothe him and not burden him with work that he cannot handle.” (Reported by Muslim (1662).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said: “The scholars have reached a unanimous consensus that it is impermissible to burden [a slave] with work that he cannot bear, and if he does, then he is obligated to either help him himself or with someone else.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (133/11).)
If any of his slaves became sick, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would visit them while they were sick, even if they were not Muslim:
Anas (a Companion) said: “Once a Jewish boy who used to serve the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, fell sick. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went and paid him a visit. He sat by the boy’s head and said to him: ‘Accept Islam.’ The boy looked towards his father, who was also present, and the father said: ‘Obey Abu Al-Qaasim,’ and so the boy accepted Islam. When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left, he was saying: ‘All praise is due to Allah Who saved him from the Hellfire.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1356).)
Thus, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was very keen on visiting his servant and calling him to Islam.
If one of the servants died and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was unable to witness his funeral, he would go to his grave and pray upon him:
Abu Hurayrah reported that a black woman used to sweep the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, noticed that he had not seen her, so he asked about her, and was told, “She has passed away.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Why did you not inform me?” Abu Hurayrah said: “It was as if they considered the matter not worth mentioning.” They showed him where her grave was, and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prayed (the funeral prayer) upon her, then said: “These graves are filled with darkness for those residing in them,
and Allah brightens them by my praying on them.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (458) and Muslim (956).)
In another narration, “He went with his Companions, stood at the grave, and prayed upon her while everyone was behind him. Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated for her, and then left.” (Reported by Ibn Majah (1533) on the authority of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri.)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not become too busy to realise that a woman who used to sweep the mosque was missing. How great was this leader and how great it was to be in his blessed company!
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated for his servant:
Anas ibn Maalik said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited us when only me, my mother, and my maternal aunt, Umm Haram, were present. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Stand so that I can lead you in prayer.’ It was not the time for prayer at that time. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, led us in prayer, then supplicated for us and the residents of the house, with every type of good in this life and the next. My mother said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, supplicate to Allah The Almighty for your servant (Anas).’ So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, supplicated for me with every type of good, and among the last things he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said while supplicating for me was: ‘O Allah, give him an abundance of wealth and children, and bless him in his wealth and children.’”
Anas continued, “Out of the Ansaar, I am one of the richest, and my daughter Umaynah told me that when Al-Hajjaaj reached Basra (in Iraq), more than one-hundred and twenty of my offspring had been buried.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1982) and Muslim (660).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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