Freeing a slave, sincerity towards the Master, prohibition of beating a slave, and the release of a prisoner

The Virtue of Freeing a Slave

① Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

من أعتق رقبة مسلمة أعتق الله بكل عضو منه عضوا من النار حتى فرجه بفرجه

Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allah frees every limb of that person from Hellfire in exchange for every limb of the slave, even freeing his private parts in exchange for the slave’s private parts from Hellfire.

② Sayyiduna Ibn Nujaih Al-Salmi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:

من أعتق رقبة مؤمنة كانت فداءه من النار

Whoever frees a believer, this becomes the ransom for his freedom from Hellfire.

Commands for a Slave to be Sincere to His Master

① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

العبد إذا نصح لسيده وأحسن عبادة ربه كان له أجره مرتين

When a servant is sincere to his master and worships his Lord well, then he has a double reward.

② Sayyiduna Abu Musa رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

المملوك الذى يحسن عبادة ربه ويؤدي إلى سيده الذى له عليه من الحق والنصيحة والطاعة كان له أجران

The servant who worships his Lord well and also fulfills the rights of kindness and obedience due to his master, then he has a double reward.

③ Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud Badri رضي الله عنه narrates from the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, who said:

إن المسلم إذا أنفق على أهله نفقة يحتسبها كانت له صدقة

When a Muslim spends on his family with the intention of reward, it is charity for him.

④ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

دينار أنفقته فى سبيل الله ودينار أنفقته فى رقبة ودينار تصدقت به على مسكين ودينار أنفقته على أهلك أعظمها أجرا الذى أنفقته على أهلك

One dinar is that which you spend in the way of Allah, one dinar is that which you spend to free a slave, one dinar is that which you spend on a poor person, and one dinar is that which you spend on your family. Among all these, the greatest reward is for what you spend on your family.

⑤ Sayyiduna Thawban رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

أفضل دينار ينفقه الرجل دينار ينفقه على عياله ودينار ينفقه الرجل على دابته فى سبيل الله ودينار ينفقه على أصحابه فى سبيل الله

The best dinar a man spends is the dinar he spends on his family, and the dinar a man spends on his mount used in the way of Allah, and the dinar he spends on his companions in the way of Allah.

Prohibition of Beating a Slave

① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

من ضرب غلاما له حدا لم يأته أو ظلمه فإن كفارته أن يعتقه

Whoever beats his slave for a fault he did not commit or oppresses him, his expiation is to free him.

② Sayyiduna Abu Saeed رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

إذا ضرب أحدكم خادمه فذكر الله عز وجل فارفعوا عنه

If any of you beats his servant and he mentions the name of Allah, then stop your hand.

Releasing a Prisoner

① Sayyiduna Abu Musa رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

فكوا العاني وأطعموا الجائع وعودوا المريض

Free the prisoner, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.