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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتابBook of Good Treatment of Servants
بَابُ مَنْ خَتَمَ عَلَى خَادِمِهِ مَخَافَةَ سُوءِ الظَّنِّChapter: One Who Restricts His Servant Out of Fear of Suspicion
Hadith 167
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَلْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ قَالَ: كُنَّا نُؤْمَرُ أَنْ نَخْتِمَ عَلَى الْخَادِمِ، وَنَكِيلَ، وَنَعُدَّهَا، كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَتَعَوَّدُوا خُلُقَ سُوءٍ، أَوْ يَظُنَّ أَحَدُنَا ظَنَّ سُوءٍ.
It is narrated from Abu Al-Aliyah (may Allah have mercy on him) that we were instructed to seal the goods, measure the goods, and count them so that the servants would not become accustomed to bad manners (such as theft and dishonesty), or so that we would not develop suspicion about them.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
The point is that the owner should act with utmost caution and maintain complete accounting so that employees do not get an opportunity to be dishonest. Of course, he should treat them with kindness, but should not be lax in accounting. It is reported about Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu that when he sent his servant to buy meat, he would count the pieces of meat, and when eating, he would seat the servant with him and feed him. Someone asked: On one hand, you count the pieces of meat, and on the other, you seat him with you to eat? He replied: This keeps the heart pure and prevents suspicion that he might have taken something. (Fayd al-Bari) In this way, mutual trust is also established, and Satan does not get an opportunity to sow doubts.
The point is that the owner should act with utmost caution and maintain complete accounting so that employees do not get an opportunity to be dishonest. Of course, he should treat them with kindness, but should not be lax in accounting. It is reported about Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu that when he sent his servant to buy meat, he would count the pieces of meat, and when eating, he would seat the servant with him and feed him. Someone asked: On one hand, you count the pieces of meat, and on the other, you seat him with you to eat? He replied: This keeps the heart pure and prevents suspicion that he might have taken something. (Fayd al-Bari) In this way, mutual trust is also established, and Satan does not get an opportunity to sow doubts.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 167
