It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: When a slave obeys both his Lord and his master, he receives a double reward. The narrator says: When Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) was set free, he began to weep. When he was asked what was making him cry, he said: I used to have two rewards, and now one of them has ended.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / كتاب العتق / 5250
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«اسناده صحيح علي شرط مسلم، أخرجه ابويعلي: 6427، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 8537 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 8518»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … The meaning of this exalted statement of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is not that the status of a slave is greater than that of a free person, because freedom comprises many characteristics and distinctions.