Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A righteous slave has two rewards." (Then Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said) By Him in Whose hand is the life of Abu Hurairah! If it were not for matters such as striving in the way of Allah, Hajj, and being good to my mother, I would have preferred to die the death of a slave.