حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُبَشِّرٍ ، ثنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ ، ثنا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ ، ثنا عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيُّ ، ثنا طَلْحَةُ بْنُ مُصَرِّفٍ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْسَجَةَ ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ ، قَالَ : جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، فَقَالَ : دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُنِي مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَيُبَاعِدُنِي مِنَ النَّارِ ، قَالَ : " لَئِنْ أَقْصَرْتَ الْخُطْبَةَ لَقَدْ أَعْرَضْتَ الْمَسْأَلَةَ ، أَعْتِقِ النَّسَمَةَ وَكُفَّ الرَّقَبَةِ " ، فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، أَوَلَيْسَا وَاحِدًا ؟ فَقَالَ : " لا عِتْقُ النَّسَمَةِ أَنْ تَفَرَّدَ بِعِتْقِهَا ، وَفَكُّ الرَّقَبَةِ أَنْ تُعِينَ فِي ثَمَنِهَا ، وَالْمَنِحَةُ الْوَكُوفُ ، وَالْفَيْءُ عَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ الظَّالِمِ ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تُطِقْ فَكُفَّ لِسَانَكَ إِلا مِنْ خَيْرٍ " .
Sayyiduna Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “Guide me to an action that will bring me near to Paradise and keep me away from Hell!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If you speak little, refrain from asking (from others), free a slave, set a neck free (free a male or female slave).” He said, “O Messenger of Allah! Are these two not the same?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No! To set a soul free means you free him, and to set a neck free means you help him by paying his price. Give a milch (she-camel or goat) without taking anything in return, and maintain ties with a relative who wrongs you. If you cannot do this, then speak only good words with your tongue.”