The Owner is Obligated to Provide for His Slaves
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
It is obligatory upon an owner to provide for his slaves.
❶ Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
للمملوك طعامه وكسوته ولا يكلف من العمل إلا ما يطيق
“The food and clothing of a slave are obligatory upon his master, and he should not be burdened with work beyond his capacity.”
[Muslim: 1662, Book of Oaths: Chapter – Feeding the slave]
❷ Narrated by Abu Dharr (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
فمن جعل الله أخاه تحت يده فليطعمه مما ياكل وليلبسه مما يلبس
“Whoever Allah has placed his brother (i.e., slave) under his authority should feed him with what he eats and clothe him with what he wears.”
[Bukhari: 6050, Book of Manners: Chapter – What is forbidden from insults and curses; Muslim: 1661]
❸ Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كفي بالمرء إثما أن يضيع من يقوت
“It is sufficient as a sin for a man that he neglects those whose provision he is responsible for.”
In the narration of Sahih Muslim, the wording is:
أن يحبس عمن يملك قوته
“To withhold from those whose food he is responsible for.”
[Muslim: 996; al-Nasa’i: 295; Ahmad: 2/160; al-Hakim: 1/451; al-Humaydi: 599]
❹ Providing food, clothing, and other necessities for slaves is an obligation upon the master, and this is an agreed-upon matter.
[Subl al-Salam: 3/1549]
