Ahadith on Treatment of Slaves

illtreatment of Slaves

Abu Ali Suwaid bin Muqarrin (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I was the seventh child of Banu Muqarrin and we had only one slave-girl. When the youngest of us once happened to slap her (on the face) the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) ordered us to set her free.

Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I was beating my slave with a whip when I heard a voice behind me which said: "Abu Mas'ud! Bear in mind..." I did not recognize the voice for the intense anger I was in. Abu Mas'ud added: As he came near me, I found that he was the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who was saying, "Abu Mas'ud! Bear in mind that Allah has more dominance upon you than you have upon your slave." Then I said: "I will never beat any slave in future."

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The expiation for beating or slapping a slave on the face for something he has not done is to set him free."

[Muslim]

Commentary

Islam stresses on the equality and proper treatment of slaves and servants. It is a serious crime to beat one's servant or slave or subject them to maltreatment. The expiation of this sin is to set the servant or slavefree. The ahadith above have shown evidence of stern warning for those who punish their slaves and servants without reason or far more than what they deserve. One is allowed to discipline one's servants in a suitable manner in which punishment does not exceed the nature of offense committed on their part. Another important thing to note in the second hadith is the aura of awe and majesty that characterizes the personality of the Prophet (PBUH). It also shows the eagerness of the Companions to fix their ways and obey the Prophet's commands.

Equality of Slaves in Islam

Allah, the Exalted, says: "Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess." (4:36)

Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid (RA) reported: I saw Abu Dharr (RA) wearing a nice gown, and his slave was also wearing one similar to it. I asked him about it, and he said that he had exchanged harsh words with a person during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and put him to shame by making a reference to his mother. That person came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah said, "You are a person who has remnants of the 'Days of Ignorance' in you. Your slaves are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your authority. He who has his brother under him, should feed him from whatever he eats, and dress him with whatever he wears, and do not burden them (assign burdensome task to them) beyond their capacity; and if you burden them then help them. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Islam has laid great emphasis on good treatment of slaves. The ayat and hadith above contain the illumination about treatment of slaves in Islam.The slaves should be treated fairly in all matters such that they should have the same food and clothes which the master has, or he should give them such wages that they can afford to buy the same food and clothes. In Islam all humans are equal in the eyes of Allah and if someone is superior then it might be because of his Taqwa neither wealth nor high status. The slaves have the status of brother and they have the same human needs as the master. Same goes for the laborers in factories, shops, offices and homes. It is equally important that the work load on slaves and laborers be considered thoroughly and they should not be over burdened with work more than there capability. Pride on one’s lineage and criticism of others on this account is an act of ignorance and exceedingly unacknowledged by Islam. Being a Muslim we should keep ourselves away from such conceited views. So a slave should not be treated badly because of their cast. By issuing the instruction mentioned in the Hadith, Islam has established equality in the true meanings of the word. Islam promotes brotherhood between the employers and employed the master and the slave, the ruler and the ruled. It also urges them to be sensitive and helpful to each other. By stressing the rights of people, it teaches both classes to love and respect each other. In another hadith

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When your servant brings food for you and you do not seat him with you, you should at least give him a morsel or two out of it because he has prepared it himself."  [Al-Bukhari]

The sense of equality of people is so much emphasized by Islam that if a servant brings meal to his master, this latter should make him sit by his side to take the meal with him. If this is not possible for a reason or another, then he should give some portion of the meal to the servant.