64/75. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4393 — Freeing a Slave for Allah’s Sake
The story of Daus and Tufail bin ‘Amr Ad-Dausi
Hadith About Freeing a Slave: Abu Huraira’s Gift for Allah’s Sake
Sahih Bukhari : 4393
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4393
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ: يَا لَيْلَةً مِنْ طُولِهَا وَعَنَائِهَا عَلَى أَنَّهَا مِنْ دَارَةِ الْكُفْرِ نَجَّتِ وَأَبَقَ غُلاَمٌ لِي فِي الطَّرِيقِ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَايَعْتُهُ، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَهُ إِذْ طَلَعَ الْغُلاَمُ، فَقَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ هَذَا غُلاَمُكَ ". فَقُلْتُ هُوَ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. فَأَعْتَقْتُهُ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
When I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) said on my way, "O what a long tedious tiresome night; nevertheless, it has rescued me from the place of Heathenism." A slave of mine ran away on the way. When I reached the Prophet (ﷺ) I gave him the oath of allegiance (for Islam), and while I was sitting with him, suddenly the slave appeared. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me. "O Abu Huraira! Here is your slave," I said, "He (i.e. the slave) is (free) for Allah's Sake," and manumitted him.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4393In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 416USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 676
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4393
This hadith about freeing a slave centers on Abu Huraira’s arrival to the Prophet and his act of manumission. Abu Huraira describes a long and tiring night on the way, yet he saw it as a rescue from the land of disbelief. A slave of his ran away on the journey. When Abu Huraira reached the Prophet, he gave the oath of allegiance for Islam. While he was sitting there, the slave appeared. The Prophet pointed him out, saying that this was Abu Huraira’s slave. Abu Huraira then said the slave was for Allah’s sake and freed him. The hadith connects a new start in faith with a generous act done for Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Huraira valued being rescued from disbelief and reaching the Prophet.
- He gave the oath of allegiance after reaching the Prophet.
- He freed his slave for Allah’s sake when the slave returned.
- A new step in faith can be joined with a generous act.
