27/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1659c — Accountability for Mistreating Servants
Treatment of slaves, and the expiation of one who slaps his slave
Hadith About Accountability for Mistreating a Servant
Sahih Muslim : 1659c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1659c
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، التَّيْمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ غُلاَمًا لِي فَسَمِعْتُ مِنْ خَلْفِي صَوْتًا " اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ لَلَّهُ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَيْهِ " . فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هُوَ حُرٌّ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ " أَمَا لَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ لَلَفَحَتْكَ النَّارُ أَوْ لَمَسَّتْكَ النَّارُ " .
Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari Narrated from:
When I was beating my servant, I heard a voice behind me (saying): Abu Mas'ud, bear in mind Allah has more dominance over you than you have upon him. I turned and (found him) to be Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). I said: Allah's Messenger, I set him free for the sake of Allah. Thereupon he said: Had you not done that, (the gates of) Hell would have opened for you, or the fire would have burnt you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1659cIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 55USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4088
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1659c
This Hadith about mistreating a servant gives a very serious reminder. Abu Mas'ud was beating his servant when he heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم say that Allah had more dominance over him than he had over the servant. The message is direct and easy to understand: power in this world is limited, but Allah’s power is greater. Abu Mas'ud then freed the servant for the sake of Allah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied that if he had not done that, the Fire would have touched him or burnt him. The explanation should stay close to the wording. This report is about fear of Allah, stopping oppression, and taking real action after being corrected. It is also a strong text on servant rights in Islam.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah’s authority is greater than any human authority.
- Mistreating someone under one’s control is treated as a serious matter.
- Abu Mas'ud responded by freeing the servant for Allah’s sake.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم linked the matter to danger from the Fire.
