27/10. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1661c — Feed and Clothe Servants Fairly
Feeding a slave what one eats and clothing him as one clothes oneself, and not burdening him with more than he bear
Hadith on Feeding and Clothing Servants Fairly
Sahih Muslim : 1661c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1661c
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ، بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ وَاصِلٍ الأَحْدَبِ، عَنِ الْمَعْرُورِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ وَعَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ وَعَلَى غُلاَمِهِ مِثْلُهَا فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ سَابَّ رَجُلاً عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَيَّرَهُ بِأُمِّهِ - قَالَ - فَأَتَى الرَّجُلُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ فِيكَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ إِخْوَانُكُمْ وَخَوَلُكُمْ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدَيْهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ وَلاَ تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ فَأَعِينُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ " .
Ma’rur b. Suwaid Narrated from:
I saw Abu Dharr wearing clothes, and his slave wearing similar ones. I asked him about it, and he narrated that he had abused a person during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon. him) and he reproached him for his mother. That person came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: You are a person who has (remnants of) Ignorance in him. Your slaves are brothers of yours.Allah has placed them in your hand, and he who has his brother under him, he should feed him with what he eats, and dress him with what he dresses himself, and do not burden them beyond their capacities, and if you burden them, (beyond their capacities), then help them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1661cIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 62USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4094
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1661c
This Hadith about feeding and clothing servants repeats the same core teaching in a clear form. Ma'rur saw Abu Dharr and his slave wearing similar clothes, and Abu Dharr explained why. He had once abused a person and reproached him through his mother. The person told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said Abu Dharr still had Ignorance in him. Then came the practical guidance: slaves are brothers, Allah has placed them in one’s hand, so the one who has his brother under him should feed him from what he eats and dress him from what he wears. The Hadith also says not to burden them beyond capacity, and if they are burdened, then help them. This is a simple but strong teaching on dignity and care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abusing someone through his mother was condemned.
- Servants are described as brothers, not as people without dignity.
- Food and clothing should be shared in a fair spirit.
- If work is heavy, help should be given.
