In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب فضل الإحسان إلى المملوك
Chapter on the virtue of kindness to servants and slaves.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/376
Allah Almighty said:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
Worship Allah alone and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, close friends, needy travellers, and those bondspeople in your possession. Surely, Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.
Surat al-Nisa’ 4:36
Al-Ma’rur ibn Suwayd reported: I met Abu Dharr while he was wearing the same clothes as his servant boy. I asked him about it, and he said: I once abused a man and insulted his mother, so the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me:
يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَعَيَّرْتَهُ بِأُمِّهِ إِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ فِيكَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ جَعَلَهُمْ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدِهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ وَلَا تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ فَأَعِينُوهُمْ
O Abu Dharr, you insulted him by his mother? You are a man with ignorance in you! They are your brothers and your assistants. Allah has placed them in your hands. Whoever has his brother in his custody, let him feed him with the same food he eats and clothe him with the same clothes he wears. Do not assign them a task they cannot do; if you do so, then help them.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 30, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا أَتَى أَحَدَكُمْ خَادِمُهُ بِطَعَامِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُجْلِسْهُ مَعَهُ فَليُنَاوِلْهُ لُقْمَةً أَوْ لُقْمَتَيْنِ أَوْ أُكْلَةً أَوْ أُكْلَتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ وَلِيَ عِلَاجَهُ
When one of your servants brings your meal, and you do not sit with him, let him have a portion or two as he prepared it himself.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2557, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Abbas reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by some people one day who were eating while their servants were standing. Umar said:
مالي لا أَرى خُدَّامَكم يأكلون معكم أترغبون عنهم
Why do I not see your servants eating with you? Do you not desire them?
A man said, “No, by Allah, O leader of the faithful. Rather, we have preference over them.” Umar became very angry, then he said:
ما لقومٍ يستأثرون على خُدَّامهم فَعَلَ الله تعالى بهم وفَعَلَ
What is the matter with people who prefer themselves over their servants? Allah Almighty will deal with them and it is done!
Then, Umar said to the servants:
اجلِسوا فكُلُوا
Sit down and eat.
Source: Musnad al-Fārūq 2/247
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
