Allah Almighty says: {Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him. Be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, near and distant neighbors, close friends, wayfarers, and slaves whom you own.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 36]
1) Masters are commanded to treat their slaves kindly and be good to them, doing what is in their interest and keeping them away from harm.
2) Kindness to slaves is a duty upon their masters. Whoever fulfills this duty has indeed fulfilled part of his servitude to Allah Almighty.
1360/1 - Al-Ma‘rūr ibn Suwayd reported: I saw Abu Dharr wearing a nice garment, and his slave boy was wearing one similar to it. I asked him about it, and he said that he had exchanged harsh words with a person during the Prophet’s lifetime and put him to shame by making a reference to his mother. That person mentioned that to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), thereupon, the Prophet said: “You are a person who has remnants of the pre-Islamic time of ignorance. They are your brothers and servants whom Allah has placed under your authority. He who has his brother under his authority should feed him from what he eats, dress him from what he wears, and not overburden them with difficult tasks that are beyond their capability. And if you were to do this, then you should help them.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
--
--
--
1) We are strictly prohibited from imitating the people of the pre-Islamic time of ignorance, even in using words. A believer should have a personality formed by the teachings of the noble Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah.
2) It points out the Islamic guidance on the treatment of slaves. Under this guidance, masters are required to treat their slaves kindly, give them good food and clothing, and not burden them with work beyond their capacity. This stems from the merciful Shariah of Islam. Indeed, the free people living in oppressing countries today would wish to live as slaves under the just system of Islam!
3) It shows the merit of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) as he complied with the Prophet’s command and was keen to make amends for his mistake by showing kindness to his slave.
1361/2 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When your servant brings you your food, if you do not invite him to join you, then (at least) give him a morsel or two, because he has prepared it.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
--
--
1) It urges the believers to deal modestly with one another, including servants. This is part of Islam’s comprehensive guidance.
2) Showing kindness to weak people and consoling their hearts is part of the Prophet’s guidance. As for the slave who prepares food or drink for his master, he naturally desires to take some. So, the Shariah instructs masters to console the hearts of their slaves in such a gentle and caring manner.
3) We are encouraged to pursue the proper means for purifying ourselves and respecting those lower than us in rank. This keeps us away from arrogance. Indeed, the arrogant shall be deprived of Paradise.
In a version of the previous Hadīth narrated by Muslim, feeding the slaves is limited to one or two morsels, if the food is little. In it, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If the food is scanty, he should put one or two morsels in his hand.”
This necessitates that if there is plenty of food, he may either invite the slave to join him or give him a good portion of it. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complied with the Prophet’s teachings and were good to their slaves. What happened otherwise in some incidents was caused by certain circumstances, like poverty and scarcity of food. Hence, Safwān ibn Umayyah said to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them): “By Allah, we do not dislike them, but we prefer ourselves to them, and by Allah, we do not find good food which we can eat and feed it to them as well.”
But some people today disdain to sit with their servants or deal with them courteously. This is the result of arrogance on their part.
It behooves us to discipline our baser souls and not let them take hold and ruin us.
“Among the manifestations of kindness in the Islamic legislations with regard to the slavery system is that Islam paid attention to reducing slavery and ending its harms. To this end, it increased the reasons for freeing slaves and improved the conditions of slaves by regulating how masters should deal with their slaves.
As for the reasons for freeing slaves, we note that the areas of Zakah laid down by Islam include buying and freeing slaves. Also, manumission of slaves is one of the due expiations in case of manslaughter. Islam also exhorts masters to go into contracts of emancipation with their slaves, if they so will. Moreover, if a person frees part of a slave that he co-owns, the other part shall be assessed and then paid, thus freeing the slave completely. And if a female slave gives birth from her master, she becomes like a free woman. Islam also encourages its followers to compete in setting slaves free.
As for improving the conditions of slaves, Islam firmly prohibited masters from overburdening their slaves and commanded them to provide them with sufficient provision and clothing. It forbade them from excess in beating their slaves. So, if a man tortures his slave, he will be emancipated against his master’s will. If we consider these and other teachings, it becomes clear to us that the Shariah aims at spreading freedom.” Summarized from the book entitled 'The Objectives of Islamic Law' by the erudite scholar Al-Tāhir ibn ‘Āshūr (may Allah have mercy upon him).