What Are the Rights of a Master and a Slave?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

We know that Islam teaches to be good to slaves and that the way Islam teaches us to treat slaves is unique, but the Quran also teaches us that recompense for evil is evil.

That means taking revenge is permissible in Islam. If that’s the case, if a slave intentionally does not give the rights to his master, then can the master force him to get his right? If not, please explain why you deviate from the Quran.

And if you say that the ruler should be the one to punish the slave rather than the master, can the ruler still grant the master the right to force the slave, provided that the master was deemed trustworthy enough to execute judgment?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are well. Thank you for your question.

The institution of slavery in Islam and of neighboring cultures had common features. One reason is that ancient slavery was a significant part of the 7th-century socioeconomic system, and abolishing it would not have been practical. The Quran brought in two significant changes, which were to have far-reaching effects: the presumption of freedom and the ban on the enslavement of free persons except in strictly defined circumstances. Most interpretations of the Quran agree that the Quran intended an ideal society as one in which slavery no longer exists.

The classical Arabic term for the slave is  “abd” and “raqiq”; both means servant and slave, but it was not used in the Quran. The Quran refers to the slaves as “ma malakat aymanukum,” meaning “those whom your right hands possess.” This term is found in 15 Quranic passages. This Quranic innovation and term can be seen as an honorific, as to be held by “the right hands” means to be held in honor and a fact that can be seen in Quranic verses that refer to those who will enter Paradise as “companions of the right hand.”

International Agreement about Slaves

When there was no international pact about the prisoners of war – prisoners were enslaved like other nations of the world did – subject to the comprehensive reforms introduced by Islam in the system of slavery. Islam has encouraged in many of its teachings in light of the Quranic guidance and prophetic teachings to free slaves.  Today, there is an international treaty about the Prisoners of War, which is according to the spirit of Islam regarding slavery, and all Muslim countries are bound by it. Therefore, there is no room for slavery anymore, even though bonded slavery in its various forms still exists. [Usmani, Takmila Fath al-Mulhim, Sharh al-Muslim]

The slave has to fulfill his duties given to him by his master, and vice versa. The master can enforce it through appropriate means and also through a judge in an Islamic court in an Islamic state.

Rights of a Master

A slave must fulfill his obligations in every possible way if given all the required means to perform his work obligations. The same can be applied to modern-day employees. They have to meet contractual commitments. Otherwise, they can be accounted for and lead to dismissal. He should not lie, cheat, betray trust, and always be honest with his master.

Allah (Most High) says, “O those who believe, fulfill all obligations.” [Quran, 5:1]

Allah (Most High) says, “Indeed, Allah orders you to render the trusts to their owners.” [Quran, 4:58]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, Allah likes that when one of you do work, to do it with perfection.” [Mawsili, Musnad Abu Yaʿla; Tabarani, al-Muʿjam al-Awsat]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, Allah has prescribed perfection in everything.” [Muslim]

“The sign of the hypocrite is three: When he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise, he breaks it, and when he is trusted, he betrays.” [Bukhari]

Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by a pile of food in the market. He placed his hand inside it and felt dampness, although the surface was dry.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “O owner of the food, what is this?” The man said, “It was damaged by rain, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Why did you not put it (the rain-damaged food) on top of the food so that people can see it? Whoever cheats is not from amongst me.” [Muslim]

Rights of a Slave

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, If a slave serves his master sincerely and worships Allah properly, he will have a double reward.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Abu Musa al-Ashari (Allah bless him and give peace) reported, “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give peace) said, a slave who worships his Lord properly and discharges his duties towards his master and is sincere and obedient to him will get a double reward.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Give the employee his salary before his sweat dries.” [Ibn Majah; Sharḥ Mushkil al-Athar]  [Saeed Ahmed, Slavery in Islam]

The slave has to fulfill his duties which have been given to him by his master. The master can enforce it through appropriate means and also through a judge in an Islamic court in an Islamic state.

All the above can be applied in a modern-day context to employers and employees. Each has to fulfill their contractual duties and can be held accountable if otherwise.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani