Sahih al-Bukhari 2518
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 49: Manumission of Slaves · What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?
Narrated Abu Dhar:
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ، قَالَ " إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ، وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ ". قُلْتُ فَأَىُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " أَغْلاَهَا ثَمَنًا، وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا ". قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ. قَالَ " تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لأَخْرَقَ ". قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ. قَالَ " تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ، فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ " .
I asked the Prophet, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause." I then asked, "What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?" He replied, "The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master." I said, "If I cannot afford to do that?" He said, "Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself." I said, "If I cannot do that?" He said, "Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good."