When the slave of anyone amongst you prepares food for him and he serves him after having sat close to (and undergoing the hardship of) heat and smoke, he should make him (the slave) sit along with him and make him eat (along with him), and if the food seems to run short, then he should spare some portion for him (from his own share) - (another narrator) Dawud said:" i. e. a morsel or two". 4097
The Book of Oaths - Sahih Muslim 1663
This narration from Sahih Muslim addresses the proper treatment of servants and slaves, emphasizing their human dignity and rights within the Islamic framework.
Contextual Analysis
The hadith speaks to a servant who has undergone the hardship of preparing food near heat and smoke - referring to cooking in traditional settings where this was physically demanding labor.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructs the master to invite the servant to eat with him, recognizing the effort expended in food preparation.
Legal and Ethical Dimensions
This teaching establishes that servants have rights to proper treatment, companionship, and sustenance equal to their masters.
The instruction to share food even when it appears scarce demonstrates the importance of prioritizing the servant's needs over one's own comfort.
Dawud's clarification of "a morsel or two" indicates that even symbolic sharing fulfills the spirit of this injunction when resources are truly limited.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars note this hadith revolutionizes master-servant relationships by mandating equality in dining, contrary to pre-Islamic practices where servants ate separately and received inferior food.
The ruling applies regardless of whether the servant is Muslim or non-Muslim, establishing universal principles of workers' rights.
This teaching forms part of Islam's comprehensive framework for social justice, where even those in servitude maintain their inherent human dignity.