Hadith 2
Manumission of Slaves
Narrated Abu Dhar:
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."
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 ".
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.