Book 37: Hiring and Wages
Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih al-Bukhari 2260
Muhammad bin Yusuf (Firyabi) narrated to us that Sufyan (Thauri) told us, narrating from Abu Burdah (Buraid bin Abdullah). He said: My grandfather Abu Burdah (Amir) told me, narrating from his father Hazrat Abu Musa Ash'ari (ra). He said: The Prophet (saw) said: “The trustworthy treasurer who willingly gives as much as he has been ordered to give will also receive the reward of those who give charity (Sadaqah).”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2261
Musaddad narrated to us that Yahya (bin Sa'id Qattan) told us, narrating from Qurrah bin Khalid, he said: Humaid bin Hilal narrated to me that Abu Burdah narrated to us, he from Hazrat Abu Musa (Ash'ari) (ra), he said: I came (from Yemen) to the Prophet (saw), and with me were two men of the Ash'ar tribe (who were seeking some office. They made a request for it to the Holy Prophet (saw).) I said: I did not know that these two desired a post. He (saw) said: “We do not appoint to our work people who desire it.” (The narrator says that while speaking the Prophet (saw)) said lan nasta'mil or la nasta'milu.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2262
Ahmad bin Muhammad Makki narrated to us that Amr bin Yahya told us. He narrated from his grandfather (Sa'id bin Amr), he from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra), Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) from the Prophet (saw), that he said: “Allah has not sent any prophet who did not graze goats.” His Companions (ra) said: (O Messenger of Allah (saw),) did you too (graze them)? He (saw) said: “Yes, I too used to graze the goats of the people of Mecca for a few Qirats.”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2263
Ibrahim bin Musa narrated to me that Hisham (bin Yusuf) told us. He narrated from Ma'mar, Ma'mar from Zuhri, Zuhri from Urwah bin Zubair, he from Hazrat Aishah (ra). (She said:) The Prophet (saw) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) employed a man of (the tribe of) Banu Dil who was from (the family of) Banu Abd bin Adi, and he was a very skilful guide. Khirrit means expert in showing the way. He too had dipped his hand in a pact with the family of As bin Wa'il, and he was on the religion of the disbelievers of the Quraish. (The Holy Prophet (saw) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)) both trusted him and handed their she-camels over to him, and promised to meet him at the Cave of Thaur after three days. And he came to them with the she-camels on the morning of the third night. When the two of them set out (for the migration), Amir bin Fuhairah (ra) (the slave of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)) and the guide of the Dili tribe also went with them, and he took them along the lower side of Mecca by the coast of the sea.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2264
Yahya bin Bukair narrated to us that Laith told us, narrating from Uqail, that Ibn Shihab said: Urwah bin Zubair told me that Hazrat Aishah (ra), the wife of the Prophet (saw), said that (at the time of the migration) the Messenger of Allah (saw) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) employed a man of (the tribe of) Banu Dil who was a most skilful guide and was on the very religion of the disbelievers of the Quraish, and the two of them handed their she-camels over to him and fixed a promise with him to meet at the Cave of Thaur after three days, that he would come to the two of them with their she-camels on the morning of the third night.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2265
Ya'qub bin Ibrahim told me that Isma'il bin Ulayyah narrated to us that Ibn Juraij informed us, he said: Ata' (bin Abi Rabah) told me. He narrated from Safwan bin Ya'la, Safwan from Hazrat Ya'la bin Umayyah (ra). He said: I took part in the battle of Jaishul Usrah (that is, the battle of Tabuk) with the Prophet (saw), and in my view this deed was among those of my deeds that could be most relied upon (in terms of reward). (With me) there was also a labourer of mine who quarrelled with a man. During the fight one of the two bit the finger of his fellow. When he pulled his finger out forcefully, the other's tooth received a jolt, because of which it fell out. Thereupon he went to the Prophet (saw) with a complaint. He (saw) did not grant him any compensation for his tooth and said: “Should he have left his finger in your mouth for you to chew it?” (Ibn Juraij) used to say: I think he (saw) said: “As a stallion camel chews.”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2266
Ibn Juraij also said that Abdullah bin Abi Mulaikah also narrated to me a similar incident, narrating from his grandfather (Zuhair bin Abdullah), that a man bit the hand of another man. He knocked out his front tooth. But Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) did not grant him any compensation for his tooth.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2267
Ibrahim bin Musa narrated to me that Hisham bin Yusuf told us. Ibn Juraij informed them, he said that Ya'la bin Muslim and Amr bin Dinar told me, narrating from Sa'id bin Jubair. One of them used to narrate somewhat more than his companion. Ibn Juraij also heard this hadith from others. He said: I heard them too reporting it from Sa'id (bin Jubair). He said: Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated to me that Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka'b (ra) told me. He said: The Messenger of Allah (saw) recited (this verse, for the sake of explanation): “So they went on till, ... they found therein a wall which was about to fall” (Qur’an 18:78). Sa'id said that (the companion of Hazrat Moses (as)) made a sign with his hand. Then he raised his hands (and set the wall right) and it became straight. Ya'la said: I think Sa'id also said that (the companion of Hazrat Moses (as)) set it (the wall) right with his hands and it became straight. (Hazrat Moses (as) said:) “If thou hadst desired, thou couldst have taken payment for it.” (Qur’an 18:78) Sa'id said: A wage with which we could eat.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2268
Sulaiman bin Harb narrated to us that Hammad (bin Zaid) told us. He narrated from Ayyub (Sakhtiyani), Ayyub from Nafi', Nafi' from Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra), Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) from the Prophet (saw). He said: “Your example and the example of the Jews and the Christians is that of a man who employed some labourers and said: Who will work for me from morning until midday for one Qirat? Then the Jews worked. Then he said: Who will work from midday until the Asr Prayer for one Qirat? So the Christians worked. Then he said: Who will work for me from Asr until sunset for two Qirats? So it is you (who did this work). Thereupon the Jews and the Christians became angry and began to say: It is strange that we are the ones who work more, yet we get less wage. Then that man said: Have I given you anything less than your due? They said: No. He said: This is my favour; I give it to whom I please.”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2269
Isma'il bin Abi Uwais narrated to us. He said: Malik told me that he narrated from Abdullah bin Dinar, the freed slave of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra), and he from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar bin Khattab (ra), that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Your example and that of the Jews and the Christians is that of the man who employed labourers and said: Who will work for me until midday for one Qirat? So the Jews worked for one Qirat each. Then the Christians also worked (until the Asr Prayer) for one Qirat each. After that, you are the people who are working from the Asr Prayer until sunset for two Qirats each. Thereupon the Jews and the Christians became angry and began to say: We did more work and got less wage. Then that man said: Have I reduced anything of your due? They said: No. (Thereupon) he said: This is my favour; I give it to whom I please.”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2270
Yusuf bin Muhammad narrated to us, he said: Yahya bin Sulaim told me. He narrated from Isma'il bin Umayyah, Isma'il from Sa'id bin Abi Sa'id, he from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra), Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) from the Prophet (saw). He said: “Allah, the Exalted, says: ‘There are three persons whose adversary I shall be on the Day of Resurrection. One, the person who made a covenant in My name and then acted treacherously; and one, the person who seized a free man, sold him and consumed his price; and one, the person who hired a labourer, took the full work from him and did not give him his wage.’”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2271
Muhammad bin Ala' narrated to us that Abu Usamah told us. He narrated from Buraid (bin Abdullah), Buraid from Abu Burdah, Abu Burdah from Hazrat Abu Musa (ra), he from the Prophet (saw). He said: “The example of the Muslims, the Jews and the Christians is like that of a man who employed some people for a fixed wage to work for him the whole day. They worked until midday and began to say: We have no need of this wage of yours which you fixed with us, and what we have done has gone to waste. He said to them: Do not do so. Complete the rest of your work as well and take your wage in full. They did not agree and left (the work). Then after them he employed two other labourers and said to them: Work for the rest of the day today, and you will get the same wage that I had fixed with them. They worked. When the time of the Asr Prayer came, they said: What we have worked for you has gone to waste, and let this wage you have fixed for us also remain for you. He said: Complete your remaining work, for what is left of the day now is only a little. They did not agree, and he employed some other people on wages to work for him for the rest of the day. So they worked for the rest of the day until the sun set, and they took the wage of both parties in full. So this is the example of them and of the light which they have accepted.”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2272
Abul Yaman narrated to us that Shu'aib told us. He narrated from Zuhri. (Zuhri said:) Salim bin Abdullah told me that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw). He (saw) used to say: “Of the people who were before you, three men set out on a journey, until they entered a cave to spend the night. A great rock of the mountain fell from above and shut them in the cave. Thereupon they began to say: Nothing will save us from this rock, unless you pray to Allah invoking your good deeds (then this difficulty may be resolved). Then one of them said: O my Allah, my parents were very old, and I used to give milk to no one before them, neither to my wife and children nor to my servants. One day I went far away in search of something and returned in the evening at a time when they had gone to sleep. I milked their evening drink of milk for them but found them asleep, and I did not like to give milk to my family or to slave-girl or slave before them. I waited, the bowl in my hand, waiting for them to wake, until when it was full morning and both of them woke up, they drank the milk. O my Allah, if I did this deed for Your pleasure, then remove from us the distress we are in because of this rock. Thereupon the rock moved a little, but they could not get out of the cave.” The Prophet (saw) said: “The second said: O my Allah, I had a cousin, the daughter of my paternal uncle, who was very dear to me. I wanted to seduce her, but she kept avoiding me, until she was struck by a year of famine and came to me. I gave her one hundred and twenty gold coins on condition that she meet me in private. She did so, until when she was fully in my power, she began to say: I do not make it lawful for you to break this seal without its rightful claim. Thereupon I considered it a sin to have intercourse with her and moved away from her, although she was dearer to me than all people, and I also left with her the gold coins I had given her. O my Allah, if I did this deed for Your pleasure, then remove from us the distress we are in. Thereupon the rock moved a little more, but still they were not able to get out of the cave.” The Prophet (saw) said: “The third said: O my Allah, I employed some labourers and gave them their wages, except one man who went away leaving his wage. I put his wage to work until much wealth came from it. Then after some time he came to me and said: O servant of Allah, give me my wage. I said to him: All these camels, cows, goats and slaves that you see are your wage. He said: O servant of Allah, do not mock me. I said: I am not mocking you. Then he took all the things, drove them away and left nothing of it. O my Allah, if I did this deed for Your pleasure, then remove from us the distress we are in. Thereupon the rock moved away (from them even further), until they came out and went on their way.”
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2273
Sa'id bin Yahya bin Sa'id Qurashi told me that my father narrated to us. A'mash told us. He narrated from Shaqiq, Shaqiq from Hazrat Abu Mas'ud Ansari (ra). He said: When the Messenger of Allah (saw) commanded us to give charity (Sadaqah), one of us would go to the market and work as a labourer, and in this way would earn one Mudd (of grain) (with which he gave charity), and now some of them have a hundred thousand (Dirhams) each. (Shaqiq) said: We think that (Hazrat Abu Mas'ud (ra)) was referring to himself.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2274
Musaddad narrated to us, (he said) that Abdul Wahid (bin Ziyad) narrated to us that Ma'mar told us. He narrated from Ibn Tawus, he from his father, his father from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra). (He said:) The Prophet (saw) forbade going ahead to meet the caravan (and said): “A town-dweller should not sell for one from outside.” I said: O Ibn Abbas, what is the meaning of this saying of the Holy Prophet (saw) that a town-dweller should not sell for one from outside? He said: It means that he should not become his broker.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2275
Umar bin Hafs narrated to us, (he said) that my father narrated to us that A'mash told us. He narrated from Muslim (bin Subaih), Muslim from Masruq (Masruq said) that Hazrat Khabbab (bin Aratt) (ra) narrated to us. He said: I was a craftsman, and I did work for As bin Wa'il. When my wages with him had accumulated, I went to him to demand the wages. He said: By Allah, I will never give you (your wages) until you deny Muhammad (saw). I said: Look, by Allah, even if you were to die and be raised to life, even then I would not do so. He said: Shall I really be raised again after dying? I said: Yes. He said: Then there too I shall have wealth and children. Then I will pay off your debt there. Thereupon Allah, the Exalted, revealed this verse: “Hast thou then seen him who disbelieves in Our Signs, and says, ‘I shall certainly be given wealth and children?’” (Qur’an 19:78)
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2276
Abu Nu'man narrated to us that Abu Awanah told us. He narrated from Abu Bishr, Abu Bishr from Abul Mutawakkil, Abul Mutawakkil from Hazrat Abu Sa'id (Khudri) (ra). He said: Some people from among the Companions of the Prophet (saw) went on a journey (at some time). On the way they passed by one of the tribes of the Arabs and said to them: Make us your guests. But they did not make them guests. As it happened, the chief of that tribe was stung by a scorpion. They tried every remedy for him, but nothing helped. One of them said: If you go to those people who have halted here, perhaps one of them may have some cure. Thereupon they went to them and began to say: People, our chief has been stung by a scorpion. We have tried many remedies for him; no remedy has helped. Does any of you have anything? One of them said: By Allah, I do recite incantations (Ruqyah). We wanted you to make us your guests and you did not make us guests. So I too will certainly not recite an incantation for you until you fix a payment with us. At last they agreed with them on a few goats. Thereupon he began to recite over that man and blow on him, and (at the same time) went on reciting al-hamdu lillahi rabbil alamin, until the sick man became so well that it was as though his fetter had been removed, and he began to walk and had no pain left. The narrator used to say: They gave in full the wage on which they had agreed. One of the Companions said: Divide (the payment). The one who had recited the incantation began to say: The payment should not be divided until we return to the Prophet (saw) and tell him what happened. (It is proper that we go to the Holy Prophet (saw)) and find out what the Holy Prophet (saw) says about this. They came to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and related the whole incident. He (saw) asked: “How did you know that it (Surah al-Fatihah) is an incantation?” Then he said: “You did well to take the payment. Now divide it among yourselves and keep a share for me too along with you.” Then the Prophet (saw) laughed. Abu Abdullah (Imam Bukhari (rh)) said: Shu'bah said it like this: Abu Bishr narrated to us, (he said:) I heard the same from Abul Mutawakkil.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2277
Muhammad bin Yusuf narrated to us that Sufyan (bin Uyainah) told us. He narrated from Humaid Tawil, Humaid from Hazrat Anas bin Malik (ra). He said: Abu Taibah cupped the Prophet (saw), and he (saw) ordered (his agent) to give him one Sa' or two Sa' of grain, and he (saw) interceded with his masters, so they reduced his grain, or (the narrator said) his levy.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2278
Musa bin Isma'il told us. Wuhaib narrated to us that Ibn Tawus told us. He narrated from his father, and his father from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra), that he said: The Prophet (saw) had himself cupped and gave the cupper his wage.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 2279
Musaddad narrated to us that Yazid bin Zurai' told us. He narrated from Khalid, Khalid from Ikrimah, Ikrimah from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra). He said that the Prophet (saw) had himself cupped and gave the cupper his wage, and if he (saw) had considered it disliked, he would not have given it to him.
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