Note: Al-Suyūṭī attributed the hadith to al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, and al-Ḥākim, on the authority of ʿUqbah. Al-Manāwī considered it defective on account of Bakr ibn Yūnus, and it was also attributed to al-Ṭabarānī and al-Mustadrak. However, I have not found it there except in the hadith of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, as mentioned above. And Allah knows best.
- “If a slave fulfils the right of Allah and the right of his masters, he will have two rewards.”
Muslim (5/94–95) and Aḥmad (2/252) recorded it through Abū Muʿāwiyah, from al-Aʿmash, from Abū Ṣāliḥ, from Abū Hurayrah, who traced it back to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with this wording. He then related it to Kaʿb, who said: “There will be no reckoning upon him, nor upon a believer of scant means.”
Others besides Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated it with the wording: “How excellent it is for one of them who worships his Lord well and is sincere toward his master.” Al-Bukhārī recorded it (5/134) through Abū Usāmah, from al-Aʿmash, from Abū Ṣāliḥ, from Abū Hurayrah, who traced it back to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Aḥmad also recorded it (2/390) through Isrāʾīl, from al-Aʿmash, with the wording: “How excellent it is for the slave when he fulfils the right of Allah and the right of his masters.” He added: Kaʿb said, “Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth: there will be no reckoning upon him, nor upon a believer of scant means.”
It also has another chain with the wording: “How excellent it is for a slave to die having worshipped Allah well and served his master well—how excellent for him!” Muslim recorded it (5/95) through ʿAbd al-Razzāq, who said: Maʿmar narrated to us from Hammām ibn Munabbih, from him. Aḥmad likewise recorded it (318).