حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّی وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ وَاللَّفْظُ لِابْنِ الْمُثَنَّی قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ وَاصِلٍ الْأَحْدَبِ عَنْ الْمَعْرُورِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ وَعَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ وَعَلَی غُلَامِهِ مِثْلُهَا فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِکَ قَالَ فَذَکَرَ أَنَّهُ سَابَّ رَجُلًا عَلَی عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَعَيَّرَهُ بِأُمِّهِ قَالَ فَأَتَی الرَّجُلُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَکَرَ ذَلِکَ لَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّکَ امْرُؤٌ فِيکَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ إِخْوَانُکُمْ وَخَوَلُکُمْ جَعَلَهُمْ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيکُمْ فَمَنْ کَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدَيْهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْکُلُ وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ وَلَا تُکَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ فَإِنْ کَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ فَأَعِينُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ
صحیح مسلم · Hadith 4315
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A'mash but with a slight variation of words, e. g. in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Zuhair and Abu Mu'awiya after his words (these words of the Holy Prophet): You are a person having the remnants of Ignorance in him. (these words also occur, that Abu Dharr) said: Even up to this time of my old age? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. In the tradition transmitted on the authority of Abu Mu'awiya (the words are): Yes, in this time of your old age. In the tradition transmitted on the authority of 'Isa (the words are): If you burden him (with an unbearable burden), you should sell him (and get another slave who can easily undertake this burden). In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Zuhair (the words are): Help him in that (work). In the hadith transmitted by Abu Mu'awiya (separately) there is no such word: Then sell him or help him. This hadith concludes with these words: Do not burden him beyond his capacity.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020