Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: A Bedouin came to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Teach me an action by which I may enter Paradise. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: You have asked a brief question, but it is a great matter. In any case, free a slave completely or take part in freeing someone. He said: Are these two not the same? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No, ‘Itqun-Nasmah is that you alone free someone, and Fakkur-Raqabah is that you take part in the freedom of a slave. (Other good deeds are that) you lend a milch animal to someone, and maintain ties of kinship with your relatives, even if he is an oppressor. If you do not have the strength for this, then feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, enjoin good and forbid evil. If you do not have the strength for these matters either, then restrain your tongue from everything except good deeds.

Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is a right upon Allah to help three types of people: (1) the one who strives in the path of Allah, (2) the one who marries with the intention of maintaining chastity, and (3) the slave who has entered into a contract for his freedom and intends to fulfill it.