Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid said: We went to Abu Dharr (RA) (Ghifari) in Rabadha and he had a mantle over him, and his slave had one like it. We said: Abu Dharr, had you joined them together, it would have been a complete garment. Thereupon he said: There was an altercation between me and one of the persons among my brothers. His mother was a non-Arab. I reproached him for his mother. He complained against me to Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) . As I met Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) he said: Abu Dharr, you are a person who still has (in him the remnants) of the days (of Ignorance). Thereupon I said: Allah's Messenger, he who abuses (other) persons, they abuse (in return) his father and mother. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Abu Dharr, you are a person who still has (the remnants) of Ignorance in him. They (your servants and slaves) are your brothers. Allah has put them in your care, so feed them with what you eat, clothe them with what you wear. and do not burden them beyond their capacities; but if you burden them (with an unbearable burden), then help them (by sharing their extra burden).

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'awiyahh (RA) 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'awiyahh (RA) (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'awiyahh (RA) (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."

Ma'rur bin Suwaid reported: I saw Abu Dharr (RA) wearing clothes, and his slave wearing similar ones. I asked him about it, and he narrated that he had abused a person during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and he reproached him for his mother. That person came to Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and made mention of that to him. Thereupon Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: You are a person who has (remnants of) Ignorance in him. Your slaves are brothers of yours. Allah has placed them in your hand, and he who has his brother under him, he should feed him with what he eats, and dress him with what he dresses himself, and do not burden them beyond their capacities, and if you burden them, (beyond their capacities), then help them.