This has been mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in one of Hadith Qudsi is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 34: Sales and Trade / كتاب البيوع / Chapter 106: The sin of a person who sells a free man / باب إِثْمِ مَنْ بَاعَ حُرًّا / as Hadith 2227, given herein under:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says, 'I will be against three persons on the Day of Resurrection: -1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but he proves treacherous. -2. One who sells a free person (as a slave) and eats the price, -3. And one who employs a laborer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages.' "
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنِي بِشْرُ بْنُ مَرْحُومٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ اللَّهُ ثَلاَثَةٌ أَنَا خَصْمُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، رَجُلٌ أَعْطَى بِي ثُمَّ غَدَرَ، وَرَجُلٌ بَاعَ حُرًّا فَأَكَلَ ثَمَنَهُ، وَرَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيرًا فَاسْتَوْفَى مِنْهُ، وَلَمْ يُعْطِ أَجْرَهُ ".
This hadith highlights three categories of people whom Allah will oppose on the Day of Resurrection, emphasizing the seriousness of ethical behavior, integrity, and justice in dealing with others, particularly in matters of contracts, business, and employment. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) narrated it to underscore the gravity of fulfilling one's promises and obligations. Let’s break down each point mentioned in the hadith:
- One who makes a covenant in Allah's Name but proves treacherous: This refers to someone who swears an oath or makes a commitment, invoking Allah’s name, but later breaks their word or fails to fulfill the promise. It can apply to any agreement or contract, whether personal or professional, where a person is untrustworthy or dishonest in honoring their commitment. In Islam, trustworthiness is highly valued, and breaking an oath is considered a grave sin, especially when done in the name of Allah.
- One who sells a free person (as a slave) and eats the price: This is a reference to human trafficking, which is a severe injustice. In the past, people could become enslaved for various reasons, but the sale of a free person (i.e., someone who is not a slave) is a grave offense. This part of the hadith condemns anyone who exploits others by selling them into slavery and unjustly taking the money gained from such an act. The hadith condemns human exploitation and trafficking, highlighting the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of every individual.
- One who employs a laborer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages: This refers to someone who hires a worker to do a job but fails to pay them for their labor. In Islam, paying workers for their labor is considered a serious obligation. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warned that the rights of workers must be fulfilled promptly and fairly. Not paying someone for their work or delaying their wages is unjust and will be held against the employer in the Hereafter.
Key Messages:
- Honesty and integrity are core values in Islam, and breaking trust in contracts or promises is a serious sin.
- Exploitation of others—whether by enslaving a free person or by withholding wages—is seen as a profound moral failing.
- The hadith teaches that social justice and fair treatment of others are vital in Islam, especially in dealings that affect people's dignity, freedom, and livelihood.
On the Day of Judgment, those who commit such transgressions will face the opposition of Allah, meaning they will be held accountable for their actions, and their deeds will be judged harshly due to the grave nature of the wrongs they committed. This emphasizes the importance of fulfilling contracts, maintaining honesty, and treating others with fairness and respect.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadith e Qudsi (حدیثِ قُدسی) attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadith e Qudsi.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Source of Hadith | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith
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