(238) Chapter: The Merit of the Dutiful Slave

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The faithful and diligent slave will have a double reward." (Abu Hurairah added:) By Him in Whose Hand the soul of Abu Hurairah is! but for Jihad in the Cause of Allah, and Hajj and kindness to my mother, I would have preferred to die as a slave.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: "Muslih'' translated here as "faithful'' is that slave who is a well-wisher of his master and a devout worshipper of Allah. When a person is a slave he can neither take part in Jihad on his own nor perform Hajj nor serve his parents because he is bound by the will of his master. What Abu Hurairah has stated here is that had it not been of the excellence of Jihad, Hajj and righteousness to the parents, he would have liked to be a slave because then he would have got double reward promised by the Prophet (PBUH).