Treating those under our authority

كل الناس يغدو: فبائع نفسه فمعتقها أو موبقها»

"Every person starts his day as a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or causing its ruin." Muslim

"If someone has his brother under his authority, he should feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears and not burden him with anything that will be too much for him. If you burden him with what may be too much form him, then help him" Al-Adab Al-Mufrad

Man finds himself in either of the two situations, with authority or under authority and in any of these he's expected to have certain excellent behavioral qualities and good mannerism. This pertinent requirement was aptly emphasised by the Prophet of Islam 1400 years ago when he was molding the best of generations and if that was the case with those of high spiritual awareness then this generation is most deserving to inculcate this excellent virtue of kindness and humility.

In the second hadith referenced above, the Prophet (Pbuh) was admonishing a renown Companion Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (RA) on how to treat those under our authority (servants, maids, guards etc).

That we treat them (those under us) as our brothers, our equals, not to insult them, not to overburden them, not to make them inferior.

That we have others under our authority as guards, gardeners, housemaids, drivers those not make us any better. It's a test from Allaah.

There are two categories of people either pious or wretched. These could be found among those with authority and those under authority. Hence, the need to be kind and nice to those under our authority.

Ibn Hajar said all the Prophets of Allaah have the salient feature of humbleness, they were never arrogant nor proud.

In another hadith with a Saheeh Isnad recorded in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad and in al-Adab al-Mufrad of Imam Al-Bukhari the Prophet (Pbuh) said "Help the worker in his work. He that works for Allaah (i.e..the servant) will not be disappointed."

‎What an excellent Prophet we have, teaching the Muslims to help those under their authority when executing the tasks given to them.

‎Agreed, you are paying the gardner to trim the flowers, but the Prophet of Islam said it's good to help him out sometimes in trimming also.

Agreed, the housemaid is on our payroll, but the Prophet of Islam encourages that we sometimes take the vacuum cleaner and do the cleaning ourselves.

Agreed, the mason and the laborer are under our payroll, but the Prophet of Islam encourages that we sometimes help in lifting the blocks. 

Shamusu bint Nu'man al-Ansariya (RA) she said the Prophet (Pbuh) carried stones that were used to build the first masjid at Quba by himself. Reference to the Hadith by at-Tabarani.

Undoubtedly, Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is the most honorable of all Allaah's creatures yet, he didn't find it below his dignity to carry block or to help out in the construction of masjidul Quba.

The Companions (RA) would see the Prophet lifting stone for building Masjid Quba and they will come to help and instead he will ask them to go and carry a similar stone and that was how the masjid was built.

Ni'mal Abd......if the millionaire and the billionaire will not find it below his dignity to help his servant in discharging certain tasks that will overburden him.

Helping the servants under our authority will not only make us beloved to Allaah but will also introduce unequalled humility in us.

The beauty of it is that if those under your authority see you doing their work they will be more diligent and more compassionate towards you thus eliminating betrayal.

Aswad bin Yazid once asked the mother of believers Aisha (RA) about the activities of the Prophet (Pbuh) whenever he is at home and office she said, he will busy himself with household chores. ‎ 

The Prophet that journeyed beyond Jibril (AS) in al-miraj never came home with a chip on his shoulder, he was accessible, he was humble, he was kind, caring and loving.

The Prophet had thousands of Companions (RA) and servants that were ever ready to respond to his demands 24/7 yet he would mend his own clothes. 

What an excellent virtue, if sometimes the Emir or the leader and the ruler sweeps his own living room, waters his own garden, sits with the servants. It is not impossible , the Prophet did more than that. 

The lesson is: No matter how blessed materially we are, we should always be humble and treat people with kindness no matter what.

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