Hadith 3414

(2) The statement: He is not to be tasked with work except what he can bear: This indicates the prohibition of tasking slaves with work beyond their capacity, and this is agreed upon. [Nayl Al-Awtar]

(3) The statement: Let him feed him from what he eats, etc.: An-Nawawi said: The command to feed them from what the master eats and clothe them similarly is understood as recommended. The master is obligated to provide maintenance and clothing for the slave in a reasonable manner according to the customs of the land and individuals, whether it is of the same type as the master’s maintenance and clothing, lesser, or greater. If the master restricts his own maintenance, whether out of asceticism or miserliness, beyond the custom of his peers, it is not permissible to restrict the slave similarly or compel him to conform unless he agrees. Ibn Al-Humam said: The intent is the type of what they eat and wear, not the exact same, so if he wears fine linen or cotton, it suffices to clothe him with ordinary linen or cotton, unlike clothing him with rags. It is not inherited from the companions that they clothed them exactly the same except in rare cases. [Al-Marqah] It is stated in At-Tawdih: Equalizing in food and clothing is recommended, as agreed by scholars. If the master eats superior food and wears fine clothing, he is not obligated to equalize his slave in it. Ash-Shawkani said regarding the Hadith of one or two morsels: This indicates that it is not obligatory to feed the slave from the same type as the master eats, but he should hand him enough to fill his mouth for the stated reason, which is handling its heat and preparation, and give him what suffices from any food he prefers according to custom, as previously established by consensus, though sharing is preferable.