27/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1659a — Mercy and Restraint with Servants
Treatment of slaves, and the expiation of one who slaps his slave
Hadith About Mercy to Servants and Fear of Allah’s Power
Sahih Muslim : 1659a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1659a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زِيَادٍ - حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ الْبَدْرِيُّ كُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ غُلاَمًا لِي بِالسَّوْطِ فَسَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا مِنْ خَلْفِي " اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ " . فَلَمْ أَفْهَمِ الصَّوْتَ مِنَ الْغَضَبِ - قَالَ - فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنِّي إِذَا هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِذَا هُوَ يَقُولُ " اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ " . قَالَ فَأَلْقَيْتُ السَّوْطَ مِنْ يَدِي فَقَالَ " اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَى هَذَا الْغُلاَمِ " . قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَضْرِبُ مَمْلُوكًا بَعْدَهُ أَبَدًا .
Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri Narrated from:
I was beating my slave with a whip when I heard a voice behind me: Understand, Abu Masud; but I did not recognise the voice due to intense anger. He (Abu Mas'ud) reported: As he came near me (I found) that he was the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he was saying: Bear in mind, Abu Mas'ud; bear in mind. Abu Mas'ud. He (Aba Maslad) said: threw the whip from my hand. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Bear in mind, Abu Mas'ud; verily Allah has more dominance upon you than you have upon your slave. I (then) said: I would never beat my servant in future.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1659aIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 53USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4086
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1659a
This Hadith about mercy to servants shows a strong lesson in self-control. Abu Mas'ud was beating his slave while angry, and the anger was so intense that he did not even recognize the voice behind him. When he realized it was the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, he dropped the whip. The key message is clear: a person may have power over someone under his care, but Allah has far greater power over him. This makes the Hadith a serious reminder about slave rights in Islam, fair treatment of servants, and avoiding cruelty when angry. Abu Mas'ud’s response also matters. He did not argue or delay. He said he would never beat his servant again.
What we learn from this hadith
- Anger can make a person ignore good advice, so self-control is needed.
- Having authority over someone does not remove accountability before Allah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected harsh behavior with a direct reminder of Allah’s power.
- A sincere believer should stop wrongdoing when reminded.
