27/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1659d — Seeking Refuge from Abuse
Treatment of slaves, and the expiation of one who slaps his slave
Hadith About Seeking Refuge and Stopping Abuse
Sahih Muslim : 1659d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1659d
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، أَبِي عَدِيٍّ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَضْرِبُ غُلاَمَهُ فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ - قَالَ - فَجَعَلَ يَضْرِبُهُ فَقَالَ أَعُوذُ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ . فَتَرَكَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَاللَّهِ لَلَّهُ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَيْهِ " . قَالَ فَأَعْتَقَهُ .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
Abu Mas'ud reported that he had been beating his slave and he had been saying: I seek refuge with Allah, but he continued beating him, whereupon he said: I seek refuge with Allah's Messenger, and he spared him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: By Allah, God has more dominance over you than you have over him (the slave). He said that he set him free.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1659dIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 56USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4089
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1659d
This Hadith about seeking refuge with Allah shows the pain of a servant being beaten and the duty of the person in power to stop. The servant first said, 'I seek refuge with Allah,' but Abu Mas'ud continued. Then the servant said, 'I seek refuge with Allah’s Messenger,' and Abu Mas'ud spared him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then gave the main warning: Allah has more dominance over Abu Mas'ud than he has over the slave. The point is not hidden. A person must not let anger, status, or control make him cruel. This report is often searched as a slave rights in Islam hadith because it teaches that the weak are not outside Allah’s care. Abu Mas'ud then set him free.
What we learn from this hadith
- A plea for refuge should not be ignored.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم reminded Abu Mas'ud of Allah’s greater power.
- Authority must be joined with mercy and fear of Allah.
- Abu Mas'ud’s action after the warning was to free the servant.
