27/30. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1948 — Allah Has More Power
What Has Been Related About Beating And Abusing The Servant
Hadith About Beating a Slave and Remembering Allah’s Power
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1948
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1948
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُؤَمَّلٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ مَمْلُوكًا لِي فَسَمِعْتُ قَائِلاً مِنْ خَلْفِي يَقُولُ " اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ " . فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لَلَّهُ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَيْهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ فَمَا ضَرَبْتُ مَمْلُوكًا لِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ التَّيْمِيُّ هُوَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ .
Abu Mas'ud Narrated from:
I Was Beating A Slave Of Mine And I Heard Someone Behind Me Saying: 'Beware O Abu Mas'Ud! Beware O Abu Mas'Ud!' So I Turned Around And Saw That It Was The Messenger Of Allah. He Said: 'Allah Has More Power Over You Than You Do Over Him. Abu Mas'Ud Said: "I Have Not Beaten Any Slave Of Mine Since Then."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1948In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 54English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1948
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1948
This Hadith about beating a slave shows how the Prophet corrected misuse of power. Abu Masud said he was beating a slave when he heard someone behind him saying, “Beware O Abu Masud.” When he turned, he saw it was the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet told him that Allah had more power over him than he had over the slave. Abu Masud then said he did not beat any slave after that. The message is direct: a person who has power over someone should remember that Allah has greater power over him. This reminder can stop harsh behavior and bring a person back to fear of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Power over another person should make someone remember Allah’s greater power.
- The Prophet corrected harsh treatment when he saw it.
- Abu Masud changed his behavior after receiving the reminder.
- Remembering accountability can help a person stop wrongful force.
