Story No. 137 – Prophet Muhammed (saw) and Beating the Servant
Once, a companion of Prophet Muhammed (saw) began hitting his slave. The slave kept pleading: “By Allah! Do not beat me. For Allah’s sake forgive me.” The master, however, refused to pardon him and continued to shower beatings upon him.
Some people informed Prophet Muhammed (saw) of the slave’s predicament whereupon he (saw) got up and started out towards the scene of this incident. As soon as the companion’s eyes fell upon Prophet Muhammed (saw) he stopped his beatings whereupon Prophet Muhammed (saw) said to him: “He placed you under the oath of Allah (SWT), but you refused to pardon him and now that you have set your eyes upon me, you have restrained yourself?”
The man, in order to make amends for his deplorable behaviour, said: “I now free him for the sake (and pleasure) of Allah (SWT)!”
Prophet Muhammed (saw) said: “Had you not freed him, you would have dropped face-down into the fire of Hell.”