Mishkat al-Masabih

When I was beatinig a servant of mine I heard a voice behind me saying, “Know, Abu Mas'ud, that God has more power over you than you have over him.” On turning round and seeing that it was God’s Messenger, I said, “Messenger of God, he is free for God’s sake.” He replied, “If you had not done it the fire would have burned you,” or, “the fire would have touched you.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “I have property and my father is in need of my property.” He replied, “You and your property belong to your father. Your children are among the finest things you acquire. Eat of what your children acquire.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

On his father’s authority he said his grandfather told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “I am poor with no possessions and I have an orphan to care for.” He replied, “Eat from your orphan’s property, provided you are not extravagant, or take anything before you need it, or store up any of it.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that the Prophet was saying during his illness, “Maintain the prayer and care for your slaves.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, and Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted something similar on the authority of ‘Ali.

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq reported the Prophet as saying, “One who treats badly those under his authority will not enter paradise.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Rafi‘ b. Makith reported the Prophet as saying, “Treating those under one’s authority well produces prosperity, but an evil nature produces evil fortune.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, but only in al-Masabih have I seen the additional words, “Sadaqa guards against an evil type of death and kindness lengthens life.”

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you beats his servant and he makes mention of God, you must stop beating him.” Tirmidhi and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it, but the latter has, “he should stop” instead of “you must stop beating him.”

Abu Ayyub told of hearing God’s Messenger say, “If anyone separates a mother from her child, God will separate him from his friends on the day of resurrection.” Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

God’s Messenger presented me with two youths who were brothers, and when I sold one of them God’s Messenger asked me, “What has happened to your young man, ‘Ali?” When I told him he said, “Get him back, get him back.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said he separated a slave girl from her child, but when the Prophet forbade him to do that he cancelled the transaction. Abu Dawud transmitted it with a break in the isnad.

gentleness towards the weak, affection towards parents, and kindness to slaves.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Umama told that God’s Messenger gave ‘Ali a youth and said, “Do not beat him, for I have been prohibited from beating people who observe the prayer, and I have seen him praying.” This is the wording in al-Masabih.

In al-Mujtaba by Daraqutni ‘Umar b. al-Khattab is reported as saying, “God’s Messenger forbade us to beat people who observe the prayers.”

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that a man came to the Prophet and said, “Messenger of God, how often shall I forgive a servant?” He gave no reply, so the man repeated what he had said, but he still kept silence. When he asked a third time he replied, “Forgive him (The verb is in the plural) seventy times daily.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, but Tirmidhi transmitted it from 'Abdallah b. ‘Amr.

Abu Dharr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Feed those of your slaves who please you from what you eat and clothe them from what you clothe yourselves, but sell those who do not please you and do not punish God’s creatures.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sahl b. al-Hanzaliya told of God’s Messenger coming upon an emaciated camel and saying, “Fear God regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition and let them free when they are in good condition.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When the words of God most high came down, “Do not come near an orphan’s property except to improve it,” (Al-Qur’an 6:152) and “Those who devour unjustly the property of orphans. . .” (Al-Qur’an 4:10) those who were in charge of an orphan went and separated their food and drink from his, and if any of the orphan’s food or drink was left over they kept it for him until he ate it or it went bad. Finding that a burden, they mentioned the matter to God’s Messenger, and God most high sent down, “And they ask you about orphans. Say, to set things right for them is good, and if you intermix with them they are your brethren” (Al-Qur’an 2:220). They then mixed their food and their drink with theirs. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

Abu Musa said that God's Messenger cursed those who separated a parent from his child and a brother from his brother. Ibn Majah and Daraqutni transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that when captives were brought to the Prophet he gave families together through dislike of separating them. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Let me tell you who your evil ones are. They are those who eat alone, beat their slaves, and withhold their help.” Razin transmitted it.