Sahih Muslim Book - 27, Hadith - 4306

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ - يَعْنِى ابْنَ زِيَادٍ - حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِىِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ الْبَدْرِىُّ كُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ غُلاَمًا لِى بِالسَّوْطِ فَسَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا مِنْ خَلْفِى « اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ ». فَلَمْ أَفْهَمِ الصَّوْتَ مِنَ الْغَضَبِ - قَالَ - فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنِّى إِذَا هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَإِذَا هُوَ يَقُولُ « اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ ». قَالَ فَأَلْقَيْتُ السَّوْطَ مِنْ يَدِى فَقَالَ « اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَى هَذَا الْغُلاَمِ ». قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَضْرِبُ مَمْلُوكًا بَعْدَهُ أَبَدًا.

It was narrated from Ibrahim At-Taimi that his father said: 'Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri said: "I was beating a slave of mine with a whip when I heard a voice behind me (saying): 'You should realize, Abu Mas'ud!' But I did not understand the voice because I was so angry. When he came close to me, I saw that it was the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and he was saying: 'You should realize, Abu Mas'ud! 'You should realize, Abu Mas'ud!' I threw down the whip that was in my hand and he said: 'You should realize, Abu Mas'ud, that Allah has more power over you than you have over this slave.' I said: 'I will never beat a slave again after this."'