It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), a narrator says: Some of our elders have narrated to us that it is narrated from Ziyad, the slave of Abdullah bin Abbad, and he narrates from a Companion that a man came and sat before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have some slaves, they lie to me, betray me, and disobey me. Then I beat them and abuse them. Now, what is the matter between me and them? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Punishing them for their betrayal, disobedience, and lying—if this punishment is less than their crime, then you will have superiority over them; if this punishment is equal to their sins, then the matter will be even, there will be nothing in your favor nor against you; but if this punishment exceeds their crime, then you will be requited for the excess punishment. Hearing this, the man began to cry and wail before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: What has happened to him, has he not read the saying of Allah Almighty: {وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِینَ الْقِسْطَ لِیَوْمِ الْقِیَامَۃِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَیْئًا وَإِنْ کَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّۃٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَیْنَا بِہَا وَکَفٰی بِنَا حَاسِبِینَ} … And We shall set up just balances on the Day of Resurrection, so that no soul will be wronged in anything. And if there be (even) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as Reckoners. (Surah Al-Anbiya: 47) Hearing this, the man said: O Messenger of Allah! To me, it is better that I separate from these slaves. Now, I make you a witness that all of them are free.