Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: I was beating one of my slaves when a man called out to me from behind and said: Abu Mas’ud! Be mindful, Abu Mas’ud! Be mindful. When I turned towards him, I saw that it was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: By Allah! As much power as you have over this slave, Allah Almighty has more power over you than that. Hearing this, I swore that I would never beat any slave again.