[Machine] While I was hitting a young boy of mine, I heard a voice from behind me say, "Ibn Mas'ood, know, Ibn Mas'ood, know." I turned around and behold, it was the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who said, "By Allah, Allah has more power over you than you have over this (boy) in his current state." So, I swore that I would never hit a slave of mine ever again.
بَيْنَمَا أَنَا أَضْرِبُ غُلَامًا لِي إِذْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا مِنْ وَرَائِي «اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ» ثَلَاثًا فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «وَاللهِ لَلَّهُ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَالِ» فَحَلَفْتُ أنْ لَا أَضْرِبَ مَمْلُوكًا لِي أَبَدًا