Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 279
279 free. Another companion relates, 'I was once about to beat a slave when I heard a voice behind me, which I could not recognize. Then I saw the Holy Prophet sa coming towards me, and exclaiming, 'O Abu Mas u d, God has far more power over thee than thou hast over this slave. ' Thereupon the whip fell from my hand out of fear, and I said, 'O, Prophet sa of God, I set this slave free in the name of God. ' The Holy Prophet sa replied, 'It is well, for if thou hadst not set him free, the fire would have scorched thy face. ' The Holy Prophet sa has said that a man should not require his servant to do that which is beyond his power to do, and that if he is set to do a heavy task, his master should help him in it. Again, he says, 'When a servant cooks food and places it before his master, the latter should invite the servant to partake of it, but if the master does not condescend so far, he should at least spare some of it for the servant, for it is he who sat before the fire to cook it. ' Concerning the wages of a servant or a labourer, he says that they must be paid before the sweat is dry on the body of the labourer. Again, he says, 'If a man fails to pay full wages to a labourer, I shall sue him on behalf of the latter on the Day of Judgment. '