Al-Hasan reported that a man ordered one of his slaves to draw
water using one of his camels and the man fell asleep. The master came
with a torch and put it in his face and the slave fell into the well. In
the morning, the slave went to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and 'Umar saw what
had happened to his slave and therefore 'Umar set him free."
'Amra reported that 'A'isha had made one of her slavegirls a mudabbar
(one who would be set free after her death). Then 'A'isha became ill and
her nephews consulted a gypsy doctor. He said, "You are asking me for information
about a bewitched woman. A slavegirl of hers has bewitched her." 'A'isha
was told and asked the girl, "Have you put a spell on me?" "Yes," she replied.
"Why?' she asked. "Because you will never free me," she answered. Then
'A'isha said, "Sell her to the worst masters among the Arabs."
Abu'd-Darda' used to say to people. "We know you better than the
veterinarian knows his animals. We recognise the best of you from the worst
of you. The best of you is the one whose good is hoped for and the one
whose evil you are safe from. As for the worst of you, that is the person
whose good is not hoped for and whose evil you are not safe from and he
does not free slaves."
