Yazid ibn 'Abdullah said, "'Abdullah ibn 'Umar sent a slave of
his with some gold - or silver - and he changed it and deferred
the exchange (i.e. he changed gold into silver or vice versa and did not
take the money straightaway. This is haram.) Then he went back to Ibn 'Umar
who gave him a painful beating. He said, 'Go and take what is mine and
do not exchange it!'"
Abu Mas'ud said, "I was beating a slave of mine when I heard a
voice behind me, 'Know, Abu Mas'ud, that Allah is able to call you to account
for this slave.' I turned around and there was the Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace. I said, 'Messenger of Allah, he
is free for the sake of Allah!' He said, 'If you had not done that, the
Fire would have touched you (or the Fire would have burned you).'"
