Al-Adab Al-Mufrad #171
Being a master
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ غُلاَمًا لِي، فَسَمِعْتُ مِنْ خَلْفِي صَوْتًا: اعْلَمْ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ، لَلَّهُ أَقْدَرُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ عَلَيْهِ، فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا هُوَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، فَهُوَ حُرٌّ لِوَجْهِ اللهِ، فَقَالَ: أَمَا لَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ لَمَسَّتْكَ النَّارُ أَوْ لَلَفَحَتْكَ النَّارُ.
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).'"
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About Al-Adab Al-Mufrad
This hadith is #171 from Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, in the Book of Being a master.