Al-Adab al-Mufrad

It is narrated from Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) that a man died and left behind a son and a slave. He made a bequest to his slave regarding his son. Thus, the slave did not fall short in serving the boy, until the boy grew up and the slave got him married. The boy said to the slave: Prepare some provisions for me so that I may set out to seek knowledge. The slave prepared them for him, so he went to a scholar and continued learning from him. The scholar said: When you are about to leave, let me know so I can tell you some things. The boy said: I want to leave, teach me those things. The scholar said: Fear Allah, be patient, and do not be hasty. Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) says: All kinds of goodness are contained in this. When the boy returned, he did not forget these three things. When he came to his wife, dismounted from his ride, and entered the house, he saw a man sleeping a little distance from his wife, and his wife was also asleep. He said to himself: By Allah, I do not intend to wait long in this situation. He went to his mount. When he intended to take his sword, he addressed himself and said: Fear Allah, be patient, and do not be hasty, then he returned. When he stood by their heads, he said: I cannot wait at all in this situation. So he went again to his mount, but when he intended to take the sword, he remembered his teacher’s advice. He returned again and stood by their heads, and the man woke up. When he saw the boy, he immediately got up, embraced him, kissed him, and asked: How have you been since you left me? He said: By Allah, after leaving you, I have received much goodness. What I have gained after you is that tonight I passed three times between your head and the sword, intending to kill you, but the knowledge I acquired prevented me from killing you.