Sahih Adab al-Mufrad

It is narrated from Hasan al-Basri that when a man passed away, he left behind a son and a slave. He instructed his slave regarding his son (to take care of my son). The slave did not fall short in his care and upbringing until the boy reached maturity, and then he married him off. After that, the boy said to the slave: Prepare provisions for me so that I may set out to seek knowledge. The slave prepared the provisions, and the boy went to a scholar. He acquired knowledge from the scholar, and the scholar said: When you are about to leave, inform me so that I may teach you something. The boy said: Now the time for my departure has come, so please teach me. The scholar said: Fear Allah, be patient, and do not act hastily. Hasan (al-Basri) said: In these (three pieces of advice) is found all kinds of goodness. The boy returned, and it was unlikely that he would forget these words. There were only three, after all. When he came to his area, he dismounted from his ride. Then, when he entered his house, he saw a man sleeping a little distance from his wife, and his wife was also sleeping. He said: By Allah! I cannot think of waiting in the face of this scene. He returned to his mount. When he intended to take up his sword, he remembered: Fear Allah, be patient, and do not act hastily. Then he returned and stood over the sleeping man’s head, but thought, I cannot wait in this situation, so he returned to his mount. When he intended to pick up the sword, he remembered again, then returned and stood over his head. Then the man woke up. As soon as he saw him, he rushed to embrace him, kissed him, and asked about his well-being. He said: How was it after me? He replied: After you, it was very good, by Allah, very good, for that night I ran three times between the sword and your head, but the knowledge I had acquired stood in the way. (This man who was sleeping was his father’s freed slave, whom he did not recognize while he was sleeping, but when he woke up, he recognized him.)