Kind Treatment of Servants

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“The commentators [of the Holy Quran] have mentioned an incident relating to Hazrat Ali (ra), which is that He once called out to one of his servants, but he did not respond. Hazrat Ali (ra) called him several times, but he still did not reply. After a short while, this servant coincidentally appeared before Hazrat Ali (ra), upon which Hazrat Ali (ra) asked him:

مَا‭ ‬لَكَ‭ ‬لَمْ‭ ‬تُجِبْنِي ‬‬‬ “‘What happened to you? I called you numerous times, but you did not respond to me!’ He replied:

قَالَ لِثِقَتِيْ بِحِلْمِكَ وَاَمْنٍ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ فَاسْتَحْسَنَ جَوَابَهٗ وَاَعْتَقَهٗ

“‘The fact of the matter is that I was certain of your kindness and I considered myself protected from your punishment, therefore, I did not respond to you.’ Hazrat Ali (ra) was so pleased with this reply of his that he set him free.”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 58 p. 255)

Now, if this had been a worldly person, he may have punished him for taking advantage of his kindness; however, Hazrat Ali (ra) rewarded him instead.