3 – ʿAṭāʾ relates that several of the Prophet’s Companions ﷺ told him:

“ʿAbd Allah ibn Rawāḥah had a female shepherd who tended his sheep. He instructed her to keep a particular ewe under close watch, so she cared for it until the animal grew fat. One day the shepherdess became occupied with some of the other sheep; a wolf came, snatched the ewe, and killed it. When ʿAbd Allah arrived and found the ewe missing, the shepherdess informed him of what had happened, whereupon he slapped her. He soon regretted his action, and she went and mentioned the incident to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ considered the matter serious and said, ‘You struck the face of a believing woman!’ ʿAbd Allah replied, ‘She is a black woman who knows nothing.’ The Prophet ﷺ then sent for her and asked, ‘Where is Allah?’ She answered, ‘In the heaven.’ He asked, ‘And who am I?’ She replied, ‘The Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘She is indeed a believer; set her free.’ So he set her free.”