She replied...

She replied, "My master sent me with two dirhams to buy something for him, but I have lost those two dirhams ." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) gave her two dirhams from his money and continued towards the market with only six dirhams . There he bought a shirt four dirhams and then headed for home.

On his way, he saw an emaciated, old man crying, sitting unclothed, saying, "Whoever clothes me, may God clothe him with heavenly clothing." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), upon seeing this, clothed him with the shirt he had bought and once again headed for the market. There he bought a shirt for two dirhams. On his way home, once again, he saw the same female slave. She was sitting and crying.

He (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) asked, "What happened?" She replied, "I bought that which I was supposed to buy, but I am afraid I will be punished for being late." The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) told her, "Show me the way to your house." He followed her until they arrived at the house of one of the Helpers. The men were absent and only the women were at home.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) greeted them from behind the door saying, " As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (may peace, mercy and blessings be upon you)." The women recognized the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) voice but did not reply to him until he said so three times.

At that point they said, " wa 'alaykumus-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh , may our parents be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of God." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) asked them, "Did you not hear my voice?" They said, "Yes, we did, but we wanted you to greet us and our children with peace ( salam ) many times." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, "Your female slave is late and she is afraid of your punishment.

For my sake, do not punish her." They said, all together, "We have accepted your intercession, forgiven her punishment and, due to your blessed footsteps, we have freed her." The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) turned back and said, "I have never seen eight dirhams more blessed than these.