By G .M. Shakir (Advocate)
A thorough study of the pious life of the prophet (SAW) will reveal in ambiguous terms his extra ordinary success in every field of life .He was best military general, a good administrator, a successful teacher .Though, basically, sent for the development of moral and spiritual life to highest perfection, he never advised the people to do such acts as were common at that time for spiritual and moral development. He did not favour leaving the world but despised that act. Instead he recommended to achieve, by legal ways all the comforts of mundane life .Though peace loving and merciful in nature, he never shirked the war, When thrust upon him and when peace was offered he never miss it .Very forgiving in his personal matters, but very strict in enforcement of law and justice. Instance in history are many when a person attained heights in a particular field of life but who so ever reached on the zenith of success in one field, almost could achieve nothing in other fields of life .A good warrior can not and has never been a successful administer.
It is only the Prophet (SAW) who proved successful in all fields .He was reformer and introduced the reforms in all the fields. All the leaders in this world seem desirous of having their followers’ men of rank and wealth so that their ideas and reforms are implemented. However, the prophet (SAW) had different angle for the reformation .The prophet (SAW) had a always taken care of the down trodden and weaker section of society, be those the women, orphans or slaves Throughout the world the slaves had deteriorating condition as renders a person stunned and even the strongest heart feels pity on their inhuman conditions. They were kept in such chains and their ankles bled, and they were treated like the beasts of burden. They had no right to enjoy the life as human beings, had no privilege of getting married. Their used to be collars of iron in their necks whereby they were recognized. They were flogged mercilessly and their master had a right even to kill them .The so called most civilized country, Greek, was centre of persecution and torture to these ill fated persons. The Greek were of the opinion that the all human beings through out the world were born for their service and the slavery and the Greeks are born masters .In some countries there was a particular section whose condition was worst than these slaves of a particular person. This situation was in Iranian tenants/ tillers. Who does not know the caste system of India where Sudras were treated like animals. Even in some cases they had worse position than animals. These were not slaves of any person or persons but of a particular community as a whole.
The attitude of prophet (SAW) towards slaves was entirely different ,he had affection of father for the Zaid R.A Who had been purchased by Hazrat Khaditija R.A. for the Prophets (SAW).He was treated by his master with such generosity and kindness that when his father and uncle came to Prophet (SAW) to secure his freedom by praying the ransom. The Prophet (SAW) permitted him to choose either to live with his master or father. The man showed his desire of not departing form the Prophet (SAW) and remained according to his wishes with the Master (SAW). The Arabs had a great pride of being free and tribal prejudice was order of the day. the Quraish were more proud and boasted on being the Administrator of the affairs of Kaaba.This pride of being superior and free is manifested in the dialogue of Abu Jehal with Abu Bukhtari .In the battle field of Badar.Abul Bukhatari asked Abu Jehal as to what did he thought about his nephew. Abu Jehal replied that whatever is taught and spoken by the Prophet (SAW) is no doubt, correct. At the same time it was not possible for him to sit with Bilal (R.A).So the shrewd Abu Jehal had no objection in accepting Islam but he considered it below dignity to mix with the slaves. In such circumstances the Prophet (SAW) gave one more serious blow to the institution of slavery through Hazrat Zaid R.A .Though H.Zaid (RA) had been freed by the Prophet (SAW) and taken as adopted son, still he did not get the respect of free man.
The Prophet (SAW) got his marriage arranged with a noble lady of Quraish tribe. This lady, Zainab (RA). was a close relative of Prophet (SAW) besides of being good repute. She at fist did assent to this marriage but Quran directed her to abide by the decision of Prophet (saw).She did marry but the prejudice of being from Quraish and that too free lady on the one hand and the Zaid (RA) being from other tribe and a freed slave was still in her. In consequences the relation got strained by and by and finally Zaid divorced the lady. However, it was practically taught, by this marriage, that Islam does not admit any difference between slave and free person.. His son Usama R.A was made commander in the expedition by Abu Baker R.A and none of the companions R.A showed resentment against such appointment and worked under son of a slave happily with out feeling it below their dignity. The noblest duty of calling for prayers was discharged by the Negro slave Syedna Bilal R.A).He was also discharging he duties of central treasury officer at Medina, for some time. Hazrat Umar (RA) stood up when ever Bilal came and called him Syedi and Moulayi. Hazrat Umar gave his daughter in marriage to him. All the discrimination between slave and master were removed and they enjoyed equal status so far as duties and rights are concerned. It was also held that deeds conferred the nobleness before Allah, and not freedom. They were not allowed, throughout the world to marry, The Prophet (SAW) granted them the right to have a family. It also directed not to call the slaves any degrading name, but to refer them with the words “my young man”. The Prophet (SAW) emphasized to treat them nicely. In ceremony of last Hajj he said “Your slaves, your slaves, what you eat your selves, give them same thing to eat and dress them as you dress your selves”. What more could be done or said for improving their condition at the time, when whole of the world was treating them one degree below animals.
The institution of slavery has been in existence from the times immemorial, so it was not possible to eradicate the undesired institution at once. Had such been done, it would have resulted in many social and economical problems. So Prophet (SAW) adopted the course of curbing this evil by and by. On the one hand different treatment in slave and freed person in the society was eliminated. On the other hand granting freedom to slaves was held best and noblest act. Poor due which is obligatory is deemed to have been paid if spent for emancipation of slaves. Quran provide, among other heads it may also been utilized for the head of emancipation of slaves. For some deviations/wrongs freedom of slaves was held expaiation.In case of certain acts freedom of slaves was held alternative expiation and in some cases it was primary. In case of human slaughtering, injurious comparison and deliberately breaking the fasts it has been declared expiation. This reason of such expiation was only to urge the people to free slaves. The slaves were provided legal means and right to get free dome by paying some amount to their master. In case they had no means their service could also be consideration for their freedom. A slave could make agreement with his master to pay him the agreed amount of future employment and get the freedom immediately. In case of breaking the oath one had to pay his expiation and to provide freedom to a slave is one of the forms to pay the expaiation.The trade in slaves was forbidden .All these majors are sufficient to free the slave and eradicating the most disastrous institution in the world .Mr. Joseph Thompson, the well known African traveler, in a letter to London times of the 14th Nov.1887,thus writing on the subject of slavery in east Africa “I unhesitatingly affirm ,and I speak from a wider experience of eastern central Africa than any of your correspondents possess that if the slave trade thrives, it is because Islam has not been introduced in these regions and for the strongest of all reasons, that the spread of Mohammadism would have meant the concomitant suppression of the slave trade”. What has been written by the above correspondent is not fully making us aware of the attitude of Islam towards the slaves. For close and thorough knowledge of attitude of Islam towards slaves has fully been explained by M.K. Gandhi as has been quoted by Prof. Ramakrishna Rao “Some one has said that Europeans in South Africa dread the advent Islam. Islam that civilized Spain, Islam that took the torch light to Morocco and preached the world the Gospel of brotherhood. The Europeans of South Africa dread the Advent of Islam. They may claim equality with the white races. They may well dread it, if brother hood is a sin .If it is equality of colored races then dread is well founded.
