Islam and Slavery — Page 10
10. By this teaching, it has been sought to work a change in the mentality of both the masters and the slaves. On the one hand, the masters are required to banish from their minds all ideas of self-magnification and self-aggrandisement, and on the other, the slaves have been taught self-assurance. . Thus not only was their social status raised, but they were also morally uplifted. This achieved, there was по obstacle to the working of a complete change in their circumstances and status. Similarly, there are many other traditions which show that Islam not only laid the greatest stress on the betterment of the condition of the existing slaves and on doing the utmost for their welfare and comfort, but that the real aim of the teachings of Islam on this subject was to make the slaves as civilised and as respectable as the free men, so that when emancipated they might prove useful citizens of the State. . It must also be remembered that the above teachings of. Islam about slaves were not merely commendatory; they were religious and administrative ordinances, the observance of which was rigorously enforced by the authorities, as may be seen from the following tradition :Abu Masood, one of the companions of the Holy. Prophet, who was one of those who took part in the battle of Badr, says :— “Once when I was chastising my slave for some offence of his, I heard a voice from behind me saying, 'Abu. Masood, what are you doing? But being enraged, I did