Islam and Slavery — Page 12
EMANCIPATION OF THE EXISTING SLAVES. NOW we come to the question which deals with the emancipation of the existing slaves and formed the main objective of Islam and its Holy Founder in their teachings about slavery. . In order to effect the emancipation of the slaves two courses were adopted, one commendatory and the other mandatory. I will first deal with the measures which were commendatory in their nature. . First of all, when the Holy Prophet was still at Mecca and had just entered upon his career as a prophet, he received the following revelation :-"O Prophet, dost thou know what the high mountain road is, by ascending which one can reach to the height of. Divine nearness? Know that it is the freeing of a slave. " (1). Again, the Quran says:"Real virtue lies in this that one should believe in. Allah. . and should spend money out of love for. Him, on kinsmen, orphans, the poor, the wayfarers, and for the emancipation of slaves. " (2). The sayings of the Holy Prophet on this subject are equally explicit. . Abu Huraira relates that the Holy Prophet used to say, "Whoever emancipates a Muslim slave, God will grant him deliverance from the fire of Hell, limb for limb. ” (3) (1) Quran, 90:13,14. (2) 2:178. (3) Bukhari, Kitab Al-Iman-wa Al Nudhur.