Islam and Slavery — Page 15
15 be noted, however, that wherever the emancipation of slaves has been mentioned, the Quran has made it a point to add the words, "If any of them does not find a slave,” which shows that Islam really aimed at the total emancipation of slaves and visualised the day when slavery would be extinct. On the other hand, when, in Chapter LVIII, it speaks of two months' fasts the words added are: "If he is not able to do that. " These words when contrasted with those added in the case of slaves leave no doubt as to the fact that the ultimate object of Islam was to effect the total emarcipation of the existing slaves. . A general injunction of the Holy Prophet about the emancipation of slaves is also contained in the following tradition : "Asma, daughter of Abu Bakar (first Successor of the. Holy Prophet). reports that the Holy Prophet ordered the setting free of slaves on the occasion of solar eclipses. " (1). Now we take the system of mandatory compulsory emancipation. Islam prescribes various ways for this purpose. 1. Suwaid, a companion of the Holy Prophet, relates as follows :: "We were seven brothers and had a slave common to us all. One of us once became angry with him and getting out of temper gave him a slap on his face. . The Holy. Prophet came to know of this and ordered us immediately to set the slave free. ” (2) (1) Bukhari, Kitab Al-Itq. (2) Muslim, Kitab Al-Iman.