Islam and Slavery — Page 22
THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM ABOUT. EMANCIPATED SLAVES. SIDE by side with the scheme for the emancipation of slaves. it was also kept in view that even after emancipation, the freed slaves should not remain without support and helpers. Accordingly, the Holy Prophet (may peace and the blessings of God be upon him!) established a sort of brotherly relationship between the freed slaves and his former master. They were to be called each other's Maula i. e. , friend or helper. This was done that there might exist a feeling between the two that they were friends to each other and that they were to stand by each other in times of need. . It was with this end in view that both the emancipated slave and his former master were also given the right of inheriting each other. If the emancipated slave slave died without any other heir, his property was inherited by his late master; similarly, if the latter died without any other heir his property went to the former. . In this connection the following traditions may be quoted: "Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet used to say, that if any emancipated slave died heirless, his property was to go to his late master. " (1) Similarly, "Ibn Abbas relates that a man died in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet leaving no heir other than a slave whom he had emancipated. (1) Bukhari, Kitab Al-Itq.