Islam and Slavery — Page 5
THE HOLY PROPHET'S TEACHINGS ABOUT THE. EXISTING SLAVES. The Quran says :“And do good to the parents and other relations- and the orphans and the needy and what your right hands possess (i. e. , slaves) for Allah loves not those who are proud and boastful. " (¹). In this verse Muslims are enjoined to be kind to slaves and do good to them. . Again :i "And marry not idolatrous women till they believe for a believing bondwoman is better than an idolatrous woman though she may please you. Nor give believing free women in marriage to idolatrous men till they believe, for a believing slave is better than an idolatrous free man though he may please you. " (2). In this verse, not only the status of slaves has been raised, but a door has been opened for inter-marriages between free Muslim men and believing bondwomen and free Muslim women and believing slaves, so that by intermixing on terms of equality the condition of the slaves may ¿quickly improve. . And again :"You may marry women whomsoever you please up to (1) 4:37. (2) 2:222.