Islam and Slavery — Page 74
74 prisons has been introduced and the opponents of Islam no longer make slaves of Muslim captives, nor distribute them among their individuals but keep them as State prisoners. . It would, therefore, be unlawful for the Muslims as well. to commit their prisoners to individual custody and thus a give their action a semblance of slavery. . I must conclude my article with the extremely beautiful. and most beloved words of the Holy Prophet, the last words spoken by him in this world of matter. Ali son of Abu. Talib, and Anas son of Malik, both eminent companions of the Holy Prophet and Ummi Salma, wife of the Holy. Prophet, report as follows :— "The last words that the Holy Prophet was heard to say, when he was in the agony of death, and his soul was fluttering to leave his mortal frame, were, 'Stick fast to the prescribed Prayers and to my injunctions with regard to slaves'. ' (¹). When the Holy Prophet spoke the above words, there were before him his devoted wives who had been the companions of his life and who had remained signally faithful to him in times of privation and hard hardship. . There also were his beloved daughter and her children and others that were near and dear to him. There, too, werc the faithful Muhajirin, the refugees from Mecca, in whose devoted companionship he had passed the troubled days of his life. The loyal Ansar, the helpers of Medina, who watered the plant of Islam with their blood, were also near (1) Ibn Majah, Abwab Al-Wasiyyat; Nasai and Mashad Ibn Hanbal as quoted by Jami Al-Saghir, vol. II, p. 42.