A Letter to a Dear One — Page 50
50 Letter to a Dear One It should be remembered that in Islam there is only one way to make slaves. It is when a nation oppresses a people from accepting Islam or forces them to forsake Islam and a war is waged against them for the freedom of conscience. If there are any prisoners taken in such a war and their people are not able to pay ransom or recompense for them to free them, in that case these prisoners can be made slaves. As they had tried to put others in spiritual slavery, they are thus put in physical slavery. However, it has happened many a time that such slaves, having lived among Muslims, accepted Islam, and the light that they had tried to take away from others brightened their hearts and minds and became the cause for their eternal freedom. The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was always prepared and eager to help orphans, widows and the needy. If he noticed a slave was made to do hard labor, which was beyond him, he would always lend him a helping hand. Such episodes took place in Mecca. Once in Medina, the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was the ruler and had commanded against such matters. The Promised Messiah, ‘alaihissal ā m, has presented this aspect of Hudur’s [Holy Prophet Muhammad, ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam] character wonderfully: He was the master, yet he served the weak; he was the monarch, yet he helped the helpless. The Holy Prophet as a Ruler After his claim to Prophethood, the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions were much persecuted in Mecca. However, he did not ever make any plans against the system of government that prevailed in Mecca or sought a way to challenge it. When he arrived in Medina, the Muslims, Jews and the hypocrites acknowledged the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as their leader. Gradually the hypocrites of Medina accepted Islam. Thus only Muslims and Jews were left in Medina. Later on the Jews conspired and were treacherous and were exiled from Medina. Some were even given capital punishment. However, as long as they resided in Medina they inflicted all kinds of troubles on the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and the Muslims. The Quraish of Mecca and various other tribes of hypocrite Arabs were in constant preparation of war or were