The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 185
V - Conduct of the Holy Prophet sa with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery 185 This narration demonstrates that according to the instruction of the Holy Prophet sa , at times, selected Companions would act so cautiously, that the first opportunity to choose from things belonging to them was given to their slaves. Then, they would take whatever was left behind. This is the highest degree of generosity which an individual can show to someone else. Most definitely, such a level of generosity towards slaves cannot merely be for the purpose of treating them well. Rather, in this conduct, the very same far- reaching objective was in view, whereby these slaves should be made to attain the level of free people in terms of their morality and society, so that they became capable of manumission. Then, it is narrated in a Ḥadīth : ُ عَن ْ ھَمَّام ِ بْن ِ مُنََبِّه ٍ اَنَّه ُ سَمِع َ اَبَا ھُرَیْرَة َ رَضِی َ اللّٰه ُ عَنْه ُ یُحَدِّث ُ عَن ِ النَّبِی ِّ صَلَّی اللّٰه ْ ْعَلَیْه ِ و َ سَلَّم َ اَنَّه ُ قَال َ لَا یَقُل ْ اَحَدُکُم ْ اَطْعِم ْ رَبَّک َ وَضِّئ ْ رَبَّک َ اِسْق ِ رَبَّک َ وَلْیَقُل ْ سَیِّدِی مَوْلَای َ وَلَا یَقُل ْ اَحَدُکُم ْ عَبْدِی اَمَتِی ْ وَلْیَقُل ْ فَتَای َ وَفَتَاتِی ْ وَغَلاَمِی Meaning, “Abū Hurairah ra narrates that the Holy Prophet sa would state, ‘O ye Muslims! You should not say, ‘My slave, my bond-woman. ’ Rather, you should say, ‘My lad, my lass. ’ A slave should also refrain from calling his owner ‘Rabb’ i. e. , my Lord, rather, he should address him by saying, ‘My master’ or ‘My guardian. ’” 1 In this Ḥadīth , the mindset of both master and slave has been set aright. In other words, on one hand, thoughts of pride and arrogance have been effaced from the heart and mind of the Master; and on the other hand, feelings of confidence and self-respect have been instilled in the heart of the slave. Moreover, coupled with the practical and societal reformation, which has been mentioned above, this mental reform was like gold further beautified by ornament. After this, there remained no hindrance in the complete transformation of circumstances and thoughts. Similarly, there are many other Aḥādīth and Āthār 2 as well, which prove that Islām has laid very emphatic stress upon the reformation, well-being, comfort and convenience of slaves. Moreover, in this teaching, the actual objective of Islām was to bring the 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-‘Itq, Bābu Kirāhiyatit-Taṭāwuli ‘Alar-Raqīq. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 2552 2 Sayings of the Companions of the Holy Prophet sa [Publishers]