The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 195
V - Conduct of the Holy Prophet sa with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery 195 respect, Islām proposed the ingenious system known as Mukātabat. Under this system, the master was obliged to free his slave on the condition that he had become capable of manumission and generated a reasonable amount to pay for his own freedom. This amount was to be decided upon according to the circumstances of the slave, the identification of which rested with the government or judiciary and not in the hands of the master. As such, Allāh the Exalted states: Meaning, “O ye Muslims! From among your slaves, such as desire a deed of manumission in writing, it is your obligation to settle an agreement of Mukātabat with them and free them, on the condition that they have become capable of manumission. Moreover, it is also your obligation to give them a portion of this wealth, which actually belongs to God, but He has bestowed it upon you as a result of Mukātabat. ” 1 This verse serves as the foundation stone of the compulsory system of manumission. Although the words are very brief, the meanings contained therein are immensely vast and outstandingly forceful. In this verse, Muslims have been commanded that such slaves as desire to settle an agreement of Mukātabat with them in order to secure manumission, it is their obligation to release them on the condition that they have become capable of freedom. An agreement of Mukātabat refers to the settlement between a slave and his master, that if the slave pays a certain amount to his master, he shall be deemed free. The method of this was that after an agreement of this nature had been made the slave would practically be released. However, in this state of half-freedom, the slave would take up work or a profession in commerce, trade and skill, agriculture or labour, etc. , and endeavour to pay the amount settled in the agreement of Mukātabat. When this amount was fully paid, that person would be considered as being free completely. Furthermore, although this amount of Mukātabat was considered to be under the full control of the master, it was still his obligation to give an appropriate share to the slave as 1 An-Nūr (24:34)