The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 196
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 196 well. This system was so blessed and ingenious that such slaves as were worthy, continued to be released as a right. Moreover, since slaves were compelled to take up independent work in order to pay the amount settled in Mukātabat , and were made to bear the responsibility of a civil agreement, they also developed the ability of living a free life and becoming beneficial citizens of the country. This system of Mukātabat was not dependent on the desire of the master, rather, it was compulsory. In other words, a master did not possess the right to refuse a slave’s demand for Mukātabat. It was the task of the judiciary or government to determine whether the slave had become capable of manumission. As such, there is a narration: ُ اَن َّ سِیْرِیْن َ سَاٴَل َ اَنَسًا اَلْمُكَاتَبَة َ وَكَان َ كَثِیْر َ الْمَال ِ فَاَبی ٰ فَانْطَلَق َ اِلی ٰ عُمَر َ رَضِی َ اللّٰه ٗ عَنْه ُ فَقَال َ كَاتِبْه ُ فَاَبی ٰ فَضَرْبَه ٗ بِالدُّرَّة ِ وَیَتْلُو ْ عُمَر ُ فَكَاتِبُوْھُم ْ اِن ْ عَلِمْتُم ْ فِیْھِم ْ خَیْرًا فَكَاتَبَه Meaning, “Anas ra , who was a Companion of the Holy Prophet sa , owned a slave named Sīrīn, who desired to settle an agreement of Mukātabat with Anas ra. However, Anas ra refused thinking that he possessed much wealth and did not require the wealth of Mukātabat. Upon this, Sīrīn filed a complaint against Anas ra with Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra. Upon hearing the complaint lodged by Sīrīn, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra ordered Anas ra to accept the request for Mukātabat. However, Anas ra remained adamant upon refusal. At this, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra whipped Anas ra and recited to him the verse, ‘O ye Muslims! If your slaves desire a deed of manumission in writing, it is your obligation to settle an agreement of Mukātabat with them. ’ Upon this, Anas ra settled an agreement of Mukātabat with Sīrīn. ” 1 The basis of the obligation of Mukātabat depended on whether a slave had become capable of manumission or not. As such, Yaḥyā bin Kathīr relates: ْ قَال َ رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ فَكَاتِبُوْھُم ْ اِن ْ عَلِمْتُم ْ فِیْھِم ْ خَیْرًا قَال َ اِن ْ عَلِمْتُم ِ فِیْھِم ْ حِرْفَة ً وَلَا تُرْسِلُوْھُم ْ كَلًّا عَلَی النَّاس 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Mukātab, Bābu Ithmi Man Qadhafa Mamlūkahū / Bābul-Mukātibi Wa Nujūmihī Fī Kulli Sanatin Najmun