The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 199
V - Conduct of the Holy Prophet sa with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery 199 Meaning, “‘Ā’ishah ra relates that the Holy Prophet sa would state, ‘If a freed slave died without heirs, his wealth shall be inherited by his previous master. ’ 1 Ibni ‘Abbās ra relates that on one occasion a person died without heirs. Albeit, a freed slave who once belonged to him was alive. The Holy Prophet sa granted his inheritance to his freed slave. ” 2 The foundation of this right of inheritance was not based on monetary or economic reasons. Rather, the actual desire was to maintain a relationship between a master and his freed slave. For this reason, the Holy Prophet sa issued the order that this right of inheritance could not be put up for sale or given as a gift, etc. , As such, Ibni ‘Umar ra relates: ٖ نَھٰی رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ عَن ْ بَیْع ِ الْوَلَاء ِ وَعَن ْ ھِبَتِه Meaning, “The Holy Prophet sa prohibited the buying and selling, or gifting, etc. , of the right of inheritance between a freed slave and his master. ” 3 Then, in order to establish the dignity and honour of freed slaves, it is mentioned in a Ḥadīth : عَن ْ عَائِذ ِ بْن ِ عَمْرٍو اَن َّ اَبَا سُفْیَان َ اَتی ٰ عَلی ٰ سَلْمَان َ وَصُھَیْب ٍ وَبِلَال ٍ فِی ْ نَفَر ٍ فَقَالُوْا َ وَاللّٰه ِ مَا اَخَذَت ْ سُیُوْف ُ اللّٰه ِ مِن ْ عُنُق ِ عَدُو ِّ اللّٰه ِ مَاٴْخَذَھَا قَال َ فَقَال َ اَبُو ْ بَكْر ٍ اَتَقُوْلُوْن ٍ ھٰذَا لِشَیْخ ِ قُرَیْش ٍ وَسَیِّدِھِم ْ فَاٴَتَی النَّبِی َّ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ فَاَخْبَرْه ٗ فَقَال َ یَا اَبَا بَكْر ٗ أغْضَبْتَھُم ْ لَقَد ْ اَغْضَبْت َ رَبَّك َ فَاَتَاھُم ْ اَبُو ْ بَكْر ٍ فَقَال َ یَا اِخْوَتَاه ا َ لَعَلَّك َ اَغْضَبْتَھُم ْ لَئِن ْ كُنْت ْ اٴَغَضَبْتُكُم ْ قَالُوْا لَا یَغْفِر ُ اللّٰه ُ لَك َ یَا اَخِی Meaning, “On one occasion, Salmān ra , Ṣuhaib ra and Bilāl ra , etc. , who were freed slaves, were sitting somewhere. Abū Sufyān ra happened to pass by and they said, ‘This enemy of God was saved from the sword of Allāh. ’ When Ḥaḍrat 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Farā’iḍ, Bābul-Walā’i Limani‘taqa. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 6751 2 * Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābul-Farā’iḍ, Bābu Fī Mīrāthil-Maulal-Asfal, Ḥadīth No. 2106 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Farā’iḍ, Bābu Fī Mīrāthi Dhawil-Arḥām, Ḥadīth No. 2905 * Sunanu Ibni Mājah, Kitābul-Farā’iḍ, Bābu Man-Lā Wāritha Lahū, Ḥadīth No. 2741 3 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-‘Itq, Bābu Bai‘il-Walā’i Wa Hibatihī, Ḥadīth No. 2535