The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 205
V - Conduct of the Holy Prophet sa with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery 205 had developed ignobility, hard-heartedness, and other bad morals of this nature. Who knows what turn these morals would have taken and what effects they would have brought about as a result of immediate manumission. Then, the other harmful effects, which could have taken their toll on society as a result of this universal manumission are in addition to the ones previously mentioned. Hence, with the utmost wisdom, on the one hand, Islām proposed that for the future, all cruel forms of slavery were prohibited and thus brought a halt to any further expansion of this sphere (which shall become evident in the discussion hereafter). On the other hand, taking temporary circumstances into consideration, it employed practical strategies for the moral, societal and financial reformation and well-being of existing slaves. Along with this, it also proposed that as these slaves became capable of living beneficial free lives, they would definitely continue to be freed as well. In light of the circumstances at that time, it was this very true method of reformation, which could have been adopted with the greatest hope of promising results. As a matter of fact, an in-depth study of this system does not leave even an iota of doubt that this was an unparalleled system; the like of which cannot be seen in any era prior to this, nor has any nation until now been able to present such an example to the world thereafter. At this point, the doubt may arise that in the previous century many European and American reformers have appeared, who as if, devoted their entire lives to the liberation movement of slaves and due to their endeavours, the system of slavery was abolished all together from most countries of the world; for example, Abraham Lincoln, who in his time was President of the United States, granted freedom to hundreds and thousands of black slaves at once, and no negative result came about due to this immediate and universal manumission; as a matter of fact this service of Abraham Lincoln is looked upon with great approval. Firstly, the answer is that there is a difference of heaven and earth between the circumstances of fourteen hundred years ago and today. Furthermore, this teaching of Islām regarding the gradual manumission of the slaves of that era was in light of the circumstances of that era, and the permanent teaching of Islām in this respect was something else, which shall be mentioned ahead; therefore, logically this comparison cannot be deemed correct in any case. Hence, in the circumstances of this era, if immediate and universal manumission did not prove to be harmful, this does not categorically substantiate that this practice would also not