The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 45
II - Brief Note on Islāmic Equality 45 اَنَّه ُ نَھَی اَن ْ یُّقَام َ الرَّجُل ُ مِن ْ مَجْلِسِه ٖ وَیُجْلَس ُ فِیْه ِ اٰخَر ُ وَلٰكِن ْ تَفَسَّحُوْا وَتَوَسَّعُوْا “The Holy Prophet sa forbade that an individual be moved, so that another individual may be seated in his place. He would state that if space becomes tight, and there are extra people, everyone should move together to accommodate the others. ” 1 The same principle has been upheld at the time of Ṣalāt in the mosques, where no spot is reserved for anyone. If a servant comes first, he should find space in the first row and if a master comes later, he should sit in the last row. Hence, in the house of God, the rich and poor, master and servant, ruler and subject, powerful and weak are all equal, and no distinction is made. So was the state of the assemblies of the Holy Prophet sa , wherein the Holy Prophet sa would sit and mix with his companions in such a manner, that sometimes it would be difficult for a stranger to ascertain and recognise who the Holy Prophet sa was and where he was seated. 2 Relations Between a Master and Servant The question of the relationship between a master and servant is also an important question. However, since a fundamental discussion has occurred in the Second Volume of this book on the issue of slavery, an elaborate note is not required here. It is sufficient to indicate that in order to improve the condition between masters and slaves, Islām has also issued very emphatic guidelines. For example, in order to make masters vigilant, the Holy Prophet sa fundamentally stated: ٖ كُم ْ مَسْئُوْل ٌ عَن ْ رَّعِیَّتِه ُّ كُلُّكُم ْ رَاع ٍ وَكُل “Every individual from among you is a master or superior officer to various others in one form or another. Hence, every individual should remain vigilant because he shall be questioned about his subjects. ” 3 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Isti’zān, Idhā Qīla Lakum Tafassaḥū Fil-Majālisi. . . , Ḥadīth No. 6270 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Ansār, Bābu Hijratin-Nabiyyi sa Wa Aṣḥābihi Ilal-Madīnah, Ḥadīth No. 3960 3 * Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābul-Imārah, Bābu Faḍīlatil-Imāmil-‘Ādili Wa ‘Uqūbatil-Jā’iri. . . , Ḥadīth No 4724 * Musnad, By Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal, Volume 2, p. 350, Musnadu ‘Abdillāh-ibni ‘Umar-abnil- Khaṭṭāb, Ḥadīth No. 5162, ‘Ālimul-Kutub, Beirut (1998)