Understanding Islam — Page 169
167 The slaves were dependent upon their masters for food, clothing, and shelter, and a sudden abolishment would have caused a large number of people to lose a source of income and livelihood, without there being any social safety-net in place to prevent the potential crisis which such a measure would have plunged the society into. A portion of them would then have turned to illegal ways of earning a living, and the society as a whole would have taken a moral downturn. Therefore, although Islam sought to abolish all slavery, it proceeded to do it gradually and effectively. With this goal, Islamic teachings followed two steps. First, a teaching was given that put an end to forcing a free person into becoming a slave. Second, it was taught that slaves who already existed should be treated kindly and with love so that they start to live independent lives and be gradually set free. The first teaching is expressed very strongly in the following narration: Prophet Muhammad sa said, “Allah says, ‘I will be displeased with three persons on the Day of Resurrection: (1) One who makes a covenant in My Name, but does not fulfill it; (2) One who sells a free person (as a slave) and