Islam and Slavery — Page 9
9 this subject were faithfully acted upon by his devoted companions, so much so, that they did not tolerate the least difference even in the outward appearance of their dresses, to say nothing of any difference in their real quality. . Again, Abu Nawar, who was a dealer in cloth, says, "Ali, son of Abu Talib (fourth successor of the Holy. Prophet), once came to me with a slave and purchased from me two linen shirts. Then he said to his slave, 'Choose whichever of the two you please. ' The slave chose one, and Ali took the remaining one and put it on. " (¹). This shows that in obedience to the injunctions of the. Holy Prophet with regard to the treatment of slaves, his eminent companions went so far as to give their slave the right of making the first choice out of their (the masters') belongings and themselves used what was left. . This is the utmost degree of preference and priority which one can give to another. This treatment was not meant merely as an act of kindness to the slaves, but had the ulterior object of uplifting them in the social scale and bringing them on a level with the free men, so that they might prove good citizens after emancipation. . Again, Abu Huraira reports that the Holy Prophet used to say, “Let not one of you say, 'O my slave' or ‘O my bondsmaid', but let him say, 'My boy' or 'My girl'. Similarly the slaves should not address their masters as, ‘My. Lord' or 'My Master,' but simply as 'Sir'. " (2) (1) Usud Al-Ghabah. (2) Bukhari. Kitab Al-Itq.