Islam and Slavery — Page 43
THE BASIC TEACHINGS OF ISLAM ABOUT. SLAVERY. WE now come to the second part of our problem which pertains to the the question of the Holy Prophet's basic teachings with regard to slavery as such. In other words, we have now to consider what basic and permanent instructions he gave with regard to the institution of slavery with a view to the future, apart from his teachings about the emancipation of the existing slaves. . In connection with this, it must be borne in mind that as we have already hinted Islam aimed at the ultimate abolition of all forms of slavery. Before, however, we give, the definite and direct Islamic injunctions about the total abolition of slavery, we desire to give here two arguments which go indirectly to prove that Islam is fundamentally opposed to the institution of slavery. . Firstly, even ignoring the fact that Islam is strongly opposed to all forms of tyranny and transgression and is a powerful champion of the liberty and equality of man, the clear and emphatic precepts which Islam gave with regard to the kind treatment of the existing slaves and their gradual emancipation an outline of which has already been given in the foregoing pages, furnish a conclusive evidence of the fact that Islam does not in fact countenance slavery. It is quite inconceivable that side by side with the teachings that the slaves were to be treated by the Muslims as their own brethren, they were to be maintained by them