A Letter to a Dear One — Page 49
Muhammad Zafrulla Khan 49 the prophethood. When Zaid’s father and uncle got to know of his whereabouts they came to the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) to ‘buy’ Zaid back. The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) told them that Zaid had the choice to go wherever he wished to. Zaid refused to part with the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Zaid’s astonished father asked him whether he preferred a life of slavery to independence. Zaid replied that the slavery he was in was indeed better than a thousand freedoms. His relatives returned disappointed. The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) took Zaid to the Ka‘aba and freed him immediately. © a ñ rat Anas (ra ñ iyall ā hu ‘anhu) was in employment of the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as his servant for many years. He said he was not ever told off in the slightest throughout that period. May 22 The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) always enjoined to treat slaves well. He would say that one should clothe one’s slave as one clothed oneself, and if the slave is given a strenuous job then one should lend them a helping hand. As a result of this teaching, we note the following episode: When in the Caliphate of © a ñ rat ‘Umar (ra ñ iyall ā hu ‘anhu) Jerusalem was conquered, the Bishop of Jerusalem insisted on the Muslim Caliph to come to the city so that everyone could pay him allegiance in person. © a ñ rat ‘Umar (ra ñ iyall ā hu ‘anhu) started his journey. He had a slave with him and they had one camel between them. Hadrat ‘Umar (ra ñ iyall ā hu ‘anhu) insisted that they both shared the ride equally. When they were approaching Jerusalem, it was the slave’s turn at the ride. ‘Umar bin Khatt ā b, the Caliph, leader of the believers walked into Jerusalem holding the rope of the camel. The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) always instructed to free slaves and it was considered a most virtuous deed. Once the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) saw a master whipping his slave. The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) asked the man harshly as to what was he doing. The man was taken aback and immediately told the Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that he would free the slave. The Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said that had he not done so the fire of hell would have touched his face.