The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 193
V - Conduct of the Holy Prophet sa with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery 193 Then, it is related in a Ḥadīth : ٍ عَن ِ ابْن ِ عُمَر َ قَال َ قَال َ رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ قَال َ مَن ْ مَلَك َ ذَا رَحِم ٍ مَحْرَم ٌّ فَھُو َ حُر Meaning, “Ibni ‘Umar ra relates that the Holy Prophet sa commanded, “If an individual happens to acquire a slave who turns out to be a close relative, that slave shall be considered free by default. ” 1 Then, it is related in a Ḥadīth : ٍ أعْتَق َ شِرْكًا لَه ٗ فِی ْ مَمْلُوْك ا ْ عَن ِ ابْن ِ عُمَر َ قَال َ قَال َ رَسُوْل ُ اللّٰه ِ صَلَّی اللّٰه ُ عَلَیْه ِ وَسَلَّم َ مَن َ فَعَلَیْه ِ عِتْقُه ٗ كُلُّه ٗ اِن ْ كَان َ لَه ٗ مَال ٌ یَبْلُغ ُ ثَمَنَه ٗ وَعَن ْ اَبِی ْ ھُرَیْرَة َ وَاِلَّا قُوِّم َ عَلَیْه ِ فَاسْتُسْعِی ِ بِه ٖ غَیْر َ مَشْقُوْق ٍ عَلَیْه Meaning, “Ibni ‘Umar ra and Abū Hurairah ra relate that the Holy Prophet sa said, ‘A person who possesses joint ownership of a slave, and he chooses to free the slave by way of his own share, it becomes his obligation to pay the other owners their share from his own wealth and to free the slave completely. If that person does not possess enough wealth to do so, even still the slave shall be freed practically, so that he may earn the remaining sum owed to the other masters and secure complete freedom for himself. In this respect, the slave shall be facilitated in every way possible. ’” 2 Then, it is narrated in a Ḥadīth that once a few slaves fled from the idolaters of Makkah and reached the Holy Prophet sa. Upon this, the idolaters requested the Holy Prophet sa to return these slaves to them. Various Muslims also interceded on their behalf, but the Holy Prophet sa became displeased. As such, the words of this Ḥadīth are as follows: 1 Sunanu Ibni Mājah, Kitābul-‘Itq, Bābu Man Malaka Dhā Raḥimin Maḥramin Fahuwa Ḥurrun, Ḥadīth No. 2525 2 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-‘Itq, Bābu Idhā A‘ataqa ‘Abdan Bainathnain. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 2523 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-‘Itq, Bābu Idhā A‘ataqa Naṣīban Fī ‘Abdin Wa Laisa Lahū Mālun. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 2527