Muhammad The Liberator of Mankind — Page 12
Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmada of enemies, [thus reflecting a growing awareness of the nuances of morality] and the pursuit of more humane solutions. Illicit practices of slavery Apart from the conditions of slavery that were legally sanctioned in their respective eras, there emerged illicit practices as well. For instance, as individuals became accustomed to the use of slave labour and witnessed the exorbitant prices paid for slaves, some resorted to the abhorrent practice of kidnapping free individuals or their children for sale. They trafficked people across borders, profiting immensely from this deplorable trade. Such conduct has consistently been condemned throughout various periods of human history, deemed irrational and morally reprehensible [across diverse cultural contexts]. The inception of slavery, rooted in the belief that enslavement served as a means of self-preservation that would spare them from imminent death, led to the emergence of another form of slavery wherein individuals willingly sold themselves or their children. This decision was often motivated by the hope of improving their own circumstances or the situation of their children by securing employment with a wealthy individual. In the context of that era, I too do not view this viewpoint as necessarily abhorrent. For many, 12