Concernin' Slavery....

[Blaqueen]

Islam introduced a system, which ensured the best treatment of slaves and the gradual eradication of slavery in a short period of time.


"A person who has a female slave in charge and takes steps to give her a sound education and trains her in arts and culture, and then frees her and marries her, he will be doubly rewarded." (Bukhari)

Narrated by Abu Dhar: "I abused a man by calling his mother with bad names. The Prophet said to me: 'O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names? You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and God has put them under your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of that which he eats and dress him of that which he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them."

Narrated Abu Dhar: "I asked the Prophet 'What is the best deed?' He replied, 'To believe in God and to fight for His cause.' I then asked, 'What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?' He replied, ' The manumission of the most expensive slave and most beloved by his master.' I said, 'If I cannot afford to do that?' He said, 'Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself.' I said, 'If I cannot do that?' He said, 'Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good.' "

[Blaqueen]

"And God has made some of you excel others in the means of subsistence, so those who are made to excel do not give away their sustenance to those whom their right hands possess so that they should be equal therein; is it then the favour of God which they deny?" (Q. 16:71)

[Blaqueen]

?Islam put strong emphasis on the system which allowed a slave to buy himself. When a slave wanted to buy his freedom, he would tell his master, who, under the Islamic system, could not refuse his request. The two would agree to certain working hours during which the slave would work for his master. In his spare time, the slave could work in order save money to buy his freedom. In the Islamic system, he would be helped with ?Zakah?-money and charitable donations. When he has bought his freedom, he could not be enslaved again.? (c.Adil Salahi)

[Blaqueen]

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East and to the West, but righteous is he who believes in God and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets; and gives his wealth for love of Him to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observes proper worship and pays the zakah. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and in time of stress, such are those who are sincere, such are the God-fearing. (Q. 2:177)