How Did the Muslims Act upon the Teaching of the Manumission of Slaves — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding How Did the Muslims Act upon the Teaching of the Manumission of Slaves.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: V – Conduct of the Holy Prophet (sa) with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery
Pages: Book pp. 200–202 (PDF pp. 224–226)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Doctrine Relevant to Freed Slaves] | Next: [All Doors of Advancement were Open to Freed Slaves] »
Historical Account
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The Holy Prophet Muḥammadsa freed 63 slaves
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Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra freed 67 slaves
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Ḥaḍrat ‘Abbāsra freed 70 slaves
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Ḥakīm bin Hizāmra freed 100 slaves
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‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umarra freed 1,000 slaves
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‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Aufra freed 3,000 slaves
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Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmān bin ‘Affānra freed 20,000 slaves on one day alone, which was the day of his martyrdom. The total number is far greater than this.
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Dhul-Kilā‘ Al-Ḥimyarī freed 8,000 slaves on one day alone
TOTAL NUMBER: 32,3001
As we have mentioned above, in this narration only a few Companions have been mentioned by way of example. If according to the proportion mentioned above, we were to approximate the number of slaves freed by a large number of other Companions, the Tābi‘īn and Taba‘ Tābi‘īn, this number definitely reaches into the millions. However, the truth is that even the number of freed slaves mentioned in this narration, which have been attributed to the above-mentioned Companions, is not completely accurate. Rather, the actual number is far greater. For example, with regards to Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra it is proven from a narration that she freed forty slaves upon a single instance alone. From another narration it becomes evident that it was her practice to free slaves abundantly. Therefore, to assume that throughout the course of her entire life she only freed sixty-seven slaves, would most definitely be incorrect. Similarly, the number which has been attributed to the Holy Prophetsa, may be correct in relation to his personal circumstances, because his financial state at a personal level was not very good. Moreover, after the institution of these injunctions, the Holy Prophetsa only lived for a short period in time thereafter. However, this number definitely does not include those slaves who were freed by the Holy Prophetsa in his capacity as Head of the Islāmic State, the number of which was very great. Another thing to remember with respect to the Holy Prophetsa is that many narrations substantiate that
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Adab, Bābul-Hijrah, Ḥadīth No. 6073-6075]
not a single slave came under his possession who was not set free. As such, it is this very fact, which the following narration alludes to:
ِمَ اَخِ یْ جُ وَیْرِیَّةَ بِنْتَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَیْهِ وَسَ لَّعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَ ارِثِ خَ تَنِ رَسُ وْلِ اللّٰهِ صَ ل
مَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهٖ دِرْھَمًا وَلَا دِیْنَارًاَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَیْهِ وَسَ لَّالْحَ ارِثِ قَالَ مَا تَرَكَ رَسُ وْلُ اللّٰهِ صَ ل
ًوَلَا عَبْدًا وَلَا اَمَة
Meaning, “‘Amr bin Al-Ḥārith, who was the biological brother of UmmulMu’minīn, Juwairiyahra and the brother-in-law of the Holy Prophetsa relates that upon the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, he did not leave behind a single Dirham, Dinar, slave or bond-woman.”
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Waṣāyah, Bābul-Waṣāyah, Ḥadīth No. 2739]
Therefore, this teaching which has been prescribed by Islām in relation to slaves was not merely the embellishment of paper. Rather, this teaching became a necessary part of Islāmic culture and civilization, and the Islāmic way of living. Moreover, both individuals and the government keenly acted upon this teaching.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: V – Conduct of the Holy Prophet (sa) with Slaves and His Teachings on the Issue of Slavery | Navigation: « Previous: [Doctrine Relevant to Freed Slaves] | Next: [All Doors of Advancement were Open to Freed Slaves] »