Slavery
as a social institution existed in different parts of the world for a very long
period of time. It is a stark reminder
of the dark episodes in world history when men- including in Muslim lands- had had no qualms about treating
his fellow beings as mere chattel. [Illustration: "Slave-dealers and slaves—a Street Scene in Zanzibar" ]. In this post-modern age, ideas of basic human
dignity and fundamental rights have gained widespread acceptance all over the world. And, the very
notion of slavery militates against the concepts of decency, propriety and equality
in human relations.
The
teachings of Islam are designed to gradually eliminate evil practices such as
slavery. While all Muslims cannot absolve themselves of not indulging in slave trade in the past, Islam as practiced by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) certainly envisions a social order designed to reflect the sublime
spiritual values it espouses: live in
this world with a wider consciousness about your duties towards the Creator and
the fellow beings. Learn to recognize the essential unity and common
brotherhood of all mankind. Discharge your responsibilities towards fellow
human beings. Empathy and understanding, compassion and consideration for
people who are in need of assistance is a Qur’anic obligation on believers,
reminds the Khalifatullah Hadhrat
Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) in a recent article on the subject in “Le Socialiste” Newspaper of
Mauritius on February 15, 2012.
Read the Article:
The advent of Islam was
to be known as the absolute way of life of a human being. Islam verily means
complete submission to the Creator of the Universe, the Supreme God, our Master
and Guide.
As a Creator, Almighty
God does not differentiate between His servants and thus, so as to guide us all
to His path, He sends from time to time His elects to make people understand
His Divine Message. Muhammad (saw) was such an Elect, who through his
perseverance and absolute obedience to Almighty God received the distinction of
Seal of Prophethood, the Best of Mankind and the best example and role model to
follow. He indeed was the personification of the divine laws as established in
the Holy Quran.
To know Islam, one must
analyse deeply the life of Muhammad (saw). In fact, his life reflect many
aspects of life as lived by both the poor and the rich, and among the poor
there was of course the slaves who were devoid of rights in the pre-Islamic
times. Muhammad’s (saw) compassion to the poor and the slaves knew no bound.