Al Haqeeqa
Before Prophet came to this planet, slavery and racism was prevalent in the Semitic societies of Christianity, Judaism, Paganism and he established Islam with an aim to abolish/target both of these evils against humanity/human values. In fact, racial divisiveness and thralldom gradually vanished onward spread of Islam especially from the converts.
“Mankind was one nation…” (10:19). “O Mankind! We created you male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other, not that you may despise each other.” (49:13). “Surely the believers are brethren; so reconcile between your brethren, and venerate God, that perhaps you may have mercy.” (49:10).
The Prophet had close aides i.e. Umar ibn Khattab (the II Caliph, the son of an African Negro mother), Ubadah, (the ablest man headed deputation to Egypt), Nauffil (ascertained the Prophethood), the slave servant (the second believer after Khadija), who were either from slave ancestry or from other races. More than thousand years before Abraham Linken abolished slavery, the Prophet had undertook a Jihad against human subjugation, racial preferences and faith discrimination. By abolishing slavery 1) religious atonement to slaves as well 2) preventing free men/prisoners of war into slavery 3) human treatment to servants/dependants 4) inalienable right to slaves to buy back freedom as well as to own personal wealth and property.
“Have We not created for men two eyes, and a tongue and two lips, and have We not shown him the two paths– evil and virtue? Yet he did not hurl himself on to the different way. What makes you know what the difficult way is? It is the freeing the slave, or feeding on a day of famine, an orphan who is near of kin, or an indigent who is in apparent misery. Then he should be those who believe, and enjoin one another in patience, and enjoined one another in compassion. Such are the companions of the right hand. But those who disbelieve in Our signs are the companions of the left hand. Around them there will be an encompassing fire.” (90: 9-20) &
“None of you should say: My slave, for all of you is the slaves of Allah. Rather, you should say: My boy. The servant should not say: My lord, but rather he should say: My chief.” (Sahih Muslim 2249)
“…And any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing to enable them to earn their freedom for a sum, give them such a deed…” (24:33)
The Prophet had further curved the sovereignty of owner over slave who were ensured rights of standard living equal to the owner. In a nutshell, Islam is a religion of human rights which always prohibits slavery, racial/religious gender discrimination and reckless violence.
