Muhammad and slavery

The Prophet Muhammad did not try to abolish slavery, and bought, sold,
captured, and owned slaves himself. But he insisted that slave
ownerstreat their slaves well andstressed the virtue of freeing
slaves.
There are two different ways of interpreting this:
*. some modern writers believe that Muhammadintended his teachings to
lead to the gradual end of slavery by limiting opportunities toacquire
new slaves and allowing existing slaves to become free. This idea
doesn't appear in early writings.
*. others writers argue that by regulating slavery the Prophet gave
his authority to its continued existence, andthat by having slaves
himself he showed his approval
Muhammad treated slavesas human beings and clearly held some in the
highest esteem.
For example, he personally ensured the freedom of Bilal, an African
slave who had converted to Islam. Bilal was chosen as the first
muezzin of Islam because of his beautiful voice. A muezzin is the
person who calls the community to the daily prayers, and isa position
of great prominence and responsibility.
Zayd was a young boy who had grown up in the household of the Prophet
as a slave, and remained with the household, almost as an adopted
son,even after he was freed. He was amongst the first four people to
adopt Islam. Indeed when Zayd'sfather (a wealthy nobleman) tracked his
sondown and offered to buy his freedom from Muhammad, Muhammad told
Zayd that he was freeto go with his father with no money changing
hands, and to his father's astonishment Zayd chose to stay with
Muhammad.
The Prophet also married a Coptic Christian slave girl.
In his lifetime the Prophetintroduced the following rules about slavery:
*. Stated that freeing slaves was the act that God found most acceptable
*. Zakat (charity - the third Pillar of Islam ) was often used by the
state to free slaves
*. Stated that freeing a slave was the appropriate way to
gainforgiveness for certain wrongs
*. Ordered that those who committed certain wrongs should be penalised
by having to free their slaves
*. Stated that slaves should be allowed to buy their freedom, and if
necessary should be given the opportunity toearn money, or be lent
money by the state, in order to do so
*. Allowed slaves to be freed in certain circumstances
*. Stated that slaves' contracts should be interpreted in favour of the slaves
*. Stated that the duty of kindness towards slaves was the same of
that towards family, neighbours and others
*. Stated that when a slaveowner had a child with a female slave, the
child should be freed and could inherit from their father like any
other child (as in the case of Ibrahim )
There are a number of hadith that show that the Prophet treated slaves
well and expected others to do the same...
He will not enter Paradisewho behaveth ill to his slaves. The
Companions said, 'O Apostle of God! have you not told us, that there
will be a great many slaves and orphans amongst your disciples?' He
said, 'Yes; then be kindto them as to your own children, and give them
toeat what you eat yourselves. The slaves that say their prayers are
your brothers.
Be kind to slaves as to your own children...and those that say their
prayers are your brethren.
They (slaves or servants) are your brothers, and Allah has put them
under your command. So the one under whose hand Allah has put his
brother, should feed him of what he eats, and give him dresses of what
he wears, and should not ask him todo a thing beyond his capacity. And
if at all he asks him to do a hard task, he should help him therein.'
'There are three categories of people against whom I shall myself be a
plaintiff on the Day of Judgement. Of these three, one is he
whoenslaves a free man, then sells him and eats this money'.
al-Bukhari and Ibn Majjah
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: "The Prophet said, 'Give food to the
hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in
captivity (by paying his ransom).'"
Bukhari/