present day contend that Muhammad looked upon the custom as temporary in its nature, and held that its extinction was sure to be achieved by the progress of ideas and change of circumstances; but the slavery of Islám is interwoven with the Law of marriage, the Law of sale, and the Law of inheritance, of the system, and its abolition would strike at the very foundations of the code of Muhammadanism.
Slavery is in complete harmony with the spirit of Islám, whilst it is abhorrent to that of Christianity. That Muhammad ameliorated the condition of the slave, as it existed under the heathen laws of Arabia, we cannot doubt; but it is equally certain that the Arabian legislator intended it to be a perpetual institution.
The following traditions,[1] with reference to the action of the Prophet in this matter are notable:—
"ʾImrán-ibn-Husain said a man freed six
- ↑ Mishkát, bk. xiii. chap. xx. pt. 1.
is often said that the buying and selling of slaves is not sanctioned by Islám; this is not correct, as will be seen upon reference to the Muhammadan Law of Sale.
