Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 227company of the Prophet sa and who had repeatedly heardthe Prophet's sa injunctions regarding the treatment ofslaves, has said: "I call God to witness in Whose handsis my life that were it not for the opportunities that I getof joining in holy war and of performing the Pilgrimageand were it not that I have opportunities of serving myold mother, I would have desired to die a slave, for theHoly Prophet sa constantly insisted upon slaves beingwell and kindly treated" (Muslim). Ma‘rur bin Suwaid rarelates: "I saw Abu Dharr Ghaffari ra (a Companion ra ofthe Holy Prophet sa ) wearing clothes exactly similar tothose worn by his slave. I inquired of him the reason ofthis and he said: 'During the lifetime of the HolyProphet sa I once taunted a man with his mother havingbeen a slave. Upon this the Holy Prophet sa rebuked meand said: "You still seem to entertain pre-Islamicnotions. What are slaves? They are your brethren andthe source of your power. God in His wisdom conferstemporary authority upon you over them. He who hassuch authority over his brother should feed him with thekind of food he himself eats; clothe him with the kind ofclothes he himself wears and should not set him a taskbeyond his strength and should himself help him inwhatever he is asked to do".' "On another occasion theProphet sa said: "When your servant cooks food for youand sets it out before you, you should ask him to sitdown with you to eat or at least to partake of a portionof it in your company, for he has established a right in itby working on it' (Muslim).TREATMENT OF WOMENThe Holy Prophet sa was very keen on improving thecondition of women in society and on securing for thema position of dignity and fair and equitable treatment.Islam was the first religion which conferred upon womenthe right of inheritance. The Qur’an makes daughtersalong with sons heirs to the property left by their