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Sa'id, another slave of 'Ali bin Abi Talib, says that once on a very hot day, 'Ali was very busy writing letters. He wanted to send Sa'id to call some of his officers. He called him once, twice and thrice, and each time Sa'id purposely kept silent an...

Sa'id, another slave of 'Ali bin Abi Talib, says t...

Bilal al-Habashi (the Ethiopian) was the first mu'azzin of the Prophet. His father was called Riyah, and his mother Jumanah; his agnomen was Abu 'Abdillah and Abu 'Umar. He was from those who accepted Islam in the very beginning. He participated in t...

Bilal al-Habashi (the Ethiopian) was the first mu'...

Qambar's name is often mentioned in the traditions. And he has been immortalised by the poetry lines of Imam 'Ali: When I saw an unlawful thing, 1 kindled a fire and called Qambar. Someone asked Qambar who was his master. Qambar described the virtues...

Qambar's name is often mentioned in the traditions...

Miytham al-Tammar (the date-seller), son of Yahya, was a slave purchased by Imam 'Ali. But very few people knew that he was a slave because 'Ali emancipated him and he became one of the closest friends of his ex-master. He is counted as one of his ha...

Miytham al-Tammar (the date-seller), son of Yahya,...

'Ammar bin Yasir was one of the most respected companions of the Prophet and the faithful follower of Imam 'Ali. He was from those who were brutally tortured in the cause of Islam. He did two hijrahs - to Ethiopia30 and Medina; he prayed towards two ...

'Ammar bin Yasir was one of the most respected com...

Zayd bin Harithah bin Sharahil al-Kalbi, an Arab boy, was abducted in his childhood and sold as a slave. This happened before Islam. Hakim bin Hizam bin Khuwaylid purchased him in the market of 'Ukaz, and presented him to his aunt, Khadijah bint Khuw...

Zayd bin Harithah bin Sharahil al-Kalbi, an Arab b...

First and foremost, of course, is Salman al-Farsi (the Persian). He was the son of a Zoroastrian priest in the province of Fars. From the very beginning, he was aspiring to find and follow a religion free from the embellishes of human interpolations....

First and foremost, of course, is Salman al-Farsi ...

To give an idea of how Islam raised the status of slaves and treated them as human beings instead of brutes of burden (which was their common lot before Islam), the following tradition is of particular interest : One day the Prophet was sitting with ...

To give an idea of how Islam raised the status of ...

It is stated in reliable traditions from the Prophet that one should feed his slave what he himself eats and should dress him with what he himself dresses. In his famous sermon in 'Arafat, on 9th Dhul-hijjah 9 AH, during his last pilgrimage, the Prop...

It is stated in reliable traditions from the Proph...

It is worth remembering that a slave automatically became free if the master cut his ear or blinded his eye. [22] Also if the slaves, living in an Islamic state, accepted Islam before their masters, then they would become free automatically. If the s...

It is worth remembering that a slave automatically...

Before slave trade was started on a large scale by the Westerners (when colonisation began), it was only in wars that men were made captives. But Islam did not permit wars of aggression. All the battles fought during the life-time of the Prophet were...

Before slave trade was started on a large scale by...

Islam has often been represented by Christian writers as a religion which not only tolerated slavery but also encouraged it. This is a serious accusation levelled against Islam, and in this book I propose to show its falsity. I would have taken, if p...

Islam has often been represented by Christian writ...

Though slavery was an ancient institution which started in pre-historic era of mankind, it is safe to say that the volume of this trade reached its zenith through the Christian nations of Europe and America who, as is their nature, turned it into a m...

Though slavery was an ancient institution which st...

"O you men!We have created you of a male and a female,and then We made you(into different) races and tribesso that you may know each other.Surely the most honourable of you with Allahis the one who is most pious among you;surely Allah Is All-Knowing ...

"O you men!We have created you of a male and a fem...

What is the moral and mystical message we can learn from Sura al-Masadd? It is a direct curse of Allah to Abu Lahab and his wife. What lesson can we draw for ourselves? Answer: The most important message of this Surah (chapter) can be explain in such...

What is the moral and mystical message we can lear...

What is the best Ayah in the Quran? Can we say the best Ayah or we should say that all ay?t are best depending on purpose? Answer: Before dealing with the main question, we must say that the Quran itself is the best book and superior to all heavenly ...

What is the best Ayah in the Quran? Can we say the...

A DUAL SEX RATHER THAN UNISEX SOCIETY Now let us consider the second basic characteristic of the Quranic society which affects the position of women. This is found in the directives for a dual sex rather than a unisex society. While maintaining the v...

A DUAL SEX RATHER THAN UNISEX SOCIETY Now let us c...

After a difficult year of separation from her beloved brother, Lady Fatima Masuma (A) decided to go to him. She began this journey from Madina to Khur?s?n, in the year 201 A.H, accompanied by a caravan made up of some members of her household and fri...

After a difficult year of separation from her belo...

Mother of Hazrat Ma’soomah (Peace Be Upon Her)Hazrat Najmah is the mother of Imam Reza and Hazrat Ma’soomah (Peace Be upon Them). Tens of names and epithets have been mentioned by historical books related to Hazrat Najmah such as Najmah, Toktam, Tahe...

Mother of Hazrat Ma’soomah (Peace Be Upon Her)Hazr...

BirthOne can hear the sound of joyfulness by heavenly beings from the city of Medina. There is a ray of light beaming out of the simple and affable home of Imam Kazem (Peace Be Upon Him). The stars have become brighter and the moon is shining like th...

BirthOne can hear the sound of joyfulness by heave...

Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) the Blessed and the Gracious Divine Lady from the Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) was born in the holy city of Medina on the First Day of the month of Dhu al-Qa"dah 173 A.H. Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) was the most learned schola...

Hadrat Fatima Masumah (S.A.) the Blessed and the G...