The Roman Empire - Debate On Slavery - Intro - 5

Assalamualikum
May the peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon you.

""Mistress of The World" Rome has been called" - Nehru, Glimpses of World History, page 81

"From the Far East we shall now go to the West, and trace the growth of Rome. It is said that Rome was founded in the eight century before Christ." - Page 82, Ibid.

The World before Mohammad The Messenger of God

Rome had been the super power of this world right from  the 8th century BC. They continued their triumph even during the time of Jesus. Romans took the lead in its practices of Slavery. They took all that they could take with Slavery.

Before we look into how Mohammad The Messenger of God began tackling the issue of slavery, one should come to know the centuries old prevailing practices of slavery. 

Prisoners of War Turned Slaves

It was the norm of this world that the prisoners of war were taken as slaves. 

"In Rome, the result of victory and conquest was wealth and luxury and gold and slaves poured in from the conquered lands. But where did they go to ?" - Page 86, Ibid.

- Victory in war gave them slaves.

Nehru asks a vital and important question on the fate of the prisoners of war who became slaves.

"But where did they go to ?"

The government of Rome who were supposed to rehabilitate these slaves, were playing with their luxuries, they were playing with the lives of these slaves.

"The Senate, as I have told you, was the governing body in Rome, and it consisted of people from rich aristocratic families. This group of rich people controlled the Roman Republic and its life, and as the power and extend of Rome grew, the wealth of these people grew with it." -  Page 86, Ibid.

People who controlled Rome became richer and richer.

"So the rich became richer, while the poor remained poor or actually became poorer." - Page 86, Ibid.

Once a person becomes a slave, he/she would have lost their life in this world, till their death.

"The slave populations grew, and luxury and misery advanced side by side."-  Page 86, Ibid.

War by war, the slave population grew. The underrated treatment of slaves became stronger and stronger and that treatment caused trouble.

"When this happens there is usually trouble." - Page 86, Ibid.

Those slaves made troubles for change. But the change came not in the way they expected. The change came in the way the riches of the ruling elite expected. Those troubles only helped them to deteriorate their situation from worse to worst. They had one and only choice before them - 'Grin and bear it'.

Nehru astonishes on the fate of the slaves.

"It is an amazing thing how much human beings will put up with, but there is a limit to human endurance, and when this is reached there are burst-ups." -  Page 86, Ibid.

The Struggle of the Slaves Continues

"The rich people tried to lull the poor by games and contests in circuses, where gladiators were forced to fight and kill each other just to amuse the spectators."- Page 86, Ibid. 

- Their favourite game was to make slaves fight & kill each other!
- They took slaves for contesting in circuses! 

"Large number of slaves and prisoners of war were killed for what was called, I suppose, sport."- Page 86, Ibid.

- Killing slaves and prisoners of war, were a major sport of 'The Great' Roman Empire.

"But where did they go to ?"

This question of Nehru on the plight of the slaves , was not answered until 6th Century AD. The question remained there for centuries until the coming of Mohammad The Messenger of God. 

These slaves went to Mohammad The Messenger of God and became his earliest followers.

"The followers of the Prophet were continually increasing, but whenever a new convert came to him and pledged his or her allegiance, it was more often than not a slave, or a freed slave." - Muhammad, Life Based on Earliest Sources by Martin Lings.

These slaves might have found something good so as to embrace Mohammad as The Messenger of God. They must have found something good they couldn't find in the ideologies followed by their masters. Definitely they must have found something good that none of the so called centuries old civilizations offered them. 


The question is - "where did they go to ?" and the answer is - they went to Mohammad The Messenger of God.


Regards
Nisam

"History is not a magic show, but there is plenty of magic in it for those who have eyes to see." - Jawaharlal Nehru.

<< FWD By Sonia Gandhi, Glimpses of World History

Gladiators - The Bloody Sport Of The Roman Empire >>

MAIL - 19 - Part - 23

I Wrote - 

Dear Friend

"'Umar took his wife Zaynab, their daughter Hafsah and their young son Abdullah. Hafsah's husband, Khunays of Sahm, was also with them." - Muhammad, Life Based on Earliest Sources by Martin Lings.

- The companions of prophet Mohammad migrated from their homeland to save themselves from the persecution.

- Among them were a lady named Hafsah and her husband.

"In the year which followed the return from Badr (The Battle of Badr) the family of Umar suffered two losses. The first of these was the death of his son-in-law Khunays, the husband of his daughter Hafsah. He had been one of the emigrants to Abyssinia, and it was on his return that the marriage had taken place. Hafsah was only eighteen years old when she became a widow." - ibid.

- The lady Hafsah became a widow after her husband died in a battle.

The Fourth Marriage

"For her father it was very painful to see his daughter in this state. Her silent courage under these circumstance, her patient prayers and her study of the Quran irradiated her countenance with spiritual beauty and innocence, but there was also a sadness because of the harsh loneliness that had become part of their life." - Great Women of Islam by Ghadanfar

- Sadness and sorrow affected this widowed woman's family, especially to her father.

The father of this widowed women approached one of the prominent person named Uthman, to receive his widowed daughter, in marriage.

"Uthman answered that he was not presently planning on marriage" - ibid.

He again, approached another prominent person named Abu Bakr, to receive his widowed daughter, in marriage.

"He too lowered his gaze and did not answer him." - ibid.

With the decline of the offer to marry his daughter, by the two prominent persons, the father of this widowed woman was upset.

"He was very upset and worried at the turn of events; in a sense it was an affront to him and his position as a sincere defender of the faith. People, he thought, would consider it an honor to have an alliance by marriage with him."- ibid.

As the leader of the faithful, he approached prophet Mohammad.

"With this grievance he went to prophet and explained to him the position he found himself in. The Prophet smilingly answered that he should neither grieve nor worry and Allah willing he would find a man better than Uthman for Hafsah"- ibid.

This was the point at which prophet Mohammad implied his willingness to marry the widowed women.

The Response of The Father

"Umar Farooq could not believe his ears; his daughter would have the honor of joining the selected band of women who were known as The Mothers of The Believers!"- ibid.

- The wives of prophet Mohammad are mothers of believers.

Who Was This Woman?

"She was from the women who fasted and prayed in the night. And from those women who feared Allah." - Imam Ad-Dahabi

Here again, we see prophet Mohammad marrying a widowed women, who was leading a life on the principles such as the  Marriage Principle - 1 i.e. 

"A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers." - Prophet Mohammad.

What a Life It Was

Prophet Mohammad married Hafsah. One day the father of this woman came to visit prophet Mohammad.

Umar said: "I visited Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he was lying on a mat. I sat down and he drew up his lower garment over him and he had nothing (else) over him, and that the mat had left its marks on his sides." - Imam Bukhari.

Umar said: "I looked with my eyes in the store room of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). I found only a handful of barley ..."  - Imam Bukhari.

Umar said: "I was moved to tears (on seeing this extremely austere living of the Holy Prophet)"  - Imam Bukhari.

Prophet Asked: "Son of Khattab, what makes you weep?" - Imam Bukhari. 

Umar said: "Apostle of Allah, why should I not shed tears? This mat has left its marks on your sides and I do not see in your storeroom (except these few things) that I have seen; Caesar (The King of Rome) and Closroes (The King of Persia) are leading their lives in plenty whereas you are Allah's Messenger. His chosen one, and that is your store!" - Imam Bukhari. 

Prophet said: "Ibn Khattab, aren't you satisfied that for us (there should be the prosperity) of the Hereafter (life after death), and for them (there should be the prosperity of) this world?" 

- Imam Bukhari.

Her Contribution as A Wife of Prophet Mohammad

1. A Scholar of Her Time

"She memorized 60 Hadith from prophet peace be upon him. She was considered as one of the great scholars among the companions of prophet Mohammad. She was from the people who memorized entire Quran." - Imam Ad-Dahabi

2. The Guardian of Glorious Quran 

"She was The Guardian of Quran" - Imam AdDahabi.

- She was The Only Woman who was given The One & Only Written Copy of Quran, at that time, to guard it.

"Then the complete manuscripts (copy) of the Qur'an remained with Abu Bakr till he died, then with 'Umar till the end of his life, and then with Hafsah, the daughter of Umar" - Imam Bukhari.

- She was among the few ladies who knew how to read and write and in whose hands the one and only manuscripts of Quran remained.

Among other things, as a wife of prophet Mohammad, she contributed on the following titles.

* Etiquette on Fasting

* Etiquette on Recommended Prayers

* Rules on Friday Prayer

* Rules on The Recitation of Quran

* Rules on the recommended Pilgrimage

* News on The Anti Christ

Her position as the wife of prophet Mohammad was illuminated by her title - The Guardian of Glorious Quran. This title paved the way for the billions of copies of Quran throughout the centuries, till this day.

will be continued ...

FWD by Sonia Gandhi - Glimpses of World History - Debate on Slavery - Intro - 4

Assalamualikum

May the peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon you.

"Generations of readers have been moved and, indeed, enthralled by the three classics, which reflect the power and lucidity of Jawaharlal Nehru's mind, the eloquence of this language, and the radiance of his spirit. I hope they will continue to educate, inspire and guide us for generations to come." -  Sonia Gandhi, New Delhi, 27-May-2004. From the FOREWORD TO THE 2004 EDITION of Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru, The first Prime Minister of India.

"One New Year's Day, 1931, Jawaharlal Nehru began a remarkable series of letters on the history of the world to his daughter Indira, then thirteen years old. Over the next thirty months, Nehru wrote nearly two hundred letters in this series, which were later published as Glimpses of World History." - From the back cover of Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Nehru On World Slavery

Throughout the book, Nehru gives a solid and concise references to the existence and the practices of Slavery, worldwide. Nehru's account on slavery begins from the 200 BC Rome and it ends at the 18th century Unites States of America.

In other terms, Nehru's accounts on Slavery began from one super power and it ended at another superpower i.e. from Rome to USA.

The Necessity of Slavery

Slavery was necessitated by the greed of humans, as it was and as it is as ever.

"In the ancient world in the West slaves were always in great demand, and in order to fulfil this demand huge slave-markets arose, and expeditions went out to capture men and women, and even children,in distant land and sell them into slavery." - Glimpses of World History, Page 83.

- Slave-markets were there just as other commodity markets of 21st century.

- Expeditions went out to capture & enslave free people!

It Begins from Rome

The people of Rome were mainly divided in to two classes. They were the rich Aristocrats and the common Plebeians. But there was another disdained third group.

"But besides these two groups there was in the Roman State an enormous number of slaves who had no rights of any kind.

- They were not citizens;

- They had no vote;

- They were the private and the personal property of their master, like digs or cows.

- They could be sold or punished at the sweet will of the master." - Ibid, Page 83.

Once a person becomes a slave, his freedom is lost forever, unless and until a great miracle happens.

"They could be freed also under certain conditions, and when they became free they formed a special class called freed-men." - Ibid, Page 83.

India and China

Slavery was not a strange system for the Asian continent.

"Was this system of slavery equally prevalent then in India? Very probably it was not. Nor did China have it. This does not mean that there was no slavery in ancient India or China. But such slavery existed was more or less of the domestic kind."- Ibid, Page 83.

Africa

"The Carthaginians were the descendants of the Phoenicians and had the tradition of seamanship and of trade. Theirs was also a republic, but it was, even more than that of Rome, a republic of rich men. It was a city with huge slave population."- Ibid, Page 84.

- The city of Carthage was a North African country i.e the present day Tunisia.

Egypt

Egypt was yet another country who had slaves as part of their population. Rome was the superpower of that time and Egypt was one of their backyards. Rome utilized Egypt for resources and other supplies. Precisely, Rome was kept in good humour at the expense of countries like Egypt.

"Thus they were kept in good humour, but this free distribution could only take place in a few places, and even this was done at the cost of misery and suffering to the slave populations in other countries like Egypt, who provided the free flour." - Ibid, Page 105.

Europe

With the 6th century Arabia being an exception, the slavery and the miseries of slaves continued throughout the world till the 18th century.

"Right through the eighteenth century the nations of Europe carried on a cruel and heartless slave trade." - Ibid, Page 399.

- Europe took the share.

America

"With the discovery of America, however, the old slave trade was revived in its most cruel form. The Spanish and Portuguese began it by capturing Negroes on the African coast and taking them to America to work on the land." - Ibid, Page 399.

- America took the share.

England

"The English took their full share in this abominable trade" - Ibid, Page 399.

- England took the share.

The world took the full share of this lucrative business.

The Greatest Suffering of Mankind

"It is difficult for you or for any of us to have any idea of the terrible sufferings of the Africans as they were hundred and caught like wild beasts and then chained together, and so transported to America. Vast numbers died before they could even reach their journey's end."  - Ibid, Page 399.

- These practices of slavery were the greatest suffering of mankind.

'Slaves' of 21st Century

"The millions of Negroes in the United States of America today are the descendants of these slaves."  - Ibid, Page 399.

History goes on and on ... 

Understanding the slavery and its practices is a great deal. What you see is only some excerpts from the limited historical records.

The Only Exception

There came a man from the desert land of the 6th century Arabia. He was the only exception who transformed his people from being the slaves of puny humans to The True Slaves of Almighty God.  

"He lived a quiet life, liked and trusted by his fellow-citizens. Indeed, he was known as "Al-Amin" - The Trusty."  -  Nehru, Glimpses of World History, Page 165.

...

Regards

Nisam

<< The Code Of Hammurabi

The Roman Empire >>

MAIL - 19 - Part - 21 - Info

One of My Friend Commented - 

"Some might have viewed the marriage of Muhammad and A'isha as an exceptional marriage, but then the two partners were exceptional people. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the last of the Prophets and the best of creation; and A'isha was a very intelligent and observant young girl with a very good memory." - Imam Ibn Kathir.

- This is why prophet Mohammad chose Aisha who was at 9.

A few questions in mind...

1. Why cant he wait for next 9 - 10 years ?

2. Is it possible to acquire her wisdom only through marrying her ? cant he arrange a marriage with his son or someone younger ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friend

Thank you very much for your comments.

>>1. Why cant he wait for next 9 - 10 years ?

First and foremost, after 8 years of the marriage, prophet Mohammad passed away. Hence, there was little scope of waiting for 9 - 10 years. Here comes the religious answer.

Religiously Speaking

The one and only answer on why prophet Mohammad chose a 9 year old girl in marriage, is that, it was A Command from Al Mighty God. Almighty God, being the Knower of the seen and the unseen, the past and the future, dictated that the marriage should happen exactly when it did happen.

Had prophet Mohammad been acting on his own desires, the marriage itself wouldn't have happened, but it was not the case.

  

>>1. Why cant he wait for next 9 - 10 years ?

Secondly, as I said, it was not just for another marriage, prophet Mohammad married the 9 year old girl. If it was for just another marriage, he had a very good offer before him, by his enemies, long before his second marriage with the 55+ year old widow. 

Simply speaking, he couldn't wait for the next 9 - 10 years ( i.e. after his death ) because 

- It was for The Delegation of The Principles and Etiquettes of prophet Mohammad, for the future generation that he married the 9 year old girl named Aisha."

He did not have the time to wait for next 9 - 10 years  ( i.e. after his death ) because -

- The marriage was not for fulfilling the material lust.

- The marriage was for fulfilling one of The Divine Destiny of Aisha as The Most Knowledgeable Scholar of her time of 40 years.

>>2. Is it possible to acquire her wisdom only through marrying her ? cant he arrange a marriage with his son or someone younger ?

Yes, it was only possible to acquire what she acquired, through marriage and that is why it is said - 

"If there exists a relation under the sky, by which one can clearly measure the personality of another person, it is The Marriage Relation."

That is why it is said -

A. She grew into womanhood, 

 - She had to be a wife of prophet Mohammad in order for her to be brought-up by the prophet.

It is said -

B. She remembered all that she saw

- She had to be a wife of prophet Mohammad in order for her to saw what she saw.

It is said - 

C. She was a witness of so much of all that took place.

- She had to be the wife, in order for her to witness The Life of Prophet Mohammad.

>>2. Is it possible to acquire her wisdom only through marrying her ?

Islam puts forward a Completely Perfect Guideline to all the corners of life or at least it claims so. In that guideline, there are certain things that can be learned only by becoming a wife. 

For instance,  consider a woman in her menstrual periods. Prophet Mohammad addressed this very state of mankind with utmost respect, dignity and seriousness, through Aisha who was one of his wife.

Lesson of Menstrual Period -1

Aisha said: "While having the menses, I used to eat from a piece of meat and give it to the Prophet who would eat from the same place I ate from. I used to have sips of a drink and would then give the cup to the Prophet who would place his mouth where I placed my mouth.'' - Imam Muslim.

Look at the narration. Prophet Mohammad is teaching this humanity on how to treat a wife, in one of her difficult times. The above narration should also be well understood how different communities treated their women in periods.

"The Jews used to avoid their menstruating women, they would not eat, or even mingle with them in the house." - Imam Ahmed.

The Jews sidelined their wives at their difficult times; Prophet Mohammad brought close his wives and this is the lesson for a believer.

Lesson of Menstrual Period -2

Aisha said: "Allah's Messenger used to ask me to wash his hair while I was having the menses. He would lay on my lap and read the Qur'an while I was having the period.''  - Imam Muslim.

- He had a close proximity with his wives during their difficult times.

- He even performed religious activities like reading the Quran even by laying on the lap of his menstruating wife.

Lesson of Menstrual Period -3

Aisha said:  "Allah's Messenger commanded me to fetch mats from the mosque. I said that I had menses. He remarked, 'Your menses are not on your hands'." - Imam Turmudi.

- Even though a women in her periods is not supposed to enter a mosque for prayers, Prophet Mohammad did not kept them away, completely.

Lesson of Menstrual Period - 4

Aisha said:  "We set out with no intention of other that Hajj (The Pilgrimage). And when we were in Sharif, my menses came. The Messenger of Allah entered upon me while I was weeping and he said: 'Have your menses come ?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'That is something that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has decreed fo the daughters of Adam. Do everything that the pilgrim in Ihram (the dress of pilgrimage) does, but do not circumambulate the House" - Imam An-Nasai

- During even the time of pilgrimage, prophet Mohammad took his wife with him.

- And when the decree of Almighty came for Aisha, he did sooth her and had done what could do for the pilgrimage to be acceptable before Almighty God.

Lesson of Menstrual Period -5

Aisha said:  "Me and messenger of Allah slept inside a single blanket while I was in my period. ..." - Imam Abu Dawud.

- A wife in her periods should not be kept away from the bed just because of her nature.

There are again, other areas, guidelines to which are best reported by being a wife of prophet Mohammad. It includes -

- Guidelines on Suckling babies and its relationship.

- Guidelines on what should be done for the Wet Dreams of men.

- Guidelines on the rules and regulations of divorce, as the last resort.

- ...

 The point is - 

- Prophet Mohammad cannot wait for the next 9 - 10 years ( i.e. after his death), in order for him to teach these invaluable lessons for the mankind.

- Aisha had to be nothing more or less than a wife of prophet Mohammad, in order for her to report what she witnessed, for the future generation.

Regards

Nisam

The Code Of Hammurabi - Debate on Slavery - Intro - 3

Assalamualikum

May the peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon you.

Welcome on board!

The Known History Of Slavery

The Code Of Hammurabi is one of the oldest legislation in the known history of humans. In 2250 BC (before Christ) The King of Babylon named Hammurabi legislated the law and hence it is known as The Code Of Hammurabi. 

The code contains the constitutional laws during that time. Among the rules were the laws regarding slaves. The high frequency of references of slaves in the code shows that how deeply the people of the time practised slavery.

Position of Slaves

Slaves were having the lowest grade in the society during the time of king Hammurabi.

"The third class, wardum-amtum, consisted of male and female slaves." - The Code Of Hammurabi,  by Robert F Harper.

Slaves were part of the society even before the king Hammurabi. When one go through these code of law, it can be very clearly seen that there was one law for high class citizens and another law for the third class slaves.

"If a slave of anyone has smitten the privates of a free-born man, his ear shall be cut off." Code - 205, Ibid.

- One law for the third class slaves.

"If a man has smitten the privates of a patrician of his own rank, he shall pay one mina of silver." Code - 203, Ibid.

- And another law for the first class citizens.

The Economy

Slavery and the slaves had a great impact on the world economy of that time. Just like we use the currency, they used slaves.

"But when money was viewed as a medium of exchange, representing in itself things capable of producing or rendering service, such as lands, cattle, slaves or vessels, - a draft, as it were upon the whole world." THE LAW OF BABYLONIA. Page - 27, Historical Jurisprudence by Guy Carleton Lee.

- They viewed human slaves just as a medium of exchange.

- They counted human slaves among their lands, cattle, vessels etc.

"In the case of a slave the name of the slave's father is never given. The slave is not regarded or spoken of as a man, but as a thing, and is reckoned in the same way as cattle." - THE LAW OF BABYLONIA. Page - 39, Historical Jurisprudence by Guy Carleton Lee.

- They wanted father-less slaves.

- They wanted tongue-less slaves.

- They wanted slaves just as they wanted cattle.

Slave Production

Slaves were not a different beings came down from the sky or came up from the trenches of earth. They were free humans like you and me.

But what made them slaves ?

"If a man be in debt and sell his wife, son or daughter, or bind them over to service, for three years they shall work in the house of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom." Code - 117,  The Code Of Hammurabi,  by Robert F Harper.

- One of the ways that made a free man, a slave, was that of debt.

The history goes on and on ...

It is a great deal to understand these history. Before we look into how Mohammad The Messenger of God handled the issue of slavery, knowing these kind of Historical Excerpts that dates back to The First Known Human Civilization on the planet earth, is a must for a 21st century man.

Regards

Nisam

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