خدمات موالی الرسول ﷺ فی روایت الحدیث

The contribution of the Prophet’s freed slaves (PBUH) in narrating the hadith

Abstract

Every moment and aspect of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is like an ocean; if one delves deeper, precious pearls are bound to be discovered.

An essential and guiding principle in the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), which serves as a beacon for all of humanity, is his treatment of slaves.

One notable aspect of the Prophet’s life is that he never viewed slaves merely as such. Rather, he recognized that many were individuals who, due to dire financial circumstances or limitations, found themselves in servitude. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) uplifted their status and provided them with an opportunity to cultivate their divine qualities. A prime example of this is that many former slaves, who gained profound knowledge from the Prophet, went on to illuminate their hearts with the treasure of wisdom.

This article aims to highlight the purity of this aspect of the Prophet’s life by illustrating how the freed slaves, whom Holy prophet had set free, contributed to the compilation or services of Hadith. Moreover, many of them were asked by the writers (Muhaqaqeen) to tell them about Holy prophet. Their insights and verdicts have been preserved and practically applied for generations to come.