The Adopted Slave – Part 1

In the pre-Islamic days of Arabia, it was acceptable for a person to adopt another person and give the adopted their own family name. After the coming of Islam the Shariah forbade this practice and Allah ‘Azza wa Jal commanded the adopted son to be called by the name given by his natural (biological father). This provides the background to the life of a man, a Companion of the Prophet SalAllahu Alayhi WaSalaam, whom he himself described as a ‘hujjah’ – a person who had so absorbed the meaning of Qur’an in his heart, that you could seek knowledge of the Qur’an from him directly. Such a man was one, Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfah RadiAllahu Anhu.

Salim RadiAllahu Anhu, was a slave and when he accepted Islam he was adopted as a son by another Muslim (a nobleman of Quraysh – Abu Hudhayfah Ibn ‘Utbah RadiAllahu Anhu). After the revelation came that forbade the adoption of children (in relation to their taking the name of their adopted father), and the fact that Salim did not know the name of his real father, Salim became known as Salim ‘Mawla’ Abu Hudhayfah. ‘Mawla’ in Arabic, simply meant that he was now the brother or ‘protected person’ of his former adopted father.

It has to be understood, that in abolishing the practice of adoption, Islam emphasised instead the strength of natural kinship. Furthermore, it brought into light the beginnings of a new kinship that was even stronger than that of blood ties. That being the kinship of Imaan (faith), and the fact that a person accepting Islam, immediately made the brother (or sister) of other Muslims, who were duty-bound to protect their lives, their wealth and their honour.

The relationship that Salim had with his brother Abu Hudhayfah was profound. Indeed, as we will learn, they died together as Shaheed during the Khilafat of Abu Bakr As Siddiq RadiAllahu Anhu. What is worthy of note is the fact that here we have slave (Salim), a person with no standing or status in society, bearing a close brotherly relationshio with Abu Hudhayfah (a nobleman) who had both status and influence in society. Yet Islam united their hearts and transcended the man-made institutions of class to bring together two people, regardless of social or ethnic background. Such was the unique greatness of the religion of Islam in doing so, which against all the odds, continues to manifest to this day.

The Islamic principles underpinning this enlightenment are captured in the ayat of Qur’an wherein Allah ‘Azza wa Jal states:

The most honorable of you in the sight of Allah, is the one who is most deeply concious of Him. [49:13]

And furthermore, captured with eloquence by the Prophet Muhammed SalAllahu Alayhi WaSallam:

No Arab has an advantage over a non-Arab except in Taqwa (conciousness of Allah)