Although slavery as practiced before Islamic times – there are some limits to which slaves should be referred to, treated and/ or freed by Islamic Standards;
DO NOT REFER TO ANYONE AS “MY SLAVE”
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not refer to anyone as ‘my slave,’ for all of you are the slaves of Allah. Rather, you should refer to him as ‘my young man.’ The servant should not refer to anyone as ‘my lord,’ but rather he should refer to him as ‘my master.’”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2249; Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ عَبْدِي فَكُلُّكُمْ عَبِيدُ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ لِيَقُلْ فَتَايَ وَلَا يَقُلْ الْعَبْدُ رَبِّي وَلَكِنْ لِيَقُلْ سَيِّدِي;
2249 صحيح مسلم كتاب الألفاظ من الأدب وغيرها باب حكم إطلاق لفظة العبد والأمة والمولى والسيد
SINS ARE FROM IGNORANCE AND A SINNER IS NOT A DISBELIEVER UNLESS HE WORSHIPS OTHERS ALONG WITH ALLAH ‘AZZA WA JAL
At Ar-Rabadha I met Abu Dhar who was wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a similar one. I asked about the reason for it. He replied, “I abused a person by calling his mother with bad names.” The Prophet said to me, ‘O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them.’ “ (Notice some of these rights are more than what an emplyoyer does today – to eat and feed his workers similar to what he has);
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ وَاصِلٍ الأَحْدَبِ، عَنِ الْمَعْرُورِ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ بِالرَّبَذَةِ، وَعَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ، وَعَلَى غُلاَمِهِ حُلَّةٌ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَابَبْتُ رَجُلاً، فَعَيَّرْتُهُ بِأُمِّهِ، فَقَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ أَعَيَّرْتَهُ بِأُمِّهِ إِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ فِيكَ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ، إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ، جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ، فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدِهِ فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ، وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ، وَلاَ تُكَلِّفُوهُمْ مَا يَغْلِبُهُمْ، فَإِنْ كَلَّفْتُمُوهُمْ فَأَعِينُوهُمْ ”. Sahih al Bukhari, Book 2 – Hadith 23;
HADITH ON FREEDOM: THE PROPHET(SAW) FREES A BELIVING SLAVE GIRL (DUE TO A SLAP OF A SLAVE OWNER)
Mua’wiyah ibn al-Hakam reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have a servant-girl whom I slapped.” That upset the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. I said to him, “Shall I emancipate her?” The Prophet said, “Bring her to me.” Then, she was brought and the Prophet said, “Where is Allah?” She said, “In heaven.” The Prophet said, “Who am I?” She said, “You are the Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said, “Free her, for she is a believer.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 537; Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim
عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ السُّلَمِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ جَارِيَةٌ لِي صَكَكْتُهَا صَكَّةً فَعَظَّمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ أَفَلَا أُعْتِقُهَا قَالَ ائْتِنِي بِهَا قَالَ فَجِئْتُ بِهَا قَالَ أَيْنَ اللَّهُ قَالَتْ فِي السَّمَاءِ قَالَ مَنْ أَنَا قَالَتْ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَعْتِقْهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَةٌ
537 صحيح مسلم كتاب المساجد ومواضع الصلاة باب تحريم الكلام في الصلاة ونسخ ما كان من إباحته