According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the act of 'freeing a slave' (Tahrir Raqabah) is a highly meritorious deed in Islam, serving as both an act of profound piety and a prescribed form of expiation (kaffarah) for specific sins. As detailed in Quran 58:3, freeing a slave is the primary atonement for the pre-Islamic practice of 'zihar,' where a man would unlawfully renounce his wife. Tafsir scholars such as Ibn Kathir emphasize that this act is a divine admonition and a necessary step before the resumption of marital relations, signifying the gravity of the offense. Broader Islamic jurisprudence extends the manumission of a slave as a form of expiation for other serious transgressions. The Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad consistently encourage the freeing of slaves, presenting it as a path to spiritual purification and a practical step towards social justice, aiming to phase out a pre-existing institution by creating numerous avenues for freedom.