Banning Slavery

[Sardar Miyan]

Salam all. It is said that the Slavery was banned by International Organisation in1948. I just wanted to know if Allah specifically banned slavery in Quran?Slavery was in vouge during the ministry of our Prophet. In addition to Aya 90:13 telling" Faccu Raqaba" are there specific ban orders for slavery? Thanks
 

[Peaceful]

As far as I know it is not banned(correct me if i'm wrong!).

This is what it says of slavery:
-It's ALWAYS better to FREE a slave (hence, God's preference).
-Slaves are equal to believers in FAITH, in society they are NOT equal.
-God does not forbid slavery.
-The Prophet and the Mujahideen(Warriors) MAY take slaves 'Those whom your right hand possess'
-Slaves can be of both sexes (even women can have male slaves)


-Slavery, Polygamy, etc. were Cultural norms at Muhammad's time and were Socially acceptable at the time.
-Many look at the Quran via their own cultural lens, which is wrong.

-Some belief Zaid (ibn Haritha) was the boy-slave who Muhammad freed and was made the first scribe.
-Muhammad (according to tradition) freed about 60 people, but also enslaved many in battles.
-Slavery in Arabia was NOT Ethnocentric (Zaid was a brown Arab, Bilal was black, Suhayb was white, etc.)

[islamist]

-God does not forbid slavery.

The Quran directed the Muslims to set free the prisoners of war either as a favour or against some ransom (47:4); No other option is given.

[chadiga]

Salam
what i understand from the Quran, that God speaks from Slavery as always existent.
As we know today there are slaves too -  There are child slaves in Haiti,  in Europe children and adolescents, which are sold in the Prostution adn in Dubai we found housmaides hold  as 'slaves' - we can not expresse this status otherwise....
Slavery is officially abolished, but still her e- that slavery is hidden under the names 'employees'.
For me one more proof of the authenticity of the Qur'an that it also addresses this issue and in a form that tells us clearly that slavery was never abolished!
peace

[Peaceful]

-The Prophet and the Mujahideen(Warriors) MAY take slaves 'Those whom your right hand possess'
-Slaves can be of both sexes (even women can have male slaves)

We need to take all these verses in context brother. It would be a contradiction to say slavery was banned-outright and at the same time the Prophet and the Mujahideen captured people in wars. These were critical circumstances in 7th-century Arabia and the Quran should be viewed in the Arabs' socio-historical context. Obviously, there is no Islamic State and tribal wars are a thing of the past. Hence, instead of capturing, we imprison the enemy-to-society. Every society NEEDS to have measures against corruption and warfare. This was perfectly fine, both ways, in that era, when the Quran was revealed. You are right, the Muslims were told to free slaves as a Favor, but it was never abolished.

[Joseph Islam]

Dear Sardar,

May peace with you.

In my humble opinion, it would be arguably irresponsible on multifaceted levels to expect a Divine scripture that at its heart has the intention to reform a society with deeply held beliefs and practices, to impose edicts without careful consideration and wisdom.

That is the approach one would expect from a human mind and not God. Furthermore, I have not found a more disconcerting approach than one that attempts to critique an ancient document from a modern lens without giving due credence to its associated context in antiquity.

However, the Quran's intention to ultimately eradicate slavery is more than expressed in one single verse of the Quran where the instruction to free slaves is given as an act of a sincere believer who strives to take the more difficult path.

090:008-13
"Have We not made for him two eyes? and a tongue and two lips? and shown him the two ways / paths? BUT HE HAS NOT ATTEMPTED THE STEEP PATH - THE ASCENT. And what can make you know what the steep path / ascent is? (It is) FREEING A SLAVE"

What more needs to be said in light of the above explicit verse brother Sardar which you have also already quoted?

However, if you would like to consult another verse which resonates a similar sentiment, please see the following verse:

002:177
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East or the West but righteousness (is he) who believes in God and the Last Day, and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets and gives wealth despite of his love for it to those of near relatives and the orphans and the needy and of the wayfarer and those who ask and in FREEING THE SLAVES and who establish the prayer and give zakah and those who fulfill their covenant when they make it and those who are patient in suffering and hardship and time of stress. Those are the ones who are true and those are the righteous.”

I hope that helps, God willing.

Regards,
Joseph.

 

[Shahmatt]

Very interesting topic. Thank you very much for the insight JI.

[Sardar Miyan]

Salam & Thank you for kind reply Bro JAi.  I did not follow your first paragraph of your reply about Reforming society and to impose edicts by God in case of slavery. By this do you mean that instead of banning slavery God wanted believers to free the slaves ? Ban on slavery was done internationally in 20th century. Thanks once again.

[Joseph Islam]

Dear Sardar,

May peace be with you.

In general, I personally do not like the oft premise and underlying connotation behind the ‘modern question’ whether or not the Quran 'banned' slavery in the 7th century when such a practice was commonplace and ingrained within society in antiquity.

In my humble opinion, it is a mute (not moot *) question from a Quran's perspective.

The Quran took an extremely responsible approach to deal with slavery at all levels responsibly not withstanding the verses I have shared with you which at its crux has the intention to remove slavery.

I hope that clarifies, God willing.
Joseph.


* Moot - a term often misused by many. It actually means something which is 'debatable'.

[Sardar Miyan]

Thanks

[Wakas]

In addition to the above replies, please see:


Misconception: Islam and The Quran promotes slavery

Background: Some think that when Muslims conquered territory, slaves were often taken or that slavery is allowed in Islam.

When the Quran was revealed, slavery was in wide practice throughout the Arab World, thus, it would have been impractical and detrimental to place an immediate ban on the slave trade, forcing all slaves into unemployment/poverty. The Quran uses a better psychological approach to win people’s hearts in the struggle against slavery and all forms of discrimination by placing a strong emphasis on human dignity and equality and encouraging the freeing of slaves:

Did we not show him the two paths? He should choose the difficult path. Which one is the difficult path? The freeing of slaves. Feeding, during the time of hardship… [90:10-14]

Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in God, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveller, the beggars, and to free the slaves… [2:177]

The Quran lists the penalty for various misdemeanours as freeing of slaves, see 4:92, 5:89, 58:3. It also implies distribution of community/collective charities would contribute towards freeing of slaves:

The charities are to go to the poor, and the needy, and those who work to collect them, and those whose hearts have been united, and to free the slaves, and those in debt, and in the cause of God, and the traveller. A duty from God, and God is Knowledgeable, Wise. [9:60]

The only method mentioned in The Quran for gaining captives (more correctly termed ‘prisoners of war’, not slaves) is during warfare, after which they must be released or ransomed. Keeping them is not an option:

Therefore, if you encounter those who deny the truth (in warfare), then bring about the captives until when you have subdued/overcome them, then strengthen the bind. Then after either grace/favour or ransom, until the war lays down its burdens. That, and had God willed, surely He would have gained victory Himself from them, but He tests some of you with others. And those who get killed in the cause of God, He will never let their deeds be put to waste. [47:4]

Interestingly, in the above verse, it implies a preference for taking captives rather than killing the enemy in warfare.

As can clearly be seen, taking all of the above verses of The Quran into account, it would lead to a gradual reduction in slave numbers and eventually abolish slavery.


SOURCE

[Mubashir]

Salam

One major source of slaves in the past was prisoners of war sold off as slaves. Allah SWT put an end to that important source by commanding Muslims to set prisoners of war free:

"...but thereafter [set them free,] either by an act of grace or against ransom..." [47:4]

Not only the source was plugged but Muslims were encouraged to set slaves free (various verses).