SLAVES

Ar: Abd. To the Muslim, being a slave to Allah is the highest position of honor a human can achieved. Thus a Muslim is to totally submit to God in all aspects, and to accept everything thing, whether good or evil, that comes from Him.

Muhammad himself both owned slaves and traded in slaves (cf. hadiths on black slaves). He used to sell war captives into slavery, e.g., Banu Qurayza, a Jewish tribe.

Muslims also kept slaves. Those whom they defeated and if they were not killed - were often kept or sold as slaves. For example,

> The King's [i.e. Guy of Jerusalem] life was spared, but Saladin killed Reginald of Châtillon and ordered the execution of some 200 Templars and Hospitallers. Other captive knights were treated honourably, and most were later ransomed. Less fortunate were the foot soldiers, most of whom were sold into slavery.
> ....
> Jerusalem, ... capitulated to Saladin, who agreed to allow the inhabitants to leave after paying a ransom. Though Saladin offered to release the poor for a specified sum, several thousand apparently were not redeemed and probably were sold into slavery. (Encyclopaedia Britannica Online)

- acquisition only after slaughter, al-Anfal' 8:67

- believing slave better than idolater, al-Baqarah 2:221

  Does this verse presuppose that Muslims can keep Muslim slaves, or is it a rhetorical device? Yet, Muslims are told not to forced female slaves into prostitution, and that sex with slaves are allowed (see below), which imply that there must be slaves to start with in the Muslim household.

- do good unto, an-Nisa' 4:36

- don't force female ~ into prostitution, an-Nur 24:33

  - God will forgive them if they are forced, an-Nur 24:33

- freeing

  - as a break with pre-Islamic traditions, al-Balad 90:13

  - as penance for

    - a broken oath, al-Ma'idah 5:89

    - if they are good, an-Nur 24:33

    - killing another believer, an-Nisa' 4:92

    - retracting a divorce, al-Mujadilah 58:3

  - charity is for freeing (among other things), at-Taubah 9:60

  - is an act (along with other acts) of a pious believer, al-Baqarah 2:177

- marriage of, al-Baqarah 2:177; an-Nisa' 4:25,36,92; an-Nur 24:32,58; al-Mujadilah 58:3; al-Balad 90:13

- permission for Muhammad's followers to enslave war captives, Sahih Bukhari 1.367

- ransom of enemy slaves

  - after war is over, Muhammad 47:4

- sex with slaves allowed, al-Mu'minum 23:1-7

- share sustenance with, an-Nahl 16:71

- an-Nisa' 4:3,24-25; an-Nur 24:31,58; ar-Rum 30:28; al-Ahzab 33:50,52,55; al-Ma`arij 70:30

Further reading:

- Christianity, Islam and Slavery
- Articles on slavery issues past and present
- Islam and Slavery
- New Light on Slavery in the Islamic World
- Slavery in Islam

Book recommendation:

      Bernard Lewis
      Race and Slavery in the Middle East : A Historical Enquiry
      Oxford University Press, 1990, 184 pages, ISBN 0-19-505326-5

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