Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Slavery: Difference between revisions
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=Qur'an= | =Qur'an= | ||
==Some are favoured by Allah while others are slaves== | |||
==Allah | {{Quote|{{Quran|16|71}}|And Allah hath favored some of you above others in provision. Now those who are more favored will by no means hand over their provision to those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respect thereof. Is it then the grace of Allah that they deny?}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|16|75}}|Allah sets forth the Parable (of two men: one) a slave under the dominion of another; He has no power of any sort; and (the other) a man on whom We have bestowed goodly favors from Ourselves, and he spends thereof (freely), privately and publicly: are the two equal? (By no means;) praise be to Allah. But most of them understand not.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|16|75}}|Allah sets forth the Parable (of two men: one) a slave under the dominion of another; He has no power of any sort; and (the other) a man on whom We have bestowed goodly favors from Ourselves, and he spends thereof (freely), privately and publicly: are the two equal? (By no means;) praise be to Allah. But most of them understand not.}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran| | {{Quote|{{Quran|30|28}}|He gives you this example, drawn from your own lives: do you make your slaves full partners with an equal share in what We have given you? Do you fear them as you fear each other? This is how We make Our messages clear to those who use their reason.}} | ||
==Taking war captives== | ==Taking war captives== | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|47|4}}|Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|47|4}}|Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain.}} | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|33|50}}|'''O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you''' your wives to whom you have given their due compensation '''and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives]''' and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. '''We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess''', [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|33|50}}|'''O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you''' your wives to whom you have given their due compensation '''and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives]''' and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. '''We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess''', [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.}} | ||
== | ==Sex with Female Slaves or Captives== | ||
{{Main|Rape in Islamic Law}} | {{Main|Rape in Islamic Law}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|23|1|6}}|Successful indeed are the believers Who are humble in their prayers, And who shun vain conversation, And who are payers of the poor-due; '''And who guard their modesty - Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess''', for then they are not blameworthy}} | {{Quote|{{Quran-range|23|1|6}}|Successful indeed are the believers Who are humble in their prayers, And who shun vain conversation, And who are payers of the poor-due; '''And who guard their modesty - Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess''', for then they are not blameworthy}} | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|33|50}}|'''O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives]''' and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. '''We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess''', [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|33|50}}|'''O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives]''' and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. '''We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess''', [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.}} | ||
==Slave masters determine | ==Slave masters determine whether their slaves may marry== | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|24|32}}|And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maid-servants. If they be poor, Allah will enrich them of His bounty. Allah is of ample means, Aware.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|24|32}}|And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maid-servants. If they be poor, Allah will enrich them of His bounty. Allah is of ample means, Aware.}} | ||
==Permission to marry slaves who already have husbands== | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|4|22|24}}|And marry not women whom your fathers married,- except what is past: It was shameful and odious,- an abominable custom indeed. Prohibited to you (For marriage) are:- Your mothers, daughters, sisters; father's sisters, Mother's sisters; brother's daughters, sister's daughters; foster-mothers (Who gave you suck), foster-sisters; your wives' mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom ye have gone in,- no prohibition if ye have not gone in;- (Those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins; and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time, except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful;-'''Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess''': Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.}} | |||
==Poor believers may marry from among the believing slave women== | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|25}}|And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And Allah is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation according to what is acceptable. [They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers. But once they are sheltered in marriage, if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women. This [allowance] is for him among you who fears sin, but to be patient is better for you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.}} | |||
==Better to marry a believing slave than a free disbeliever== | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|221}}|Do not marry idolatresses until they embrace faith. A faithful slave girl is better than an idolatress, though she should impress you. And do not marry [your daughters] to idolaters until they embrace faith. A faithful slave is better than an idolater, though he should impress you. Those invite [others] to the Fire, but Allah invites to paradise and pardon, by His will, and He clarifies His signs for the people so that they may take admonition.}} | |||
==Freeing slaves is a good deed== | ==Freeing slaves is a good deed== | ||
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==Be good to your slaves== | ==Be good to your slaves== | ||
{{Quote| | {{Quote|{{Quran|4|36}}|Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, '''and those whom your right hands possess'''. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.}} | ||
=Hadiths= | =Hadiths= | ||
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==Permission to Rape Captives and Slaves== | ==Permission to Rape Captives and Slaves== | ||
{{Main|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Rape}} | {{Main|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Rape}}Many more hadith on this subject are quoted in the main article.{{Quote|{{Muslim|8|3432}}|Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that at the Battle of Hunain Allah's Messenger sent an army to Autas and encountered the enemy and fought with them. Having overcome them and taken them captives, the Companions of Allah's Messenger seemed to refrain from having intercourse with captive women because of their husbands being polytheists. Then Allah, Most High, sent down regarding that:" And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess (Quran 4:. 24)" (i. e. they were lawful for them when their 'Idda period came to an end).}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|8|3432}}|Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that at the Battle of Hunain Allah's Messenger sent an army to Autas and encountered the enemy and fought with them. Having overcome them and taken them captives, the Companions of Allah's Messenger seemed to refrain from having intercourse with captive women because of their husbands being polytheists. Then Allah, Most High, sent down regarding that:" And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess (Quran 4:. 24)" (i. e. they were lawful for them when their 'Idda period came to an end).}} | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|8|3383}}|Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: I have a slave-girl who is our servant and she carries water for us and I have intercourse with her, but I do not want her to conceive. He said: Practise 'azl, if you so like, but what is decreed for her will come to her. The person stayed back (for some time) and then came and said: The girl has become pregnant, whereupon he said: I told you what was decreed for her would come to her.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|8|3383}}|Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: I have a slave-girl who is our servant and she carries water for us and I have intercourse with her, but I do not want her to conceive. He said: Practise 'azl, if you so like, but what is decreed for her will come to her. The person stayed back (for some time) and then came and said: The girl has become pregnant, whereupon he said: I told you what was decreed for her would come to her.}}{{Quote|{{Bukhari|5|59|637}}|Narrated Buraida: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent `Ali to Khalid to bring the Khumus (of the booty) and I hated `Ali, and `Ali had taken a bath (after a sexual act with a slave-girl from the Khumus). I said to Khalid, "Don't you see this (i.e. `Ali)?" When we reached the Prophet (ﷺ) I mentioned that to him. He said, "O Buraida! Do you hate `Ali?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do you hate him, for he deserves more than that from the Khumlus."}} | ||
==Muhammad's enjoyment of slave services== | ==Muhammad's enjoyment of slave services== | ||
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=External Links= | =External Links= | ||
*[http://www.answering-islam.org/ReachOut/slavetrade.html Arabs and Slave Trade] | *[http://www.answering-islam.org/ReachOut/slavetrade.html Arabs and Slave Trade] | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-BRkNwpczg Friendly Exmuslim - Hijab's Dishonesty about Slavery in Islam] - ''YouTube Video'' | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zexn9IrMmNI HarrisSultanAthiest - Islam and Slavery] - How Islam Enslaved Africa - ''YouTube Video'' | |||
=References= | =References= |
Latest revision as of 14:21, 6 January 2024
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As was common amongst all states and faith communities found in Europe and Asia in Late Antiquity, the Muslim tradition specifically allows slavery. In fact slaves and the taking of slaves make up an important part of the sira about Muhammad's life; slaves were a form of booty and almost always the most valuable part, so the taking of slaves formed a huge part of the impetus behind the prophet's military campaigns. As is extremely clear from the rest of the tradition, female slaves taken by Muslim mujaahideen must submit sexually to their new masters, and sex with them is specifically permitted, as is the beating of disobedient slaves. The two legitimate sources of slaves agreed upon by the Ulama were captives taken in war, and children born to slaves (unless the slave-owner was the father). Nevertheless, the tradition also makes the freeing of slaves a virtue to be rewarded by Allah, but no scholar in the classical period ever extrapolated this to a general abolitionist sentiment, as the tradition is far too clear on the fact that Muhammad took many, many slaves and was actually very supportive of the institution. Mainly due to pressure from European colonial powers, slavery was eventually made illegal throughout the Muslim world in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is now considered forbidden in the modern context by most scholars, though a minority, such as Saudi Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, argue that slavery remains Islamically legitimate.
Qur'an
Some are favoured by Allah while others are slaves
Taking war captives
Sex with Female Slaves or Captives
Slave masters determine whether their slaves may marry
Permission to marry slaves who already have husbands
Poor believers may marry from among the believing slave women
Better to marry a believing slave than a free disbeliever
Freeing slaves is a good deed
As in earlier and contemporary near eastern cultures[1], a slave could agree a contract to purchase his or her freedom:
Be good to your slaves
Hadiths
Slavery Permitted
These Hadiths show how Islam explicitly and implicitly permits slavery.
Permission to Rape Captives and Slaves
Many more hadith on this subject are quoted in the main article.
Muhammad's enjoyment of slave services
Muhammed regularly met with and commanded slaves without asking the slave's master to free the slave even though it was within his power to do so.
ابن إسحاق; ابن هشام, سيرة ابن هشام ت السقا, vol.1, al-Maktabah al-Shamilah, p. 318, https://app.turath.io/book/23833
Slaves Owned by Muhammad
The Slaves' Names
Muhammad Bought More Slaves Than he Sold
Origins of Mahran's (The "Ship"'s) Nickname
Hadiths Referring to Muhammad's Slaves
Hadith Referring to Aisha's Slave
Yahya said that he heard Malik say about dyeing the hair black, 'I have not heard anything certain on that, and other colours than that are preferable to me." Yahya said, "Not to dye at all is permitted, Allah willing, and there is no constraint on people concerning it." Yahya said that he had heard Malik say, "There is no clear indication in this hadith that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not dye his hair. Had the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, dyed his hair, A'isha would have sent a message to that effect to Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Aswad."
Slaves Enslaved by Muhammad
property bit by bit and conquering Khaybar fortress by fortress.The first of their fortresses that he conquered was the fortress of Na'im. Mahmud b. Maslamah was killed at it-a millstone was hurled on him from it and killed him. Next was al-Qamus, the fortress of lbn Abi al-Huqayq. The Messenger of God took some of its people captive, including Safiyyah bt. Huyayy b. Akhtab (the wife of Kinanah b. al-Rabi' b. Abi al-Huqayq) and two daughters of her paternal uncle. The Messenger of God chose Safiyyah for himself. Dihyah al-Kalbi had asked the Messenger of God for Safiyyah; when the latter chose her for himself, he gave Dihyah her two
cousins. The captives of Khaybar were divided among the Muslims.أبو جعفر الطبري, تاريخ الرسل والملوك, vol.3, al-Maktabah al-Shamilah, p. 3, https://app.turath.io/book/9783, See also: Ishaq:511
Slaves Traded by Muhammad
One Arab for Two Blacks
Slaves Sold by Muhammad
Slave Transactions Initiated by Muhammad
Miscellaneous
Bilal Bought in Exchange for a Black Non-Muslim Slave
Attempts to Free Slaves Sometimes Discouraged and Thwarted by Muhammad
See also Sahih Muslim 15:4112 and Sahih Bukhari 9:89:296 above for hadiths where Muhammad sold slaves whose masters had promised to free them.
Slave owners sold women who had bourne them children until the Caliphate of Umar
A number of sahih hadith narrate from a companion of Muhammad, Jabir bin `Abdullah, that while Muhammad was alive they used to sell slave-women who had borne them children (ummahat al walad).
The same Arabic phrase, ummahat al-walad, meaning slave concubines who had bourne their master's children, appears also in another narration via a different chain from Jabir. It adds that the practice was not forbidden until the time of Umar, the 2nd Caliph. Umar's ruling is also mentioned in another hadith narrated from his son, Ibn Umar, in the Bulugh al-Maram hadith collection.
Give your slaves food and clothing like your own and do not ask too much of them
Muhammad disapproves of Ibn Mas'ud beating his slave
Free a Slave Who is Beaten or to Expiate Certain Sins
Contrary to apologetics, the extent to which Islam brought exceptional treatment of slaves by ancient standards is exagerated. Before Islam, Zoroastrian law had protections for slaves against violence, and it was considered a virtue to free a slave, who could also buy their own freedom.[5] It was also common in ancient Rome to free slaves, so much so that Augustus had a law enacted to prevent manumission of slaves younger than 30 years old. In Islam, slaves are to be freed when there is violence against them, or to expiate certain sins.
Reward for Freeing Muslim Slaves
Female Slaves can be Flogged and Sold if they have Illegal Sexual Intercourse
Umar struck a slave girl for wearing jilbab like free women
Umar saw a slave-girl wearing a veil, so he struck her. He said, "Do not emulate free women."
Narrated Anas ibn Malik:
A hadith collected by al Bayhaqi (d. 1066 CE) is commonly translated such that Umar's slave-girls' (bare) breasts were shaking, though this is unclear in the Arabic of this hadith. An alternative interpretation is that his slave-women had uncovered hair which was falling on their breasts:
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: "The female slaves of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, were serving us with uncovered hair that was hitting their breasts.”
The shaking breasts interpretation may also be plausible, however, since various reports such as this one about Imam Malik (d. 795 CE) suggests that slave women in his time went about with uncovered breasts: "He (i.e. Al-Imam Malik ibn Anas) strongly disapproved of the behaviour of the slave women of Madinah in going out uncovered above the lower garment. He said, 'I have spoken to the Sultan about it, but I have not received a reply." He said, "Beat the slave women if they do that.'"
Ibn Umar touches girl in slave market and says "she is but an item for sale"
Ibn Umar inspected slave-girls for sale by touching their breasts and buttocks
Ibn Umar was a companion and the son of the 2nd Capliph, Umar.
A very early hadith compilation was the Musannaf of Abd al-Razzaq collected by Abd al-Razzaq (b. 744 CE) and rediscovered in 1972 after it was long thought lost.
Conversion of Slaves to Islam
Marrying Slaves
Observing Hijab
Muhammad gave girls like property (or booty) to his companions
ابن إسحاق; ابن هشام, سيرة ابن هشام ت السقا, vol., al-Maktabah al-Shamilah, https://app.turath.io/book/23833
See Also
Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Muhammad
Translations
- A version of this page is also available in the following languages: Czech. For additional languages, see the sidebar on the left.
External Links
- Arabs and Slave Trade
- Friendly Exmuslim - Hijab's Dishonesty about Slavery in Islam - YouTube Video
- HarrisSultanAthiest - Islam and Slavery - How Islam Enslaved Africa - YouTube Video
References
- ↑ Brockopp, J. (2000) "Early Maliki Law", Brill: Leiben, p.170
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Zad al-Ma'ad, Part 1, pp. 114-116
- ↑ Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Zad al-Ma'ad, Part 1, p. 160
- ↑ Ibn Qayyim, Pages 115-116; al-Hulya, Volume 1, Page 369, quoted from Ahmad 5:222
- ↑ Irani, K.M. & Silver, M. (editors), Social Justice in the Ancient World, Connecticut:Greenword Press, 1995, p.87