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Womens' Rights in Islam

Some Examples of Absolute Justice in Islam
Slavery in Islam

Slavery is a big subject in Islam. Slavery was a solid custom before Islam. Islam was the first religion to fight slavery by all the practical means possible such as :

1. Making freeing a slave an expiation for certain sins that a Muslim commits such as :

  • Manslaughter (Murder by mistake) : “And it does not behoove a believer to kill a believer except by mistake, and whoever kills a believer by mistake, he should free a believing slave, and blood-money should be paid to his people unless they remit it as alms; but if he be from a tribe hostile to you and he is a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (suffices), and if he is from a tribe between whom and you there is a covenant, the blood-money should be paid to his people along with the freeing of a believing slave; but he who cannot find (a slave) should fast for two months successively: a penance from Allah, and Allah is Knowing, Wise". (Surah AlNisaa:93)

  • Perjury : “Allah does not call you to account for what is vain in your oaths, but He calls you to account for the making of deliberate oaths; so its expiation is the feeding of ten poor men out of the middling (food) you feed your families with, or their clothing, or the freeing of a neck (i.e. freeing a slave); but whosoever cannot find (means) then fasting for three days; this is the expiation of your oaths when you swear; and guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His communications, that you may be Fateful". (Surah AlMaeda:90)

  • AlZehar (a kind of divorce) “And (as for) those who put away their wives by likening their backs to the backs of their mothers then would recall what they said, they should free a captive before they touch each other; to that you are admonished (to conform); and Allah is Aware of what you do". (Surah AlMugadala:4)

2. In Islam, Slaves are not meant to be slaves and can request and earn their freedom

  • In Islam there is something called (`akd al-mukatabah), which is a contract between a slave and his master indicating that the slave buys himself from his master for a specific amount of money. According to this contract, the slave works to collect money to pay his price to the master. The Muslims also can help him obtain his freedom by giving him from the money of zakat (The Prescribed Charity), as this is one of eight channels in which zakah can be given. Such type of contract was not found before the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, legislated it.

3. Defining the Rights of Slaves in Islam some of which are shown in the following Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him):

  • Narrated Al-Ma'rur: 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.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Belief, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 29)"

  • Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: "When the slave of anyone amongst you prepares food for him and he serves him after having sat close to (and undergoing the hardship of) heat and smoke, he should make him (the slave) sit along with him and make him eat (along with him), and if the food seems to run short, then he should spare some portion for him (from his own share) - (another narrator) Dawud said:" i.e. a morsel or two". 4097. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, The Book of Oaths (Kitab Al-Aiman), Book 015, Number 4096)"

  • Zadhan reported that Ibn Umar called his slave and he found the marks (of beating) upon his back. He said to him: I have caused you pain. He said: No. But he (Ibn Umar) said: You are free. He then took hold of something from the earth and said: There is no reward for me even to the weight equal to it. I heard Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, as saying: He who beats a slave without cognizable offence of his or slaps him, then expiation for it is that he should set him free. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, The Book of Oaths (Kitab Al-Aiman), Book 015, Number 4079)