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Answering lies about Islam and Prophet Muhammad
Did Islam Ignore Slavery and legalize its existence?
How did Islam handle Slavery
Islam followed an ingenious calm strategy to handle slavery without causing any social turmoil that may lead to undesired consequences. The strategy was based mainly of reducing the sources of slaves and at the same time increasing the causes of freeing slaves and making freeing a slave one of the greatest deeds of charity.
To understand this simple strategy consider a sink having many taps (many sources) and one outlet, the level of water will surely rise in the sink, but if we reduce the number of taps to one (reduce sources) and increase the number of outlets then surely water level will fall in the sink till it is completely dry. That is Islam’s strategy to reduce slavery gradually till it ends completely.
That is why Islamic scholars say that Islam legislated freeing slaves not enslaving them. As Islam did not invent slavery but rather legislated laws and created a long term strategy to abolish it so that it starts disappearing gradually without disturbing the social structure or cause a social conflict for which innocent people will pay a price.
Meanwhile until the long term plan is fully executed Islam legislated laws that emphasized the rights of slaves. These laws will guarantee their safety, fair treatment as well as creating a good human relationship with their owners as a prior step to their total freedom. The Islamic strategy to eliminate slavery was based on three major steps:
First: Improving the living conditions of slaves both psychologically and physically.
Second: Limiting the causes of enslaving.
Third: Increasing the causes of freeing slaves.
First: Improving the living conditions of slaves both psychologically and physically
Islam elevated the psychological state of slaves and considered them as equal to the free human in their rights. This idea was did not exist before Islam as they were regarded as a creature with no rights or respect. Islam considered a slave as any other human, having similar rights but they have more duties towards their owners. These extra rights were not based on their religion, gender or color but rather on their current status that was caused by losing wars.
Meanwhile Islam improved the living conditions of slaves by:
- Prohibiting masters from calling their slaves by the word "slave" or "female slave".
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, as saying:"None of you should say: My bondman and my slave-girl, for all of you are the bondmen of Allah, and all your women are the slave-girls of Allah; but say: My servant, my girl, and my young man and my young girl." (Source: Sahih Muslim no.: 2249) - Islam created a social status for slaves never given to them by any other religion. He threatened the master who accuses his slave of something from which he is innocent to face retribution in judgment day. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "He who accuses his slave of committing adultery (without proof) will be punished with the prescribed penalty on the Day of Resurrection unless it is (true) as he said." (Source: Sahih Bukhari no.: 6858)
- Islam equalized the punishment for killing whether a slave or a free man even if the one who killed the slave is his own master.
It was narrated that Samurah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Prophet said: 'Whoever kills his slave, we will kill him, and whoever mutilates his slave, we will mutilate him."' (Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i no.: Book 45, Hadith 33)
Many hadiths of prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, calcified the rights of slaves. It was narrated that 'Ali bin Abu Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The last words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, were: The prayer; and those whom your right hands possess." (Source: Sunan Ibn Majah – The Chapters on Wills - Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2698)
- A master is not allowed to command his slave to do anything that is prohibited in Islam or forbid him to do any pious deed.
- A master cannot oblige his atheist slave to embrace Islam as the Holy Quran says: (There is no compulsion in religion) - (Surah Al-Baqara verse 256)
- A master can neither force his slave to marry a woman he does not want to marry nor force him to divorce his wife.
- A master does not have the right to prevent his Christian or Jew slave to drink alcoholic drinks, eat pork or go to church (or the synagogue) as this is the slave’s religious tradition.
- A master is not allowed to over work his slave beyond his capability.
- A Muslim master is responsible for preserving the life of his slave. Consequently he is not allowed to kill him, wound him, mutate him. If the master does ANY of these deeds, he is obliged to free this slave immediately by a direct order from the judge.
- A slave has the right to have alimony, be fed, be dressed and be given a place to live in by his master. If the master refuses to pay his slave, either for incapability or just refusal although capable, then the judge has the right to sell the belongings of the master to secure the slave’s alimony.
- If the slave is sick or incapable of work, the master has to pay for his treatment and pay the expenses of burial if his dies. If the slave is young, the master has to support him.
- The master has to maintain the virtue of his slave. If the slave is single, the master has to help him marry. If he has a female slave, the master has to help her marry or have sexual intercourse with her to prevent her from lapsing from virtue. If the slave is married then he should give him time at night to be with his wife.
- A master cannot force his female-slave to divorce her husband or prevent her from sleeping with him at night.
- Islam prohibited that a female-slave will be treated as common property. A female-slave can belong to only one master and no one other than him (if she is NOT married) is allowed to have sexual intercourse with her. However if she is married only her husband can have sexual intercourse with her. The Holy Quran says: "And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful." (Surah An-Nour verse 33)
Islam obliged the master to be financially responsible for her, provide her with her need of food and clothing and to be kind to her. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged men to marry female-slaves so they can be freed. He also encouraged men to educate them and teach them to be well behaved and he forbade beating them.
Narrated Abu Musa, may Allah be pleased with him: Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him said, "He who has a slave-girl and educates and treats her nicely and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward." – A reward for educating and marrying and a reward for freeing (Source: Sahih Bukhari Book 49, Hadith 28).
- Protecting their dignity
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying, "He who accuses his slave of Zina will receive the punishment (Hadd) of slander on the Day of Resurrection, unless the accusation of Zina was true." (Source: Al- Bukhari and Muslim)
Also Zadhan Abi Umar reported: "I came to Ibn 'Umar as he had granted freedom to a stave. He (the narrator further) said: He took hold of a wood or something like it from the earth and said: It (freedom of a slave) has not the reward evert equal to it, but the fact that I heard Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) say: He who slaps his slave or beats him, the expiation for it is that he should set him free." (Source: Sahih Muslim Book 27, Hadith 46)
- Being just and kind to slaves
It was narrated that Othman Ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, pinched the ear of his slave because of a mistake he made. Later he asked the slave to pinch him back. When the slave refused, Othman, may Allah be pleased with him, insisted so the slave pinched his ear mildly. Othman insisted that the slave should pinch othman’s ear strongly as he cannot endure being punished in judgment day so the slave said: "The day the you dreaded (meaning judgment day) is the day I dread too"
Whenever Abdu Alrahman Ibn Auf, may Allah be pleased with him, would walk among his slaves, no one could define him as he never walked ahead of them and he always wore like them.
One day Omar Ibn ElKattab was walking by when he saw som masters eating while their slaves were standing and not eating with their masters. He became angry and told the masters: "Why do you think you are higher than your servants?" then he ordered the slaves to sit and eat with their masters.A man entered the house and saw Salman, may Allah be pleased with him, and found him kneading. At that time Salman, may Allah be pleased with him, was a ruler. The man asked him what he was doing so Salman, may Allah be pleased with him said: "I sent the servant in an errand and I hate to make him do two things consecutively"
- No harm in giving precedence to the slave in certain things related to religion or common life like he can lead prayer (become Imam). Mother of the believers, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, had a slave who would lead her in prayer. Muslims are ordered to obey if a slave became their king.
- A slave has the right to buy his own freedom. Some Muslim scholars say that if a slave wants to buy his freedom then the master has to accept however some other scholars say that the master has a choice but it is preferable religiously to accept. This is called (Mokataba) which means contract between the slave and his master. This contract states that the slave will buy his freedom and he will pay the money on installments. This contract is mentioned in the Holy Quran (Surah An-Nour verse 33): "And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you."
Second: Limiting the causes of enslaving
Islam limited the sources of enslaving and forbade any means of depriving them from their humanity in order to totally abolish slavery. Before Islam there were many reasons for which a human being can be taken as slave. Some examples are:
a- Selling: A man can sell one of his children or a creditor can sell the debtor if he fails to pay, and take the money as a payment of the debt.
b- Gambling: The one who lost in gambling can give one of his children to the winner as a slave
c- Looting, kidnapping and the strong would enslave the weak by force to sell them in slave markets.
d- Wars and Raids
Islam prohibited all means of enslaving people except in case of war captives.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: (Allah (SWT) says:) "I am the opponent of three on the Day of Resurrection, and if I am someone's opponent I will defeat him: A man who makes promises in My Name, then proves treacherous; a man who sells a free man and consumes his price; and a man who hires a worker, makes use to him, then does not give him his wages." ( Sunan Ibn Majah – The Chapters on Pawning, Grade: Sahih, Vol. 3, Book 16, Hadith 2442). Consequently, in Islam War became the only means of enslaving people.
As for enslaving in war prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, limited it and made a new fair system when dealing with war captives which can be summarized as follows:
The Imam (leader) is the one who has the right to declare someone as a slave, but before he does that he MUST first do the following:
- Exchange of war captives between the two sides
- Accepting ransom where they are freed in exchange for money or any other benefit like in the battle of Badr, the war captives were released in exchange for money while some were released in exchange for teaching some Muslims to read and write.
Islam allowed enslaving warriors ONLY and whoever is with them in the battle field even if they were women or children but to declare someone as slave MUST be done according to the previously mentioned rules. However, non-warriors should NOT be enslaved. It is considered that enslaving a worrier is better than killing him (since his enslaving will be done according to the rules of treating slaves mentioned above). Killing women present in the battle field in prohibited so enslaving her is considered a better choice than killing her him (since her enslaving will be done according to the rules of treating slaves mentioned above).
Third: Increasing the causes of freeing slaves
Islam widely opened the gates to free slaves and made it one of the best ways please God. God says in the Holy Quran: "So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens." (Surah Muhammad verse 4).
Islam legislated many ways to free slaves and hence minimizing the number of slaves gradually until slavery is totally abolished. From these ways are:
- Manumission of slaves is a great way to please God:
Abu Hurairah, May Allah be pleased with him, reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "He who sets free a Muslim slave, Allah will deliver from the fire of Hell every limb of his body in return for every limb of the slave's body, even his private parts." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. - Manumission of slaves is one of the categories on which zakaah (Obligatory Charity) must be spent:
God says in the Holy Quran: "Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah . And Allah is Knowing and Wise." (Surah Tawba verse 60) - Manumission of slaves is an atonement for slapping a slave or beating him
Zadhan Abl Umar reported: "I came to Ibn 'Umar as he had granted freedom to a stave. He (the narrator further) said: He took hold of a wood or something like it from the earth and said: It (freedom of a slave) has not the reward ever equal to it, but the fact that I heard Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) say: He who slaps his slave or beats him, the expiation for it is that he should set him free." (Sahih Muslim - The Book of Oaths – Chapter (8): Treatment of slaves, and the expiation of one who slaps his slave) - Manumission of slaves is an atonement for many sins such as:
- Unintentional manslaughter. God says in the Holy Quran: "And never is it for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake - then the freeing of a believing slave and a compensation payment presented to the deceased's family [is required] unless they give [up their right as] charity." (Surah An-Nisaa verse 92)
- Al-zihar (pre-Islamic method of divorce called zihar. Zihar means a husband telling his wife: "You are to me like the back of my mother." The schools concur that if a husband utters these words to his wife, it is not permissible for him to have sex with her unless he atones by freeing a slave. If he is unable to do so, he should fast for two successive months. If even this is not possible, he is required to feed sixty poor persons. God says in the Holy Quran: "And those who pronounce zihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do." (Surah Al-Majadela verse 3)
- Perjury: God says in the Holy Quran: "Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful." (Surah AlMaeda verse 89)
- From the ways to gain Manumission of a slave is by marring the female-slave
God says in the Holy Quran: "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." (Surah An-Nisa verse 25) - Al-Mukataba
(which means contract between the slave and his master. This contract states that the slave will buy his freedom and he will pay the money on installments.)
This contract is mentioned in the Holy Quran (Surah An-Nour verse 33): “And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you." (Surah An-Nur verse 33)
