الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا 

وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمدًا عبده ورسوله

1. The Question

A question that is often raised to challenge the morality of Islam is why slavery was not banned in Islam while Islam has forbidden things such as wine and gambling that are far less evil than slavery? 

This question was actually asked to Bilal ibn Rabah, the Prophet’s companions who was a slave before he was bought and freed by the Prophet’s companion and the first Khalifa Abu Bakr. 

Before giving Bilal’s answer, let me set the stage by looking at two contrasting approaches to resolve this most evil social injustice problem, slavery.

2. The World approach to prohibiting Slavery (thru Declarations)

Slavery is a social injustice that existed in almost all societies.  Worldwide prohibition of slavery was only declared in 1948 (only 71 years ago).  On 10th December 1948 in Paris, the United Nation Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved by the United Nations General Assembly (General Assembly resolution 217 A).  The Declaration includes 30 articles.  The 4th article states: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

3. Prohibition of slavery in United states was declared about 150 years ago.

On January 1, 1863 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring “all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Nonetheless, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation. Lincoln recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation would have to be followed by a constitutional amendment in order to guarantee the abolishment of slavery.

On April 8, 1864 the Senate and on January 31, 1865, the House passed the proposed 13th amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States

On February 1, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln approved the Joint Resolution of Congress submitting the proposed amendment to the state legislatures. The necessary number of states ratified it by December 6, 1865.

On December 6, 1865, the Congress ratified the 13th amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution declares that: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

• Slavery was abolished but inequality and white supremacy remain

While President Lincoln believed that slavery was inherently unjust and like all men, blacks had the right to improve their condition in society and to enjoy the fruits of their labor and for this reason, he never believed in the equality of white with blacks.

On September 18, 1858, President Lincoln said: “I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.”  He also said that he opposed blacks having the right to vote, to serve on juries, to hold office and to inter-marry with whites.

For much of his career, Lincoln believed that a majority of the African-American population should leave the United States and settle in Africa or Central America as the best way to confront the problem of slavery. He promoted sending them to Liberia” (the African state founded by the American Colonization Society in 1821).

Only in President Lincoln’s last speech on April 11, 1865, he argued for limited black suffrage, saying that any black man who had served the Union during the Civil War should have the right to vote.

Because inequality was engrained in the legislators’ mind, they created laws that assured the separation between white and blacks.   The laws assured black inferiority which was built on an unfair housing system, education system and unfair employment system.  They instituted policies such as Red Lining in the 1960s that put services (financial and otherwise) out of reach for residents of minority neighborhoods. Black inner-city neighborhoods were redlined.  

The issue of inequality is the source for even after President Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery in 1863, over 150 years ago, slavery remains to be an emotional scar in the American conscious that is hard to heal and the presence of white supremacy remains as remnant of slavery.  

4. The Islamic approach to eliminating Slavery (without Declaration)

About 1450 years ago, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was born in a society in which slavery was social norm as it was in many other societies. 

In Arabia, slaves were acquired thru three ways: 1) kidnaping, 2) spoils of wars and 3) payment for debt.  People used to sell their children as slaves for the debt holder.

Interesting that in the 1800 in England, it was acceptable for a man to sell his wife. Wife selling persisted in England in some form until the early 20th century; according to the jurist and historian James Bryce, writing in 1901, wife sales were still taking place during his time.

While direct declaration to abolish slavery was neither stated in the Quran nor by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Islam abolished slavery by not one direct declaration but by three direct declarations: 1) equality, 2) closing shut all doors for acquiring new slaves, and 3) opening many doors to free the slaves.

1. Islam declared the equality of all human being.

Equality of all human beings in Islam is not as a matter of constitutional rights but it is an article of faith, which Muslims must take seriously and to which they must adhere sincerely. The foundations of equality are deeply rooted in the structure of Islam. It stems from basic principles such as the following:

1. All men are created by the One and the Same Eternal God, the Supreme Lord of all.
2. All mankind belong to the human race and share equally in the common parentage of Adam and Eve.
3. The differences of race, color or social status are only incidental. They do not affect the true stature of man in the sight of Allah.
4. All people are born equal, in the sense that no one brings any possession with him; and they die equal in the sense that they take back nothing of their worldly belongings.
5. Allah judges every person on the basis of his own merits and according to his own deeds.
6. Allah has conferred honor and dignity on all people.

Both the Quran and the hadeath include many statements supporting the principle of equality of mankind. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ۬ (الحُجرَات)

 “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Aware.” [Al-Hujraat 49:13]

The differences of race, color or social status are only incidental. They do not affect the true stature of man in the sight of Allah.

When this concept of Equality is fully utilized, it will leave no place for prejudice or persecutions. And when this Divine ordinance is fully implemented, there will be no room for oppression or suppression.

Jabir ibn Abdullah (جابر بن عبد الله) reported that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

روى الإمام البيهقي من حديث جابر بن عبد الله – رضي الله عنه ، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، خطب في خُطبة الوداع، فقال (يا أيها الناس، إن ربكم واحد، وإن أباكم واحد، ألا لا فضل لعربي على عجمي، ولا لعجمي على عربي، ولا لأحمر على أسود، ولا لأسود على أحمر إلا بالتقوى) الألباني في السلسلة الصحيحة، و حديث آخر، رواه أبو داود والترمذي

“O mankind, your Lord is One and your father is one. You all descended from Adam, and Adam was created from earth. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, no colored person to a white person, or a white person to a colored person except by Taqwa (piety).”

To ensure equality, Islam demanded honorable treatment of the slaves. Harsh treatment of a slave was declared sufficient ground for his or her emancipation. Ibn Suwaid saw Abu Dhar with his slave and both wearing the same fancy robe, so he asked him what is this, he told him, the Prophet (PBUH) Said:

رواه الشيخان البخاري ومسلم، ، فعن المعرور بن سويد قال: لقيت أبا ذر بِالرَّبَذَةِ وعليه حلة وعلى غلامه حلة، فسألته عن ذلك فقال: قال لي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم:  إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ جعلهم الله تحت أيديكم، فمن كان أخوه تحت يده فليطعمه مما يأكل، وليلبسه مما يلبس، ولا تكلفوهم ما يغلبهم، فإن كلفتموهم فأعينوهم .

“You slaves are your brothers, Allah made you in control of them, whoever has his brother under his control, he should feed him from he eats, dress  him from he dresses and never ask them to do something they cannot do and if you do you must help him”.   (this hadeath applies also to servants)

2. Islam closed shut all doors for acquiring new slaves.

Kidnaping is absolutely prohibited in Islam, in a divine hadeath, the Prophet (PBUH) said that Allah said:

فعن أبي هريرة رضى الله عنه” عن الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم قال (قال اللهُ : ثلاثةٌ أنا خصمهم يومَ القيامةِ: رجلٌ أعطى بي ثم غدر، ورجلٌ باع حرًّا فأكل ثمنَه، ورجلٌ استأجرَ أجيرًا فاستوفى منهُ ولم يُعْطِه أجرَه) [ رواه البخاري].

‘There are three whose opponent I will be on the Day of Resurrection, and whomever I oppose, I will defeat … A man who sold a free man and consumed his price.’” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari]

Even in case of wars, Islam established two options for treating the prisoners of war, wither free them or take ransom: Prohibited usury and promoted forgiving debts

فَإِذا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَثْخَنْتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا وذَلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ (4)

So, when you meet those who disbelieve in the battle field, there will be strike of the necks, until you pacified them, then tie fast their bonds (i.e. take them as captives). Then choose to release them either as favor or after receiving a ransom; until the war lays down its burden.  Yet, if it had been Allah’s Will, He Himself could have certainly defeated them (without you). But, He wanted to test some of you with others. (Mohammad 47:4)

3. Islam opened many doors for freeing slaves, males and females.

Freeing a slave was declared to be a virtue of the highest order equal in value perhaps to prayer and fasting.  The atonement of certain sins was declared the freeing of slaves and this came in the Quran 6 times.  The expatiation of slapping or hitting s lave is to free him/her; the Prophet (PBUH) said:

( مَنْ لَطَمَ مَمْلُوكَهُ أَوْ ضَرَبَهُ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ أَنْ يُعْتِقَهُ) رواه مسلم

“The expatiation of slabbing or hitting a slave is freeing him”

In addition, Allah decreed that if a slave wanted to purchase his freedom, he should be helped with money and the means to maintain an independent life.  For the female slaves, the owner should officially marry them or get them married to other free men so they become also free. Allah says:

وَأَنكِحُواْ ٱلۡأَيَـٰمَىٰ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ مِنۡ عِبَادِكُمۡ وَإِمَآٮِٕڪُمۡ‌ۚ إِن يَكُونُواْ فُقَرَآءَ يُغۡنِهِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ۬ (٣٢) وَلۡيَسۡتَعۡفِفِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغۡنِيَہُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ‌ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡتَغُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُكُمۡ فَكَاتِبُوهُمۡ إِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ فِيہِمۡ خَيۡرً۬ا‌ۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ ۬ (النُّور )

“Arrange for marriage those among you who are single and the virtuous ones among your slaves, male or female. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His grace: for Allah is All-Encompassing, All Knowing (32)

And those who cannot afford marriage should keep themselves chase until Allah enriches them out of His grace.  If any of your slaves wish to enter in a contract of emancipation (by paying money) contract them if you know any good in them. And give them of the wealth that Allah has given to you.”  [Al-Nur 24:32-33]

But let us listen to the response of one of the most well know slave in answering the question why Islam did not ban slavery

5.     Bilal Ibn Rabbah Answer on Slavery

Ref: LBilal Ibn Rabah , by Muhammad Abdul-Rauf, American Trust Publication (1977)

Shortly before his death, while he was giving an Islamic lecture in a large gathering in Syria, Bilal was asked the following question:

“Islam has forbidden evil things such as wine, gambling and adultery; why was slavery not banned in Islam?”

Bilal Answered:

“You know, the world is now based on the labor of slaves.  Should Islam or any other system have sought to stop the institution of slavery all at once it would lead to universal anarchy and disturbances in which both masters and slaves would suffer. The masters’ loss is clear.

As far as slaves they would find themselves without anyone to take care of their need.  Unaccustomed to independence and self reliance, they would in most of the cases, seek to satisfy their needs through criminal assaults and extortions.  Crimes of all sorts would spread widely; society would suffer incurably and there would be no more peace or security.”

Another member of the audience asked: “And what has Islam done to help the slave?”

Bilal said:

“To help the slave, Islam has done what no other system and no other religion did or could do.  The Torah enjoined slavery and Christianity was silent about it.  But Islam has left no chance except that it urged the emancipation of slaves.  It promises great rewards for emancipating a slave and makes this emancipation one of the foremost duties incumbent upon a believer as a manifestation of his gratitude for the blessings of Allah.  The Quran reads:

أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ (٨) وَلِسَانً۬ا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ (٩) وَهَدَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ (١٠) فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ (١١) وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ (١٢) فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ (البَلَد)

“Have We not made for him a pair of eyes, a tongue and a pair of lips? And guided him to distinguish between the two ways (good and evil)? (10) Would he cross the difficult steep path?  And do you know what will make you know the steep path?  (It is) Freeing a neck (slave). (Al-Balad 90:8-13)

And Allah, the Almighty, said concerning the expiration of an accidental death caused by an unintentional action:

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنٍ أَن يَقۡتُلَ مُؤۡمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤۡمِنًا خَطَـًٔ۬ا فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬ وَدِيَةٌ۬ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ أَن يَصَّدَّقُواْ‌ۚ فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوۡمٍ عَدُوٍّ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ۬ فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬‌ۖ وَإِن ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِۭ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ وَبَيۡنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ۬ فَدِيَةٌ۬ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ وَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ شَهۡرَيۡنِ مُتَتَابِعَيۡنِ تَوۡبَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَڪِيمً۬ا (٩٢النِّسَاء)

It is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake, and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood money, i.e Diya) be given to the deceased’s family, unless they remit it. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer; the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed), and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation (blood money – Diya) must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And whoso finds this (the penance of freeing a slave) beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months in order to seek repentance from Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Al-Nisa 4:92)

Islam intended to see all slaves freed, but did not make it an immediate and unconditional duty incumbent upon all masters as this would hurt all parties.  Islam has given slaves a share in the Zakat with which they can buy their freedom.  The Quran reads:

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡہَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ‌ۖ فَرِيضَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَڪِيمٌ۬ (التّوبَة٦٠)

As-Sadaqat (Alms) are to be given to the poor, the needy, those employed for its collection; those have been inclined (towards Islam); and in freeing the slaves; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s way, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise. (At-Tuba 9:60)

Islam has also made Mukatabah (a contract) a way for a slave to win his liberty.  Accordingly, a slave who feels capable to work to buy his freedom from his earnings may take the chance and try, and his master has to grant him his request.  Allah says in this respect:

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡتَغُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُكُمۡ فَكَاتِبُوهُمۡ إِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ فِيہِمۡ خَيۡرً۬ا‌ۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ

“And if any of your slaves seeks a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you know some good in them. And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you” (Al-Nour 24:33)

And Islam has made it a duty that slaves must be treated with respect and kindness.  The Prophet (PBUH) at all occasions recommended noble treatment of the slaves.  He (PBUH) said:

اتقوا الله فى الضعيفين المملوك، والمرأة

“Fear Allah in the matter of the two weak, the slaves and women.”

He (PBUH) also said:

اتقوا الله فى الصلاة و فيما ملكت أيمانكم

“Fear Allah in the matter of prayers and in the matter of those in your possessions.”

He (PBUH) emphatically encouraged emancipating slaves, saying:

ومن أعتق نفسا مسلمة ، كانت فديته من جهنم

“Whoever emancipates a slave it will be his delivery from the Hellfire”

In fact, the kind and noble treatment with which slaves have been treated under Islam has caused them to forget their plight and the evils and humility which slavery used to entail, so much so that some slaves preferred to remain under their masters to freedom with their own people.

Someone from the audience asked: How is this possible?

Bilal replied:

When the Prophet (PBUH) was married to Khadija, she gave him as gift her slave, Zayd Ibn Harithah.  It happened later that a delegation from the tribe to which Zayd belonged and from which he had been abducted and sold in the market in Mecca came to Mecca to get their son.   They offered Mohammad to buy it from him so he would be freed and returned to his father. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “By all means, take him without any price if he agrees to go”.  The Prophet (PBUH) called Zayd and offered him to go to his family but Zayd refused and said that he preferred to stay with the Prophet (PBUH).

One of the audiences exclaimed:  How strange!

Bilal said:

This is not strange, in fact, I myself was bought and freed by Abu Bakr but I continued to stick with him, I could not part his company because of his kindness to me.  When we emigrated to Madina, I stayed in his house and my loyalty continued to be devoted to him.  I remained attached to him until he died.

Islam does not make distinction between a slave and his master.  Islam does not deny a freed slave any high position.  Zayd ibn Harithah was installed as a commander of the army that included many leading nobles. His son, Usamah, was granted the same honor after his father’s death.  The Prophet’s female cousin was married to Zayd who was a freed slave. Before Islam, no freed slave could ever imagine to marry any tribes’ woman even of lesser nobility.

One of the audiences said: “This s good, but it would have been better if this ugly institution (slavery) were completely eliminated.

Bilal answered:

I have just explained how a sudden elimination of slavery would hurt both the slaves and their masters. Islam has chosen the middle course; it protected the human rights of the slaves and encouraged their emancipation.  

Dua