Slavery has been a dark stain on human history, and Islam emerged in a world where it was a common practice. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, and the Hadith, the sayings and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, address slavery extensively.
This article delves into these Islamic texts to explore a complex question: Does Islam promote slavery, or does it offer a different perspective?
We will examine Quranic verses and Hadith narrations to see how they address the treatment of slaves, the ethics of manumission (freeing slaves), and the overall position of Islam on this controversial issue.
Referring to some European-Christian scholars like Sir W. Muir and Mr. John J. Pool, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar wrote in his book “Pakistan or Partition of India” that there is no obligation on a Muslim to release his slaves.
“While the prescriptions by the Prophet regarding the just and humane treatment of slaves contained in the Koran are praiseworthy, there is nothing whatever in Islam that lends support to the abolition of this curse. As Sir W. Muir has well said “…rather, while lightening, lie riveted the fetter…. There is no obligation on a Muslim to release his slaves“ said Ambedkar.
However, the observation of Christian Scholars as noted by Dr. Ambedkar is not correct because both Quran and Sahih Hadiths explicitly command Muslims to strive to get slaves freed from captivity and to treat them honorably.
Holy Quran on Slavery
What will explain to you what the ascent is? It is the freeing of a slave or the feeding in times of famine of an orphaned relative or some needy person in distress, and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. Those who do so are the people of the right hand, and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, and the Fire will close in on them. Al-Quran 90:12-20
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East or the West, but righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets, and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves.” 2:177
Further, Holy Quran castigates those who have power and wealth for not sharing that with slaves and bondspeople and for not making them equal to them.
And Allah has favoured some of you over others in provision. But those who have been much favoured would not share their wealth with those ˹bondspeople˺ in their possession, making them their equals. Do they then deny Allah’s favours? Holy Quran 16:71
Furthermore, one of the main purpose of Zakat (a mandatory charity and one of the five fundamental pillars in Islam) as listed in Holy Quran is to free captives and slaves as can be ascertained from following verses of the Holy Quran.
Zakat 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 he is All-Knowing and All-Wise.” Holy Quran 9:60
Hadith on Slavery
Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 285, Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet (s) said, “Set free the captives and accept invitations.“
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 65, Number 286: Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari: The Prophet said, “Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom).“
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The pagans were of two kinds as regards their relationship to the Prophet and the Believers. Some of them were those with whom the Prophet was at war and used to fight against, and they used to fight him; the others were those with whom the Prophet (ﷺ) made a treaty, and neither did the Prophet (ﷺ) fight them, nor did they fight him. If a lady from the first group of pagans emigrated towards the Muslims, her hand would not be asked in marriage unless she got the menses and then became clean. When she became clean, it would be lawful for her to get married, and if her husband emigrated too before she got married, then she would be returned to him. If any slave or female slave emigrated from them to the Muslims, then they would be considered free persons (not slaves) and they would have the same rights as given to other emigrants. The narrator then mentioned about the pagans involved with the Muslims in a treaty, the same as occurs in Mujahid’s narration. If a male slave or a female slave emigrated from such pagans as had made a treaty with the Muslims, they would not be returned, but their prices would be paid (to the pagans). Sahih al-Bukhari 5286
Mishkat-ul Masabeeh 3662- It has been narrated by Umm Hussain (r) that Prophet (s) said- “If any slave is appointed as your Imam and he rules and leads you according to the book of Allah then listen to him obediently and act on it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 256, Narrated Anas ibn Malik-Allah’s Messenger said, “You should listen to and obey, your ruler even if he is an Ethiopian (black) slave whose head looks like a raisin.”
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Someone who eats with his servant, rides a donkey in the markets, and ties up his sheep and milks it is not proud.” Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 550
Help the Oppressed: 7 Commands of Prophet PBUH
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ سُوَيْدِ بْنِ مُقَرِّنٍ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِسَبْعٍ أَمَرَنَا بِاتِّبَاعِ الْجَنَائِزِ وَعِيَادَةِ الْمَرِيضِ وَتَشْمِيتِ الْعَاطِسِ وَإِجَابَةِ الدَّاعِي وَنَصْرِ الْمَظْلُومِ وَإِبْرَارِ الْقَسَمِ وَرَدِّ السَّلاَمِ .
Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib said: “The Messenger of Allah commanded us to do seven things: He commanded us to attend funerals, visit the sick, to reply (say: Yarhamuk Allah [may Allah have mercy on you]) to one who sneezes, to accept invitations, to support the oppressed, to fulfill oaths (when adjured by another) and to return greetings of Salaam.” Sunan an-Nasa’i 3778
Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “If anyone possesses three characteristics God will give him an easy death and bring him into His paradise: gentleness towards the weak, affection towards parents, and kindness to slaves.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition. Mishkat al-Masabih 3364
Status of Slaves in Muslim History
One must note many of the great companions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH (eg Bilal ibn Rabbah RA), scholars, patrons and rulers (eg Mamluk rulers across Muslim world including in India) of Muslims had been former slaves. Many Prophets of Islam also suffered slavery.
Overall, Islam enjoins freeing of slaves and treating them kindly.
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