What was the Muslim view on slavery?

Answer 1

Islam never allowed slavery. It is the opposite. In the era of Quran revelation, slavery was a worldwide spread and Islam; per Quran and prophet Muhammad (PBUH) teachings; set the rules and motivations to limit slavery and to terminate slavery peacefully and by avoiding strong shock to the society..

To limit slavery and to take steps to terminate it, it was stated in Quran, the holy book of Islam religion, that one should release (liberate) a slave as a way to be rewarded by God and gain His mercy or as a penalty to be forgiven from the sins of breaking Oath, mistaken killing of someone, or some other sins.

Not only that but allowed a free one (not slave) to formally marry a slave woman with approval of her parents and with allowing her all marriage rights and obligations including getting her and her children, upon marriage and giving birth, freed from slavery and getting all the wife rights including inheritance.

When there were still slave women, it was completely forbidden to have sex with the slave woman without mutual acceptance and satisfaction. Raping slave women was strictly forbidden.

In addition, Islam declared clearly the rights of slaves/ servants. Islam (Quranic Islam, which is actually what was practiced by Prophet Muhammad and those with him, and not the distorted picture of Islam as promoted among the masses today by the pen of the historians and human conjecture) set in motion a gradual process of improvement in the status of those in bondage and culminating in the abolition of this institution. The process started with Quran sayings (meaning English translation):

"…ye…may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands posses….wed them with the leave of their owners, and give them their dower…" [Quran chapter 4, verse 25]

This conferred upon the slave girls all the rights and privileges of a wife. In Quran, Verse 36 of chapter 4 brought another big change in the status of slaves by enforcing the obligation to do good to one's parents and in the same breath, also to the slaves:

"…do goodness to parents …and to what your right hands posses (slaves)"

[Quran chapter 4, verse 36]

Quran exhorts Believers to give monetary help to those in bondage in order to alleviate their economic status:

"Alms are for…those in Bondage.."

[Quran, chapter 9, verse 60]

Quran also urged Muslims to free those in the shackles of slavery:

"…But it is righteousness…to spend of your substance out of love for Him…for the ransom of slaves.."

[Quran, chapter 2, verse 177]

"And whoever kills a believer by mistake, it is ordained that he should free a believing slave.."

[Quran, chapter 4, verse 92]

"He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation…give a slave his freedom.."

[Quran, chapter 5, verse 89]

According to Quran if a slave asks for his freedom, the Muslim is left for no other choice but to accede to his request and is also required to help him with funds in order to rehabilitate him as a free man:

"And if any of your slaves ask you for a deed in writing (for emancipation) give them such a deed; If ye knew any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which Allah has given to you…"

[Quran, chapter 24, verse 33]

The main source of slaves, were prisoners of war. The Quran laid down that they should be set free either for a favor or as ransom for your own prisoners of war:

"So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and then either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates…"

[Quran, chapter 47,verse 4]

Thus the Quran has restricted the victor with either freeing prisoners for ransom or as a favor. There is no third choice given by the Quran, and thereby it has not only abolished slavery but abolished the very source of this evil, i.e. prisoners of war.

The basic and fundamental teaching of the Quran is that subservience is due to God (Allah) alone and not to any human or group of humans. Obedience and sovereignty is only and only for God (Allah), says the Quran at numerous places.

Qur'anic Islam does not accept Slavery. Unlike The Bible which states:

"ye, shall take them (the slaves) as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them (the slaves) for a possession, they shall be, your BONDMEN (slaves) for ever . . . LEVITICUS 25:46

It is clear that the basic teaching of the Quran is that obedience and subservience is due to God (Allah) alone. From above and many other verses it is very clear that the Quran has abolished slavery, and not upheld it. If their remain certain verses were slaves are mentioned then these are those which were already existing in society from days of ignorance and about whom the Quran enjoined a gradual elevation in status leading to their freedom and abolishing any future enslavement.

Answer 2

Slavery was very common among Arabs. It could not be abolished immediatly. However, the Muslims were urged upoin to set the slaves free. Hazrat warned one of his Governrs in these worlds, "Almighty allah has given birth to each one as free. Who are you to make them slaves?" In its spirit Islam is against slavery. If some one has a slave, he is bound to feed him as he himself eats and be kind to him

Answer 3

Slavery is only for Allah (God in English); the one and only one God with no partner, no son, no companion, no equivalence, and no associate.