Slavery in Islam

Slavery was a concept that was already there in pre-Islamic Arabia before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Slavery was a thriving business for the Arabs. Slaves was seen as a commodity in the community (Arab slave trade).

Slavery was widely practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia, as well as in the rest of the ancient and early medieval world stretching back to the biblical times. Two classes of slave existed: a purchased slave and a slave born in the master's home.

Before the introduction of Islam, slaves were treated in the most barbaric manner. The slaves were not treated as humans and did not have any rights. Female slaves were at times forced into prostitution. But after the arrival of Islam, it was seen that slaves were given rights, something which the rest of the world never gave them.

The introduction of Islam and with the application of Islam by the Muslims, slavery had a new meaning altogether. It no longer meant that you have a beast under your control and hence you could abuse it, make it work like a donkey all day and at the end of the day give it crumbs to eat so that it stays alive.

Islam made it clear to every follower that a human being who is a slave is yet the brother of a Muslim and the slave had their rights which is compulsory for a Muslim to fulfill. It taught that slaves and masters are equal in the sights of God. If a slave is married to a master, the son would be a free man and if the master dies, the slave herself would be freed.

Islam took a more gradual stance (step by step) to eliminate slavery (gradual elimination) instead of total elimination on one say. In fact, if Islam rule by using an iron fist, it definitely won't flourish till today. Slavery was a very important part of the Arabian lives. Thus, Islam uses gradualism technique to abolish it.

Just imagine, if someone asks you to embrace a religion that says you must disown your car or something valuable to you all at once, would you bother to listen to them? This was why Islam did not put the hammer down on one go on the concept of slavery.

First, it gave rights to the slaves to become a proper human being rather than becoming a personal property to a master and then it uses other forms of releasing method to free the slaves. Slave was encouraged to be released for the smallest of reasons. Beside those mentioned above, if there was a solar & lunar eclipse, people were recommended to free a slave.

If the master has sinned, they were recommended to free a slave. Islam encouraged emancipation of a slave as a means of religious atonement for sins. If someone wants to earn extra good merits (pahala), they too were recommended to free a slave. It can be seen that Muslims were encouraged to free slaves for any and every reason.

One of the five pillars of Islam, zakat, is meant to encourage Muslims to donate money to free slaves. Islam gave security to the slaves and laid down directions so that slavery would eventually be eliminated completely.


Wallahu'alam