Thursday 30 August 2012

Is Slavery suitable today?

As has been explained in the ‘What is Slavery’ question, we have seen that slavery is existent today in the Modern era – although in a Corporation and Financial sense. But the question arises, is ‘Past slavery’ still suitable for today’s standards according to Islam?


An Islamic Perspective:

Islam did not introduce slavery to the world, but it recognised it as a Reality which would be existent within the world, in the Past and also in the Future. Due to continuous conflict within the world – slavery would continue – as one group of people would overpower another, and take the defeated as slaves.

Islam did not clearly forbid Slavery, otherwise – Muslims could potentially be Enslaved in war, yet what alternative would they have when they were Victors?

-         They could not always Release those who fought them for free while losing their own people in Slavery to the enemy.
-         They could not always Kill the enemy – otherwise – the enemy may be more hostile, and similarly kill the Muslim prisoners.
-         They could not always Ransom the prisoners – otherwise – a rich enemy may always wage war and always expect freedom for their people through paying Ransom money.
-         They could not always Imprison the enemy – otherwise – it would be a financial burden with no benefit to the Muslims.
However, they could Enslave the prisoners – while giving them a great deal of rights – and exposing them to the beauty of a society implementing Islamic teachings.

This is what Islam did, and as a result – achieved a great deal of success in the past, and similarly – it would do so in the future if such application did occur.

1 comment:

  1. Islam's purpose was to extinguish slavery not promote it. we can see the examples from the lives of our prophet SAWW and his wives (ALLAH be pleased with them). and these rulings are for the people 1500 years ago when slavery was part of culture and it was considered no big deal. but islam taght us that we must not keep slaves and free them.
    please visit this link for more details
    http://islamicresponse.blogspot.com/2011/06/islam-on-slave-girlsconcubines.html
    and ALLAH knows best

    ReplyDelete