This book answers the criticism on Islam that it did not abolish the institution of slavery or rather provided it legitimacy.

The noted author answers this misconception through references from Qur’an and Ahadith.

Author explains that Islam took all possible measures to abolish slavery without disrupting the socio-economy and bringing more misery and trouble for the enslaved.

Islam grants equal human rights to all people. In verse 13 of Chapter Al-Hujurat, Allah says:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is the most pious. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”

Author explains that it must be understood that 15 centuries ago, the institution of slavery was common in the world and when Islam spread, Islam took measures to get rid of the institution of slavery in a gradual process.

The gradual process was adopted so that people do not lose their source of sustenance and become liability to society and engage in wrong practices like begging, stealing and prostitution. 

Qur’an is very clear on freeing slaves in the later revealed verses. In verse 12 and 13 of Chapter Balad, Allah says:

“And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave.”

In Zakat rules, there was a fiscal head allocation for freeing slaves. Also, as an alternate to pecuniary punishments, freeing slaves was encouraged. In verse 33 of Chapter Nur, the final verdict comes like this:

“And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you know that they are good and trustworthy. And give them something yourselves out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you.”

Not only this verse points towards freeing slaves if they so desire, but also to help them with resources so that they can afford their livelihood independently.

Meanwhile, in the transition period, several Qur’anic verses and Ahadith ensured that slaves were dealt humanely. A Hadith says that while fasting, Muslims should work with their subordinates and reduce their working hours.

William Muir in his biography about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) writes:

“Zaid, the freedman, was so strongly attached by the kindness of the Prophet, that he preferred to remain at Makkah rather than return home with his own father. ‘I will not leave thee,’ he said, clinging to his patron, ‘for thou hast been a father and mother to me.”

In Muslim world later on, the institution of slavery was abolished quite late. However, the sources of Islam, i.e. Qur’an and Hadith are very clear in their principle stand on slavery and Islam took steps to get rid of slavery in a gradual process. The gradual process was adopted as an economic need of transition so that an abrupt change must not bring about massive levels of economic hardships for the slaves.

But, even in the transition period, imbued with the spirit of kindness, compassion and submissiveness, people treated slaves humanely which resulted in their acceptance of Islam.

In fact, one of the arguments of non-believers was that how can Islam give such generous rights to slaves. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) describing how to treat slaves once said: “feed them with food you eat yourself, clothe them with clothes that you wear yourself.” [Sahih Bukhari, Vol 3, Book of Manumission, Hadith Number 2545].

It must be understood in the light of history that it was during the colonization and post colonization period when Western powers treated slaves like animals with brutal torture and adopting un-human ways. They colonized lands and forced enslavement of indigenous people and displaced them from their homes and lands. David Stannard suggests that as many as 60 million Africans were killed while being enslaved [i].

In contrast, Islam prohibited enslaving a free man even in the transition period. It compelled that prisoners of war shall also be freed eventually. Mother of new born child would herself achieve freedom automatically. Thus, Islam took measures to ensure that within a generation, the institution of slavery shall end.

Author writes that since Muslims won huge lands in a short period of time, thousands and thousands of people came in the Muslim lands and it became difficult to shorten the transition period. However, Islamic approach as reflected from Qur’anic verses and Ahadith is clear on the stance of Islam on slavery and how it has to be abolished through a series of individual, social, legal and political reforms.  

Author also sheds light on dictatorship being a collective form of slavery. Author explains that Islam promotes democratic decision making within Muslim society through the principle of “امرھم شوری بینھم”. The noted author also explains the sociological reasons why both slavery at individual and collective level persisted for long in the world in all civilizations.

This explanation provides succinct reasons to understand the course of history while appreciating that the stance of Islam needs to be looked at from Islamic sources of knowledge rather than from the history of Muslim civilization.

References [i] Stannard, David. American Holocaust. Oxford University Press, 1993.