format_quote Originally Posted by
zzz1234
Can I also ask, why were slaves acceptable in Islam years ago? Surely God would look down upon this? Plus, why would sex be permissible to perform on slaves, surely this is wrong?
The following are taken from different websites and may help to shed light on this question:
Islam came at a time when slavery was widespread among all nations of the earth. According to the people of that period, it made no difference if the slave was captured in a lawful war, aggressive hostility or by way of trickery or betrayal. When Islam came, it narrowed and restricted this system. It strongly condemned selling and enslavement of free men and restricted slavery to the captives captured by way of lawful Jihad. It then made efforts to liberate the slaves and vividly encouraged their freedom by opening and widening ways that led to slave manumission, like expiation for a false testimony, Zihaar and murder. This is in addition to encouraging and emphasizing being kind to the bondmen, teaching them, honouring them and assisting them...
Having a mistress in Islam - Islam web - English
Although Islam established equity in dealing with slavery, it gave the Imam (leader) of the Muslims the freedom to treat the prisoners in one of three ways:
1) Free them without a ransom.
2) Free them against a ransom.
3) Enslave them.
In Islam a clear, practical and systematic way to free slaves was established:
1) It made freeing slaves a highly desirable act.
2) Freeing slaves by paying expiations.
3) Granting emancipation through al-Mukataba (the slave buys himself from his master by paying installments).
4) Granting freedom through the state welfare.
5) Freeing any woman with a child from her master as soon as the latter dies.
6) Freeing any slave who was beaten unfairly.
After this introduction we dare saying that Islam is the freer of slaves and the equitable with human beings. We are very proud of this. So, if the world now gets together and forbids slavery, Islam will welcome such an initiative as it fits into its aims and objectives. It is lawful for the Muslim leader to sign a convention forbidding slavery.
But this does not mean that slavery was abrogated definitely and has become legally inexistent. If the world returns back to enslaving prisoners of war, Muslims will treat their enemies equally.
Slavery in Islam - Islam web - English
...Allah allowed us to enslave the captives, but encouraged us to free them. So if the different countries of the world sign treaties by which they exchange the captives during the time of war, we would be the first to sign such a treaty that will be a double win for us. On one side, we will reclaim our own people, and on the other side we will free the captives, as we are encouraged by God and His Messenger.'
Excellent treatment of slaves in Islam
Concerning having relations with slave women:
Islam ensured that the slave girl’s duties were not restricted merely to domestic chores but also gave her master permission to copulate with her. This concession created an atmosphere of love and harmony between the slave girl and her master. Islam thereby raised the status of the war captive-maidens close to that of wives. It was a psychological cure to her grief-stricken heart, being deprived of her family and thrown into the hands of a strange society.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) enjoined his followers to treat the slaves kindly, gently, and, above all, to regard them as members of the family. In this way, they were made to feel wanted; which was far better than treating them as outcasts and leaving them to wander the streets of a strange society in a peniless, destitute condition. Such treatment would have ultimately forced them to take up evil occupations such as prostitution in the case of slave woman in order to fill their hungry stomachs. The First World War in 1914 was a clear reflection of the evils involved in setting captive women free to roars about in a strange society with strange surroundings. During that war, German and English women prisoners on either side were set free to roam the streets with no-one to feed them. The result was obvious that they resorted to other unrefined and uncivilised methods of income on the streets. Thus, it is evident that the Islamic treatment of women prisoners of war was conducive towards better social relations and led to the refinement of their overall social lives.
Over and above all this, History will show that Islam did not encourage slavery but rather encouraged moves towards the extirpation of slavery...
Is having a Slave (girl) for sex nowdyas is allowed? | IslamQA
...Having explained what the social customs were at the time, it should be understood that sexual intercourse with one's slave was considered part of the norm. The slaves too saw nothing wrong in this. In fact, before the advent of Islam the slaves were considered no more than their master's possessions and therefore absolutely anything could be done with them. In other words, they could even take their slaves' lives when and as they pleased. Islam removed such vices and raised them to the position of fellow humans with similar rights. However, as long as slavery was not completely removed, having sexual relations remained part of the master-slave relationship.
Concerning the master-slave relationship, I think it is but natural to assume that it was very close. It seems obvious enough that the master and slave would be around each other a lot of the time. Therefore, it would probably have been difficult to expect them not to have a sexual relationship, especially if the slave happened to be very attractive. However, depicting it as the master “raping” and “abusing” his slave is far from the truth. The slave was fully aware that this was a part of the relationship much like the husband and wife knows that sexual relations are a part of the couple’s relationship. Such was not a hidden relationship; it was known and was also legally and morally accepted, both in the society and the world at large. So, it was not fornication. Quite to the contrary, the exceptions to the impermissibility of having sexual relationships are those under marriage and those with one’s slave. Therefore, it is also incorrect to term it “fornication” (do note that of course, the only permanent exception to the impermissibility of having sexual relations was that under marriage).
Had slavery been abolished on the spot it would have caused chaos in the society and the world at large. It just was not possible. However, the Prophet (p) changed their status and tried to get his people into treating them as fellow members of the family. For this reason, a “master-slave” relationship turned into more of a Father-son, or husband-wife relationship.
The “slaves” were to be fed with the same food as that of the master, clothed with the same clothes (yes, same clothes!), and not asked to do more than they could handle. Nay, the master was even told to assist the slave if the slave was found to be having any difficulties. They were not to refer to them as “slaves” anymore. These are your brothers and sisters, it was declared. Yet further, they were not allowed to hit their slaves. If these slaves objected to their position and desired to be freed, then if the potential and ability to live and cope independently was seen in them, they should be helped toward being freed. Accordingly, what Islam envisaged and wanted to produce, was a treatment of “slaves” that was absolutely free of cruelty and harm. Actually, keeping such things in mind probably renders this undeserving of the term “slavery”.
http://www.islamicboard.com/clarific...ml#post1064314
We have many other threads and posts on this topic which serve to demonstrate that the concept of slavery in Islam is totally different to what the western (or Judaeo-Christian) concept of slavery has traditionally involved.Muslims are commanded to treat slaves with mercy and compassion, as fellow human beings and even as one's own brothers. Please browse the following threads for details from Islamic teachings and even quotes from non-Muslims:
http://www.islamicboard.com/clarific...ery-islam.html
http://www.islamicboard.com/discover...3-slavery.html
http://www.islamicboard.com/clarific...ves-islam.html
http://www.islamicboard.com/clarific...ml#post1399170