That quotation comes from an Islamic discussion board (thanks to Susan). I’m all for clearing up misconceptions, too, so here is a bit of the discussion:
:sl:
some muslims have the misconception that slavery is abolished. certainly if this was an evil thing that had no benefit the righteous caliphs would have been the first to annul it. slavery in Islam is not the same as the west’s slave trade. it is the states handling of the dependants of the men (that we were at battle with) that died… captives of war.
this is what nasiruddin says:
QUOTE
Islamic history of the last centuries is depressing, but one positive thing is that most Muslim states have abolished slavery. (Prophet Muhammad (sallalahi wa salam) stated that releasing a slave is an excellently good deed, hence it must be also a very good and valuable deed to liberate all slaves and to prohibit all slavery.)I do not change deen, because this is no subject of belief itself, it is a subject of politics, society structure and Islamic law and we Muslims are ordered by Allah (ta’ala) to enforce justice, hence we must seek to clear our society of injustices and slavery is an injustice.
i want to see how many other people have this view of slavery being evil? and dont forget that the prophet :saa: captured slaves.
whynot Posted: May 31 2004, 15:51
And from the responses:
If Allaah enables the Muslim mujahideen to defeat kaafir enemies in war, then the men may be killed, ransomed, set free without ransom or enslaved. The choice between these four options is to be made by the ruler, according to what he thinks is the best course.
With regard to the women, they become slaves and “those whom one’s right hand possesses” (described as a “right hand servant” in the question). Male children also become slaves. The ruler shares out these slaves among the mujaahideen.
Shaykh al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The reason why a person may be taken as a slave is his being a kaafir and waging war against Allaah and His Messenger. If Allaah enables the Muslims who are striving and sacrificing their lives and their wealth and all that Allaah has given them to make the word of Allaah supreme over the kaafirs, then He allows them to enslave the kuffaar when they capture them, unless the ruler chooses to free them or to ransom them, if that serves the interests of the Muslims.
Adwa’ al-Bayaan, 3/387
Islam limited the sources of slaves which existed before the mission of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to just one source, namely slavery resulting from capturing prisoners from among the kuffaar.
Islam treated female slaves more kindly in their enslavement than other cultures did. Their honour was not considered to be permissible to anyone by way of prostitution, which was the fate of female prisoners of war in most cases. Rather Islam made them the property of their masters alone, and forbade anyone else to also have intercourse with them, even if that was his son. Islam made it their right to become free through a contract of manumission; it encouraged setting them free and promised reward for that. Islam made setting slaves free an obligation in the case of some kinds of expiation (kafaarah), such as the expiation for accidental killing, zihaar (a jaahili form of divorce in which a man said to his wife, “You are to me as my mother’s back”), and breaking oaths. They received the best treatment from their masters, as was enjoined by the pure sharee’ah.
Secondly:
A mujaahid does not have to be married in order to gain possession of a “slave whom one’s right hand possesses.” None of the scholars expressed such a view.
Thirdly:
If a mujaahid takes possession of a female slave or male slave, it is permissible for him to sell them. In either case – whether one acquires a slave through battle or through purchase – it is not permissible for a man to have intercourse with a female slave until she has had a period from which it may be ascertained that she is not pregnant. If she is pregnant then he must wait until she gives birth.
It was narrated that Ruwayfi’ ibn Thaabit al-Ansaari said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say on the day of Hunayn: “It is not permissible for any man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to irrigate the crop of another else – meaning to have intercourse with a woman who is pregnant. And it is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to have intercourse with a captured woman until he has established that she is not pregnant. And it is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to sell any booty until it has been shared out.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2158; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 1890.
For many reasons, including the fact that the Muslims have long since given up jihad, slavery is now very rare. This means that the Muslims must be extra cautious by examining any case in which it is claimed that someone is a slave, whether male or female.
For more information see question no. 26067
And Allaah knows best.
Given up jihad?
Then some question the notion:
I can understand the keeping the pow’s, but i dont understand the ability of men to have concubines. It seems to go against everything ive learned about Islam. Its having illegal sexual relations w/ a woman. The woman is not your wife. I dont think i can ever understand this.
And some responses:
uh shayrob?
what is Islam? submission to God
how do you know what is forbiden and allowed in Islam? you look at the Koran and Sunnah to find out.So if you have evidences stating concubines are hallal then where is the confusion?
how is sex with concubine ilegal if Allah has allowed it?
:sl:
Din: I understand that but i just want to understand why its allowed b/c it doesnt seem like there is any morality in it. Why is dating haram while having a concubine halal?
hey thats where you go wrong
What is good? whatever Allah says is good
What is bad? whatever Allah says is bad
What is immoral? whatever Allah says is immoral
your way of thinking makes me wonder on how excactly do you understand Islamic Aqeda?
this is an ayat of Koran:
“There are things which you like that are bad for you,
and there are things which you hate that are good for you,
You dont know but Allah knows best.”
So stick to this ayat brother and dont say something is immoral when Allah has allowed it,
well you can say it if you want, but you see if you think Allah’s law is immoral then gess what he is going to think about you and your sins? and where you should belong.
I dont want to be sarcastic or rude brother, i just want to make you understand this important thing.
There is much more. You will find the whole thread illuminating.