Prophets
and other messengers of God come to liberate humans from their chains. Divine
teachings, in their pristine essence, are designed to emancipate them from
their slavish bondages.
Compared to all other religions of the past, Islam
provides far more evolved teachings that are mindful of the predicament of
slaves. Its teachings are designed to abolish and root out this abominable
practice through radical transformation of the social order, even as it provides teachings for fair treatment of all, including in times of war to the Prisoners of War. Islam permits defensive war against the enemies of the State when it is faced with aggression by other nations and peoples. In the course of such inter-State conflicts, Muslims can capture and retain prisoners of War till the end of hostilities and thereafter, release them as a grace or for ransom.
In the history of the
world, rise and fall of nations is a reality. Likewise, profound teachings get blurred in the distance of time. People forget the true traditions and invent new customs of religions, and thereby alter and reshape original teachings. Hence, though Prophets in the past never took slaves, their followers have abused that legacy of freedom and fairness. Hence, slavery had been perpetrated also by the so called men of religion. Despite
Islam’s clearest exposition on the dignity and equality and equal rights of all
human beings, like Jews and Christians and the Hindus among them in society,
even Muslims cannot fully absolve themselves from the stigma of practicing
slavery.
In a religious and international context, where the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) practices slavery against its enemies in the name of Islam, and also many other world nations permitting working/labour/social/political conditions amounting to modern forms slavery that infringes upon elementary considerations of humanity, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius warns the world community on the need for returning to the just teachings of Islam that seek to abolish slavery and ensure fair treatment of all, including even to prisoners of war in times of hostilities.
Reproduced below are extracts from the Friday Sermon of 05 February 2016 ~(25 Rabi’ul Aakhir 1437 Hijri):
ISLAM AND SLAVERY
Islam abolished the
institution of slavery, established thousands of years ago. It is the only
religion to abolish this institution by its teachings. No other religion made
plans for its abolition. Instead, this institution was recognized in all other
religions. Slavery is viewed within Judaism and Hinduism as religious
institutions (e.g., in the treatment towards non-Jews and casteism respectively).
Christianity is only a branch of Judaism and as such slavery continued to be
recognized (and accepted) by the Christian nations for centuries.
The abolition
of slavery was the result of an advance in the standards of ethics and had no link
with any Christian teaching. The history of the Christian church bears witness
to the efforts undertaken in many occasions, to end slavery. But on each
occasion, it was astonishingly the church which offered the fiercest
opposition. As for the Hindus’ casteism system, it has established slavery so
firmly and on a large scale that slavery is considered as a good with the least
evil. As for Islam, it has abolished slavery in all prohibited forms.
There is, however, an
institution recognized by Islam which has been described by the term ‘slavery’.
In fact, it corresponds to the situation of prisoners of war. Even if it is an evil,
but it is a necessary consequence of the war. When two nations are at war, it
is inconceivable that prisoners captured on the same day are returned to their
troop at night to then join the battle the next day. Even in some games, the
one who gets caught must withdraw and not participate until the end of the game.
Moreover it is clear that if we could take no prisoner during war, or if it was
mandatory to release them immediately after having captured them, then the
state of war would have been perpetual. Thus, the taking of prisoners is a
necessary evil; it is a necessary consequence of war. Apart from this provision/
exception, Islam does not endorse any other form of slavery.
The prophets obviously
had no slave. God says in the Holy Quran:
“It is not fitting for a prophet that he takes captives
before he took part in a regular battle in the country. You (Muslims) want the
goods of this world, but Allah desires for you the Hereafter. And Allah is
Mighty, Wise.” (An-Anfal 8: 68)
No prophet was allowed
to make slaves of anyone. This is to say that it was forbidden not only to the
Holy Prophet (pbuh) to have slaves, but that guidance was extended to all the
prophets. So these prophets obviously had no slave. We must therefore conclude
that neither Ramchandra nor Krishna nor Jesus nor Moses had rebelled against
those commandments and thus those who attribute to them such conduct cannot
have our trust.
The verse which I have
cited teaches us that in case of war, that is, implying deaths on a large
scale, it is allowed to have prisoners of war. This also indicates that such
prisoners can be captured only during a war between nations or states but not during
tribal or familial conflicts. Those wishing to take slaves or prisoners in
situations other than those mentioned above, only seek material benefits and
not the pleasure of Allah. But God wants them to aspire to the future (eternal)
life. God is Great, Wise. These orders, like all those coming from God are indeed
full of wisdom.
History shows us that
all people practicing slavery was then reduced to slavery. If Muslims ignore
and establish slavery, they will, in turn be reduced to slaves.
History shows
us that all people practicing slavery was then reduced to slavery. The Abbasids
encouraged slavery and the result was that the majority of the caliphs were
descended from slaves-girls; the latter were apparently free and independent,
they were no better treated than slaves.
The
word Ithkhan used in this verse for war means war followed by a countless loss
of lives and excludes the idea of a tribal war or border skirmishes. It involves regular
war between organized nations or states. A nation that wants to take the risk
of turning some of his people into prisoners of war should logically avoid
aggression. If it embarks on an aggression that leads to war and the loss of
human lives, it cannot protest if some of them are taken as prisoners. If
prisoners were captured during a war as defined by Islamic teachings, the
choice between two types of procedures is presented as prescribed by the
following verse: “And when you meet the unbelievers in regular battle, strike them in
their necks until you have wounded and taken them as prisoners. and afterwards
either set them free as a favour or let them ransom (themselves) until the war
terminates...” (Muhammad 47: 5).
At the end of the war,
all prisoners must be released by a pure act of charity; or they must negotiate
their release against a ransom. If a prisoner is not released voluntarily, he
must remain prisoner and perform suitable work (according to his capacity)
until he can arrange for a ransom or someone pays it for him. This cannot be
considered as an abuse for like today, prisoners of war are often made to work
according to their capabilities.
It appears that
authorization was granted by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) for the release of any prisoner
who would give assurance/ promise not to participate in wars against Muslims.
An incident at the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) illustrates this. During the
Battle of Badr, a man by the name of Abu Uzzah was taken as prisoner. The Holy
Prophet (pbuh) released him after taking his promise that he would never fight
against the Muslims in wartime. But unfortunately for him, he broke his promise
during the Battle of Uhud. Later on,
when he participated in the Battle of Hamra Al-Asad, he was again captured as
prisoner by the Muslims and was executed.
Therefore, the
principles of Islam are very clear to all Muslims and non-Muslims. Its
teachings are based on a truth that comes from a unique and perfect God who
guides His servants. The teachings of Islam are for all times. If today the
world's nations deign to consider the perfection of the Divine Book which is
the Holy Quran, then all problems will be solved, but for this approach to be perfect
people shall necessarily have faith in the unique God and Creator Who has given
them everything for their best guidance. And therefore a great number of
problems/ ills would have been tackled, such problems as modern slavery would have
been eradicated.
May Allah help the
nations of the world to perceive the truth of Islam and the perfection of His
teachings. Insha-Allah, Ameen.