"Slavery, Muhammad and Islam, ancient and modern"

Submitted by Lactantius Jr. (United Kingdom), Feb 28, 2007 at 10:45

Slavery, Muhammad and Islam, ancient and modern

To Omar

At http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/53202 you say that:-

"the prophet Muhammad abolished slave trade therefore any muslim who was involved in slave trade in africa simply wasn't keeping within islamic laws"

Please allow me to contribute to what Lori has already said about Islamic involvement in slavery, and I do so from Islam's most authoritative documents, the Qur'an and Sahi Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim, also referencing numerous online articles which document that slavery is deeply embedded within Islam, "authorized" by its title-deeds, and practiced by Muhammad, so if you don't like what you read Omar, please don't blame me, I didn't write it.

Muhammad is Islam, he set its genetic code by his teaching and his example, the Qur'an saying of him, "Ye have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah."

Surah 33:21 (Abdullah Yusuf Ali)

"And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted standard of character."

Surah 68:4 (Hilali-Khan)

Muhammad spoke the following words during his last sermon on 7^th.March 632AD in Mecca:-

"I am leaving you with the Book of Allah (the QUR'AN), and my SUNNAH (the life style and the behavioural mode of the Prophet), if you follow them you will never go astray."

So, concerning slavery, what was "the lifestyle and behavioural mode" of Muhammad, what did he say and do?

Muhammad did not abolish slavery Omar, he kept and traded in slaves himself, and the Qur'an allows slavery. What you say contradicts the teaching of Islam's most authoritative documents. Are you doing this, hoping that "infidels" won't know you are lying? and hoping that Allah will reward your taqiyya (lying) with sawab ("a gift from Allah in afterlife, based on your Islamic performances" http://www.geocities.com/freedombangla/ramadanupd.htm)

Surah 47:4 says:

So, when you meet (in fight—Jihad in Allah's cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their)necks till when you have killed or wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until war lays down its burden . . . . (Hilali and Khan, The Noble Qur'an, Riyadh: Darussalam, 2002; all insertions are theirs. This translation funded by the Saudi Royal family)

These two conservative translators accurately catch the essence and spirit of early historical Islam in battle, and in taking prisoners of war. The Muslim victor has two options for prisoners: free release or ransom—according to what benefits Islam, add Hilali and Khan. The third option in other passages is for the raider to keep prisoners for himself, especially women with whom he may have sex .

Sura 4:24 says:

And forbidden to you are wedded wives of other people except those who have fallen in your hands (as prisoners of war) . . .

The following hadith shows a sad snapshot of abuse in original Islam. The passage matter-of-factly talks about disrobing a recently captured female prisoner of a Muslim raid. Salamah the Muslim raider was "fascinated" by her. But Muhammad wants her for himself. Why?

So we [Salamah and his captured girl] arrived in Medina. I had not yet disrobed her when the Messenger of Allah . . . met me in the street and said: Give me that girl, O Salamah. I said: Messenger of Allah, she has fascinated me. I had not yet disrobed her. When on the next day, the Messenger of Allah . . . again met me in the street, he said: O Salama, give me that girl, may Allah bless your father. I said: she is for you, Messenger of Allah . . . By Allah, I have not yet disrobed her. The Messenger of Allah . . . sent her to the people of Mecca, and surrendered her as ransom for a number of Muslims who had been kept as prisoners in Mecca. (Sahi Muslim no. 4345)

So Muhammad trades her for some Muslims who had been kept as prisoners in Mecca, which was not involved in the raid or in her life. So trade or exchange is a fourth option for a slave-owner, even if this means selling a slave far away from her family.

Muhammad was a slave trader. How does this establish exemplary justice for humanity?

Muhammad is Islam, he sets its genetic code, and he trafficked in slavery and allowed sex with women prisoners of war, in their most helpless condition.

The article Slaves of Muhammad- Prophet of Freedom and Equality demonstrates that Muhammad owned slaves. http://www.answering-islam.org/BehindVeil/btv5.html#owner

The article Muhammad And The Female Captives quotes the Qur'an and many hadith passages on sex with women prisoners of war. http://www.answering-islam.org/Silas/femalecaptives.htm

The article Women In Islam analyzes Islam's permission for men to have sex with slave-girls

http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/women_in_islam3.htm

The article Adultery Do It! Do It! Do It! provides further details on Muhammad's encouragement to his soldiers to "do it" with women prisoners of war. http://www.muhammadanism.org/Hadith/Topics/Adultery.htm

As for slavery generally, the article Slavery In Islam demonstrates that Muslims practiced the slave trade. The article tracks this dirty business up to today in the Islamic world. http://www.answering-islam.org/Silas/slavery.htm

The article Slavery In Islam gives an overview on slavery in Islam, quoting ancient and modern Islamic scholars, including those of Islam's prestigious Al-Azhar University, which majors on Islamic law and theology . http://www.answering-islam.org/BehindVeil/btv5.html

By denying sahih ahadith and the sunnah of Muhammad, just to win an argument, some Muslim authorities, such as Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, a leading Saudi Government cleric and author of that country's religious curriculum, will even call you a renegade (apostate) Omar, with the Qur'an saying:-

"But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them"

Qur'an 4:89

Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan is a member of the Council of Religious Edicts and Research, the Imam of Prince Mitaeb Mosque in Riyadh, and a professor at Imam Mohamed Bin Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia's main center of learning for the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.

In a lecture recorded on tape by the Saudi Information Authority (SIA), the sheikh said, "Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long there is Islam," going on to say that Muslims who contend Islam is against slavery "are ignorant, not scholars."

"They are merely writers," he said, according to SIA. "Whoever says such things is an infidel."

Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan's best-known textbook, "Al-Tawheed – Monotheism," says most Muslims are polytheists, and their blood and money are therefore free for the taking by "true Muslims."

Lori has truthfully and winsomely described the freedom available to those who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Which is it to be for you Omar, enslavement to Islam and the Sunnah of Muhammad, the spotted sinner who cannot save anybody, and who brought the sword and enslavement, or will you turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, Who brought life and freedom, and Who will save for all eternity, all who turn to Him?

With kind regards and best wishes

Lactantius Jr

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