Free Slaves

The Noble Qur'ân Al-Baqarah 2:177

It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masâkin (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.) in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are Al­Muttaqûn (pious).

Attempt the Ascent, Free a Slave

The Noble Qur'ân Al-Balad 90:1-15

1. I swear by this city (Makkah);

2. And you are free (from sin, to punish the enemies of Islâm on the Day of the conquest) in this city (Makkah),

4. Verily, We have created man in toil.

5. Thinks he that none can overcome him?

6. He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!"

7. Thinks he that none sees him?

8. Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?

9. And a tongue and a pair of lips?

10. And shown him the two ways (good and evil)?

11. But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep.

12. And what will make you know the path that is steep?

13. (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.)

14. Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine),

15. To an orphan near of kin.

Emancipation: Marry a Slave

The Noble Qur'ân An-Nur 4:32-33

32. And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Sufficent for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).

33. And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allâh enriches them of His Bounty. 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 Allâh which He has bestowed upon you. And force not your maids to prostitution, if they desire chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the (perishable) goods of this worldly life. But if anyone compels them (to prostitution), then after such compulsion, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to those women, i.e. He will forgive them because they have been forced to do this evil action unwillingly).

Prefer Marriage to a Believing Slave

The Noble Qur'ân An-Nur 2:221

And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress, etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn till they believe (in Allâh Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater, etc.), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikûn) invite you to the Fire, but Allâh invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember.

If You Break an Oath: Free a Slave

The Noble Qur'ân An-Nur 2:221

Allâh will not punish you for what is uninentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation (a deliberate oath) feed ten Masâkin (poor persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families; or clothe them; or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much). Thus Allâh make clear to you His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that you may be grateful.

Hadith - Al-Muwatta, #38.16

Malik related to me from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar freed an illegitimate child and its mother.

If You Kill a Believer: Free a Slave

The Noble Qur'ân An-Nisa 4:221

It is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake, and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood money, i.e Diya) be given to the deceased's family, unless they remit it. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer; the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed), and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation (blood money - Diya) must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And whoso finds this (the penance of freeing a slave) beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months in order to seek repentance from Allâh. And Allâh is Ever All­Knowing, All­Wise.

To Take Back Lawful Wife: First, Free a Slave

The Noble Qur'ân Al-Mujaadilah 58:3-4

3. And those who make unlawful to them (their wives) (by Az-Zihâr ) and wish to free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you (so that you may not return to such an ill thing). And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.

4. And he who finds not (the money for freeing a slave) must fast two successive months before they both touch each other. And for him who is unable to do so, he should feed sixty of Miskîn (poor). That is in order that you may have perfect Faith in Allâh and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allâh. And for disbelievers, there is a painful torment.

Slaves Are To Be Treated Like Brothers

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 3.721, Narrated Al Marur bin Suwaid

I saw Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a cloak. We asked him about that (i.e. how both were wearing similar cloaks). He replied, "Once I abused a man and he complained of me to the Prophet. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked me, 'Did you abuse him by slighting his mother?' He added, 'Your slaves are your brethren upon whom Allah has given you authority. So, if one has one's brethren under one's control, one should feed them with the like of what one eats and clothe them with the like of what one wears. You should not overburden them with what they cannot bear, and if you do so, help them (in their hard job).' "

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 54.41, Kindness to Slaves

Malik related to me that he heard that Umar ibn al-Khattab went to the villages every Saturday. If he found a slave doing work which he was not capable of doing, he lightened it for him.

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawud, #2694, Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib

Some slaves (of the unbelievers) went out to the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) on the day of al-Hudaybiyyah before treaty. Their masters wrote to him saying: O Muhammad, they have not gone out to you with an interest in your religion, but they have gone out to escape from slavery. Some people said: They have spoken the truth, Apostle of Allah, send them back to them. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) became angry and said: I do not see your restraining yourself from this action, group of Quraysh, but that Allah send someone to you who strike your necks. He then refused to return them, and said: They are emancipated (slaves) of Allah, the Exalted.

Hadith - Sahih Muslim, #2182, Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar

Khaythamah reported: While we were sitting in the company of Abdullah ibn Umar there came in his steward. He (Ibn Umar) said: Have you supplied the provision to the slaves? He said: No. Upon this he said: Go and give (the provision) to them, for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has said: This sin is enough for a man that he withholds the subsistence from one whose master he is.

Malik related to me from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar freed an illegitimate child and its mother.

The Non-Muslim Perspective

Annemarie Schimmel in "Islam: An Introduction", p. 67

Slavery was not abolished by the Koran, but believers are constantly admonished to treat their slaves well. In case of illness a slave has to be looked after and well cared for. To manumit [free] a slave is highly meritorious; the slave can ransom himself by paying some of the money he has earned while conducting his own business. Only children of slaves or non-Muslim prisoners of war can become slaves, never a freeborn Muslim; therefore slavery is theoretically doomed to disappear with the expansion of Islam. The entire history of Islam proves that slaves could occupy any office, and many former military slaves, usually recruited from among the Central Asian Turks, became military leaders and often even rulers as in eastern Iran, India (the Slave Dynasty of Delhi), and medieval Egypt (the Mamluks). Eunuchs too served in important capacities, not only as the guardians of the women's quarters, but also in high administrative and military positions.

Be a Slave

Hadith - Al-Muwatta, #47.15

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Beware of suspicion. Suspicion is the most untrue speech. Do not spy and do not eavesdrop. Do not compete with each other and do not envy each other and do not hate each other and do not shun each other. Be slaves of Allah, brothers."

The Noble Qur'an 43:59

He ['Iesa (Jesus)] was not more than a slave. We granted Our Favour to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel (i.e. his creation without a father).

Hadith - Bukhari 4.654, Narrated Umar, r.a.

I heard the Prophet saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."

Hadith - Bukhari 6.360, Narrated Al Mughira

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Shouldn't I be a thankful slave (of Allah)?"

Related Links:  Abuse   |  Oppression  |  Kindness

Action Items for the uttaqun:

• Slavery was an established practice amongst the many nations prior to the revelation of The Qur'an to mankind. This practice of slavery was nothing like the inhumane slavery of Africans in America.

• The Qur'an frequently encourages the practice of freeing slaves and prohibits the Muslim from beating any human being in a way that leaves marks or injury (see abuse).

• Know that the first Adhan (call to prayer) was chosen to be given by Bilal, a former slave.

  • Nafa' related that Ibn 'Umar said, "The Muslims would gather and calculate the time of prayer, and no one would call them. They spoke about that one day. Some said, 'We should have a bell like the Christians.' Others said, 'We should have a horn like the Jews.' Suggested 'Umar, 'Why don't we have one person call the others to prayer?' The Messenger of Allah said, 'Stand, Bilal, and make the call to prayer." [Related by Ahmad and al-Bukhari]

  • Reported 'Abdullah ibn (Zaid ibn) 'Abd Rabbih, "...When the morning came, I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to tell him what I had seen. He said, 'Your dream is true, Allah willing. Go to Bilal, tell him what you have seen, and tell him to make the call to prayer, for he has the best voice among you.' [Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah and at-Tirmidhi, who called it hassan sahih]

  • Narrated the merits of Bilal bin Rabah the freed slave of Abu Bakr. The Prophet said (to Bilal), "I heard the sound of your shoes in Paradise just in front of me." [Bukhari]

• Know that a slave can be an Imam, leading the others in prayer.

  • When the earliest emigrants came to Al-'Usba, a place in Quba', before the arrival of the Prophet, Salim, the slave of Abu Hudhaifa, who knew the Qur'an more than the others, used to lead them in prayer. [Bukhari]

• Encourage the freeing of slaves.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!