paul@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (12/12/89)
>From: khan@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Iqbal Mustafa Khan) >Date: 6 Dec 89 12:13:22 GMT > >I have always been confused about Islam's position on slavery. It seems >that Islam permits it. Would this imply that if there were a Islamic >state to be established in future, that slavery would be practiced there? From Muhammad Asad's translation of the Qur'an 8:67 - "It does not behove a prophet to keep captives unless he has battled strenously on earth." This would seem to indicate that slaves are to be aquired as war "booty". 47:4 - "Now when you meet [in war] those who are bent on denying the truth, smite their necks until you overcome them fully, and then tighten their bonds; but thereafter [set them free,] either by an act of grace or against ransom, so that the burden of war shall be lifted: ..." This would seem to indicate that once war has ended, slaves are to be freed. 9:60 - (speaking of charity and how to allocate it to the needy) "The offerings given for the sake of God are [meant] only for the poor and the needy, and those who are in charge thereof, and those whose hearts are to be won over, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage,..." This would seem to indicate that freeing slaves is one of the top priorities. Asad's explanatory additions are within brackets []. His notes make it very easy to quickly find these verses. > >Also, if somebody could shed light on the issue of "Musaawaat" (equality) in >Islam and its contradiction in case of slavery. It would seem incumbent, therefore, for any Islamic government to not reestablish slavery, leaving this question moot. > >Thanks. > >Iqbal
arshad%lfcs.edinburgh.ac.uk@NSFNET-RELAY.AC.UK (Arshad Mahmood) (12/15/89)
In article <74907@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> paul@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes: >>From: khan@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Iqbal Mustafa Khan) >>Date: 6 Dec 89 12:13:22 GMT >> >>I have always been confused about Islam's position on slavery. It seems >>that Islam permits it. Would this imply that if there were a Islamic >>state to be established in future, that slavery would be practiced there? > [stuff from the Koran deleted] The position on slavery appears to be quite complex, the prophet was against it on principle but appears to have felt that immediate banning when the first Muslim state was formed was too drastic a step considering that slavery was practiced on a large scale in Saudi Arabia. The prophet instead seemed to have gone for a softly softly approach in encouraging his followers to buy slaves out of bondage, etc. However, strange laws still remain in place for instance if you have a female servant in the house then you as the male of the house may have sex with her even though you are not married to her and are only obliged to marry if she gets pregnent. However, I found Paul's messga very misleading in that it seemed to imply contempt for slavery on the part of Islam which to my knowledge is not true, due in part to the aforementioned historical accidents. I believe that it is against the spirit of Islam (or at least the one I studied) but a defense could be made for slavery in some form or another in a real Islamic court. Of course it has been a while since I studied the Scriptures, so if I may have got it all wrong, if I have then please except my sincere apologies. A. Mahmood Labortory for the Foundations of Computer Science Edinburgh University Scotland