Does Islam support slavery?

Question

Many of my Muslim friends claim that Islam was the first religion/movement to cry out to end slavery, yet I found many prophetic statements told by prophet Muhammad that support slavery. Prophet Muhammad himself used to have many slaves, including at least TWO concubines (sex slaves).

Also, I could not find any single verse in the Quran that orders people to end slavery. Furthermore, Saudi Arabiya (the country where Islam was born) was among the latest countries to end slavery (officially ended in 1962).

Does nayone have any explanation for the contradiction?

Answer 1

I wish I could give you an explanation, but I certainly want to exert that I have learned a lot from your reading your post. Honestly, I thought Islam was the first religion that advocated abolishing slavery but from your post I have learned I was wrong. I wonder how slavery could flourish in Saudi Arabia until the early 60's. That's an outdated concept there.

Answer 2

No islam does not support slavery and the Prophet(sws) did not have any concupines islam forbids that.
The Prophet had servants who he traded food , clothing and shelter for their services.Back then that is how some people paid other people.And yes muslims are the first people who freed slaves and they not only freed them they said that these people are equals.Also most of the first muslims were slaves and many beaten or killed for their belief.
Also some of the first and closest companions of the prophet(sws) were former slaves and were assigned to honorable
positions in the first muslim state.

P.S.My sons name is Bilal who was an abysinian slave who was tortured forbecoming a muslim and when another muslim bought him from his torturer inorder to free him he became the first Imam (caller to prayer) in islam and is honored.
Keep in mind this was over 1400 years ago.Please try to get your info from from a reputable source there are allot of lies out there.
When islam was born slavery eventually ended in Saudi and then people came back to slavery but that had nothing to do with islam.
Its kinda like women not being to drive there it has nothing to do with islam.

Answer 3

I think you pretty much got your question answered with the reference in the qur'an ordering us to free slaves. In Islam, muslims are encouraged to free slaves. I don't think you read the Qur'an properly because in the Qur'an muslims are encouraged to free slaves.
Ok and about Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, he is our role model. Even though he had slaves, he freed them. So when us Muslims look at this example, we are encouraged to free slaves.
Since you are picking on Prophet Muhammad pbuh all the time, you can even say he had 11 wives but Muslims are only allowed up to 4 under strict circumstances. Their are strict rules regarding having more than 1 wife. You have to treat them all equally. Prophet Muhammad pbuh was a prophet, a Allah-fearing man. The way he treated all of his wives, nobody can ever treat their wives like him. That's why now Muslims are allowed only under special circumstances like if they can't have any children with their first wife, she is too sick, etc.
And at that time in arabia, it was allowed to have intimate relations with ones' slaves but not anymore. Islam has much wisdom that only those whom Allah Wills can understand. Not everyone can think with wisdom.
I hope i answered you well.
PS: the site you are bringing up again and again has to be a misleading site. Because without a doubt, a true islamic source will not mislead people about the characters of our dearest prophet!

Answer 4

Islam allowed slavery, but Islam has always tried to free as much slaves as possible.

To free a slave in Islam is a noble conduct.

In Islam, a person who makes love with his/her spouse during the fasting of Ramadan will be fined one slave (one slave must be freed by him/her). That is how freeing slaves is important in Islam: even in fasting Islam finds a way to free slaves.

But you must understand that in ancient times, slavery is part of every society. A society without slaves is not a society in that age. There's even slaves (@ serfs) in Russia in early 20th century. That is how long it takes for Islam to free slaves, but at least Muslims had an earlier headstart compared to Europeans.

Answer 5

Read an-Nisa : 25 & 36
All about slavery & labour prohibited

Answer 6

If your interest is bona fide,
go to a web page that answers
"frequently asked questions"

Answer 7

Try the Hadith. That should keep you busy for, oh about, a couple of years.

Answer 8

mohomed enslaved women and had sex with them. he owned slaves. and today muslim women are slaves

what do you say?

Answer 9

i think the rules and islam leader create slavry.....there no such rules like slavary in any holy book..........

Answer 10

Look at the poor women .....that should answer your question