firedragon
Veteran Member
Most readers would find it astonishing to hear that slavery still exists in the modern world. Though the practice was abolished officially it is still very much alive. According to a study done by the International Labour Organisation the estimated number of slaves has increased from 12.3 million to 30 million since 2005. Slavery is not declining, in fact it is increasing.
Defining slavery
Freeing a slave is defined as an act of piety in the Quran.
Piety is not to turn your faces towards the east and the west, but pious is one who
Very directly and clearly the Quran gives a formula to live by, which if someone has an argument against is imprudent.
As you can see, freeing slaves is part of a Muslims creed.
Quran verse 4:92 says that if you kill someone by mistake (e.g. Motor Accident), you must free a slave and compensate the family. Compensating the family is for their wellbeing, freeing a slave is for your salvation. Imagine every Muslim in the world seeking to free a slave in case of an accidental death.
Verse 5:89 ordains you to free a slave in case you had broken an oath or a promise. If you owe someone money and you break the promise of return, if and when you repent, it is not enough just to return that money. You must free a slave as an act of repentance.
9:60 gives you freeing a slave as a duty amongst charity and relieving those in debt.
The Quran articulates in this manner
“Do you know which the better path is?
The word slave in terms of the Arabic Quranic word above is Rikab which has been often translated as slave or neck also means those under observation. Which means they are suppressed or oppressed. They’re watched over. Trapped.
There is another angle that may have not been looked at. According to the Quran there is no rabbi or lord other than "the God". Thus, if a person is slaving under someone that means you have put yourself in a lordship position. This is a direct violation of the highest level of the idolatry no-no.
I know the normal argument is that someone had slaves, muslims had slaves, Muhammed had slaves, etc. I understand that its a valid argument since if the Quran says something different, why did they do it. Well, in that case those who had slaves were directly violating Gods ordain (for the believers of course), they were only paying lip service to this God and revelation thing, or the report of that story is manipulated or is a lie. It could be any of those things.
But the thesis to explore is not about what people did or are doing. Its purely about the text of the Quran said above. It will be great to look at some constructive thoughts if you have time.
Thank you very much
Peace.
Defining slavery
- Humans used, sold or bought as a commodity or property
- Imprisoned or kept by force with no freedom of movement
- Forced to work via some form of threat
- Forcefully acquired or owned by a master or employer, abused or under threat of abuse.
Freeing a slave is defined as an act of piety in the Quran.
Piety is not to turn your faces towards the east and the west, but pious is one who
- believes in God and the Last Day,
- and the angels,
- and the Book,
- and the prophets,
- and who gives money out of love to the relatives,
- and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and those who ask,
- and to free the slaves;
- and who upholds prayer,
- and who contributes towards purification;
- and those who keep their pledges when they make a pledge,
- and those who are patient in the face of hardship and adversity and when in despair.
Very directly and clearly the Quran gives a formula to live by, which if someone has an argument against is imprudent.
As you can see, freeing slaves is part of a Muslims creed.
Quran verse 4:92 says that if you kill someone by mistake (e.g. Motor Accident), you must free a slave and compensate the family. Compensating the family is for their wellbeing, freeing a slave is for your salvation. Imagine every Muslim in the world seeking to free a slave in case of an accidental death.
Verse 5:89 ordains you to free a slave in case you had broken an oath or a promise. If you owe someone money and you break the promise of return, if and when you repent, it is not enough just to return that money. You must free a slave as an act of repentance.
9:60 gives you freeing a slave as a duty amongst charity and relieving those in debt.
The Quran articulates in this manner
“Do you know which the better path is?
- The freeing of slaves.
- Or the feeding on a day of great hardship.
- An orphan of relation.
- Or a poor person in need.”
The word slave in terms of the Arabic Quranic word above is Rikab which has been often translated as slave or neck also means those under observation. Which means they are suppressed or oppressed. They’re watched over. Trapped.
There is another angle that may have not been looked at. According to the Quran there is no rabbi or lord other than "the God". Thus, if a person is slaving under someone that means you have put yourself in a lordship position. This is a direct violation of the highest level of the idolatry no-no.
I know the normal argument is that someone had slaves, muslims had slaves, Muhammed had slaves, etc. I understand that its a valid argument since if the Quran says something different, why did they do it. Well, in that case those who had slaves were directly violating Gods ordain (for the believers of course), they were only paying lip service to this God and revelation thing, or the report of that story is manipulated or is a lie. It could be any of those things.
But the thesis to explore is not about what people did or are doing. Its purely about the text of the Quran said above. It will be great to look at some constructive thoughts if you have time.
Thank you very much
Peace.
