Slavery in Islam

Gen. James Green

T HE INESCAPABLE FACT is that MOST people today know very little about Islam. A small portion of people around the world have a rudimentary knowledge of it, but belong to the “Political Correctness” camp. Even a smaller number know the TRUTH about it, but are afraid to openly stand up for Christ against the teachings of Muhammad’s Quran. Smaller yet are those brave souls who will contend for the Christian faith (Jude 3), and “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3) and “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12).

Until I personally saw an Islamic riot (massacre when it was over!) in Nigeria, Africa, in the early 1990s, I took little notice. NOW THE WORLD IS WITNESSING THIS “BLOODY” RELIGION’S FURY.

Little is reported (by the Western Media) concerning Islam’s rampages. Since ACMTC has Officers/Soldiers in many African countries, we get the BAD NEWS all the time.

We’ve got to STOP believing the BIG LIE that Islam means: “peace;” it means “submission” —submission to Allah (certainly NOT the God of our Holy Scriptures), his messenger—Muhammad, and the Qur’an. (I will use both the name God and Allah when speaking of the Islamic religion, however, God and Allah may mean the same in English/Arabic, but their natures are antithetical!)

Therefore:

ALL MUSLIMS regard the Quran as a holy and divine law-book—the ETERNAL word/teachings of God that are unchangeable (forever). Muslims cannot question or doubt the allegedly uncreated words of God contained in their Quran, that God authored the Quran, and that a copy of the Quran is in heaven. [To them] Quranic teachings, the words of God, are immutable and stand valid for all times. Its ideas are absolutely true and beyond all criticism. To question it is to question the very word of God, and hence blasphemous. A Muslim’s duty is to believe it and obey its ‘divine’ commands without question. Therefore, all teachings and sanctions of the Quran must be followed by Muslims until the end of the world. Muslims who question just one word of the Quran are no longer Muslims but apostates of Islam and must be murdered.

MUSLIMS CAN BE KILLED (BEHEADED) FOR DOING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) Reviling Allah or his Messenger;

(2) being sarcastic about Allah’s name, His command, His interdiction, His promise, or His threat;

(3) denying any verse of the Quran or ‘anything which by scholarly consensus belongs to it, or to add a verse that does not belong to it’;

(4) holding that ‘any of Allah’s messengers or prophets are liars, or to deny their being sent’;

(5) reviling the religion of Islam;

(6) being sarcastic about any ruling of the Sacred Law;

(7) denying that Allah intended ‘the Prophet’s message to be the religion followed by the entire world.’

This means exactly what it says: ALL MUSLIMS MUST BELIEVE that the Quran is the ETERNAL word/teachings of God to be followed without question.

My Subject

IN THIS WRITING, I want to touch on slavery in Islam. Yes, it still exists!!

Frontline Fellowship (S. Africa) has rightly stated:

“While much has been written concerning the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, surprisingly little attention has been given to the Islamic slave trade across the Sahara, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. WHILE THE EUROPEAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE TO THE AMERICAS LASTED FOR JUST OVER THREE CENTURIES, THE ARAB INVOLVEMENT IN THE SLAVE TRADE HAS LASTED FOURTEEN CENTURIES, AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE MUSLIM WORLD IS STILL CONTINUING TO THIS DAY.”

Even as I write, young girls (the prize are Christians) are being sold into (sex) slavery by the Islamic State, some for as much as $100.00 (if they are not outright MURDERED). Where is the OUTRAGE? There is none. But if a Jew was sold, it would make BIG NEWS immediately. Too many just do not believe that Muslims do this today. HA! And if they do know about it, the response is: “No big deal, even God ordained slavery in the Old Testament.” This takes me to the Scriptures.

One can research this subject himself/herself. I’m only going to touch on how “slaves” were treated.

Did God ordain slavery? NO! Not the way we read about in the Qur’an/Hadiths. Yes, slavery existed in Old Testament times, not because God ordained it, but it was a result of the fall of man. The “fall” brought every imaginable kind of sin into the world.

A Trade in Human Misery:

THIS COULD SUM UP SLAVERY!

While the Qur’an gives Jesus an exalted position, strangely enough, Christians have been killed/murdered/enslaved for centuries by Islam:

“We Muslims believe that Jesus was one of the mightiest messengers of God, that He was the Christ, that He was born miraculously—without any male intervention, that He gave life to the dead by God’s permission, and that He healed those born blind and the lepers by God’s permission. In fact, no Muslims is a Muslims if he does not believe in Jesus” (quoted by Islamic scholar Ahmed Deedat (now dead) in his book, “Christ in Islam,” p. 2).

As I have written many times before, why don’t they believe Jesus’ very own Words in John 14:6: “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”? Why don’t they believe Jesus’ Words in Rev. 1:8: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending”? He repeats this again in v. 11. In 4:8 we read (concerning the crucified/risen/glorified Christ): “…Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was (lived as a man), and is (alive after resurrection), and is to come (to judge the world).” Even Muslims believe in Jesus’ coming as Judge. This ought to lay to rest the heretical teaching that Muhammad (sinner!) took Jesus’ Commission and Mission as End Days Messenger. NO! Jesus was, and is, the FIRST and LAST—no one takes His place.

Did you know that Jesus’ name is mentioned in the Qur’an more times (lots more!) than Muhammad?

Did Jesus (Isa in Arabic) hand over His Messiahship to a mere mortal, and a great sinner (Muhammad)? Isa is referred to in the Qur’an as the “Messiah” (Al-Mashih). 11 times He is also called the “Word of God” (Kalimatullah) in the Qur’an 3:45; and a “Spirit from God” (Ruhullah) in 4:171/58:22. He is also known in the Qur’an as a “Righteous Prophet” (Q 6:85), and as an “Apostle to Israel” (Q 3:49-51). Yet, within the Qur’an we find many contradictions about Him (as we read in our Bible). One of the most glaring LIES propagated by Islam is that Jesus was neither killed, nor crucified (Q 4:156, 157). This piece of false teaching came from (we believe) the Docetic or Gnostic sect promoted by Basilides (a 2nd century heretic) who wrote (almost) word-for-word sura 4:156 (see Clair-Tisdall’s: “Sources of Islam,” p. 62).

Slavery

A GOOD background source for our subject is found in the “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament,” Vol. 2: pp. 261-279 (where we find 5 Greek words [LXX] with their Hebrew counterparts. All these group words serve either to describe the status of a slave, or an attitude corresponding to that of a slave). Slavery goes back a long way in history—the non-Biblical world/Jewish world/ the New Testament world (“Christian”).

I only wish to bring out several points of contrast between the Islamic time of Muhammad—the way he treated his slaves, especially the females—and the Old Testament time. This article follows on the heels of the previous two: “Murder and Sex,” and “Horror of Rape.”

We know that people could become slaves by being an insolvent debtor, or by being sold into slavery by their parents/relatives/tribes etc., or, naturally—being born to slave parents. But, the WORST kind was being captured in war, or by being kidnaped—both of which Islam has been, and is now guilty of. Narrowing this down, it was/is the girls/women who suffer the most.

It is reported that before Jesus came, the pagan Roman Empire was ½ the population. ¾ of the people in Athens were slaves.

Slavery, as reported, was indigenous to African and Arabian countries before it made its way to Europe.

Jesus—The Liberator!

JESUS’ WORDS: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…and release to the oppressed” (Lk. 4:18). These Words had a double meaning: the freeing of natural slavery, and the freeing of sin-slaves. Those Words that Jesus read came from Isaiah 61:1, meaning that He was reaffirming the meaning and purpose of His life.

Slavery was very common when Jesus came on the scene…He changed all that by CHANGING men’s/women’s hearts. Slaves from that time forth were being set free.

However!

WITH THE BIRTH of Islam (a creation of Muhammad who wanted to rule a Kingdom/Empire!) came a rebirth of the slave trade: History bears this out.

In Ronald Segal’s book: “Islam’s Black Slaves,” he documents that “Female slaves were required in considerable numbers for…musicians, singers, and dancers…many more were bought for domestic workers…and many were in DEMAND for concubines (sex-slaves). The harems of rulers could be enormous (the harem of Add al Raham III (912-961) in Cordoba had over 6,000!; The one in the Fatimid Palace in Cairo had 12,000!

What of the males? They were usually CASTRATED, and some used for homosexual purposes etc. Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406), the pre-eminent Islamic medieval historian, wrote this:

“The negro nations are as a rule submissive to slavery…because they have attributes that are quite similar to DUMB ANIMALS.”

Well, I’m not going to give you a history lesson here, but slavery was common in all ages by just about all nations. But, Islam loves to flaunt Muhammad’s sex-life openly, so I will deal with that issue (Islam), and him (the [false] prophet of Islam).

Female captives were sexually ABUSED whenever and wherever. They also were held as HOSTAGES and bargained for their ransom.

Prof. Davis estimates that up to 1.25 million Europeans were enslaved by Muslim “slave raiders” between 1500-1800. It would do Europe good to know this sad piece of history. If they did, they wouldn’t be so “Politically Correct” today.

To be fair here, Europe also joined in this “mission of misery.” We know that history, don’t we?...Then America joined in; we also know that piece of history.

We have personally walked over parts of Malawi, Africa (in the 1980's) where the famous David Livingstone walked (his graphic accounts brought the RAVAGES of E. African slave trade to light). The Anti-Slavery Reporter estimated the Muslim slave trade as exporting 63,000 slaves per year! (some reported 500,000 a year!).

After reading “Murder and Sex” and “Horror of Rape,” one can see that Islam was and is very cruel to women—not only slaves, but even non-slave women in Islam. It is a SHAME!

Forty names of slaves are recorded by Muslim chroniclers owned by Muhammad. The Sharia (law in Islam) contains many regulations for slavery—most of which are CRUEL and INHUMANE.

Consider

WITH WHAT has been written in our two previous articles about the inhumane treatment of (female) slaves, let us look into the Old Testament:

Ex. 21:20 says: “And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he (or she) die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.” Verse 21 continues: “Notwithstanding, if he (or she) continue a day or two, he (slave owner) shall not be punished: for he is his money.” Verse 26 says: “And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.” Verse 27 reads: “And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his/her tooth’s sake.”

Keep in mind here that we’re dealing with ancient severity, and gradual humaneness. The mistreatment of slaves was checked. Slaves, by being slaves, of course was a humiliation in itself—but mistreatment could only go so far. The “rod” or “whip” was believed in those days to be necessary to enforce discipline and obedience (see Prov. 10:13 and 13:24). But if the slave dies in flogging, the master must be punished, but not by death, as no master could deliberately plan to destroy his own property; if after several days a slave died, the loss was considered punishment enough (these laws were more humane than those of Hammurabi).

Verses 22-25: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth”—this lex talionis is inserted as a quotation from still more ancient codifications of the laws of the people…a step toward the humanizing of acts of revenge—limiting them to “tit-for-tat,” no more.

Governing Laws

THE LAWS governing the corporal injuring of slaves shows the effects of resting on two irreconcilable postulates, i.e., that the slave is a human, and that he/she is another man’s property (In Babylonia if a 3rd party struck a slave, causing injury, a fine was paid to the owner=code of Hammurabi 199).

lex Talionis

VERSES 23-25 are lex talionis, repeated in Lev. 24:19, 20. Actually, v. 17 says: “…he who kills any man shall surely be put to death.” (Slave or otherwise! We know MURDER was in sight here, not mere killing, like in self-defense, or in war.) The same is repeated in Deut. 19:21.

Back to Ex. 21

EXODUS 21:1-11 contains laws governing Hebrew slaves: compare those with what we find in the Qur’an and Hadiths (slavery is slavery, no matter if Hebrews buy Hebrews, or Muslims buy Muslims or non-Muslims).

As stated earlier, parents could sell their children into slavery (v. 7), or could be taken in order to pay a debt (see 2 Kgs. 4:1).

Verses 1-11 deal with protecting the female slaves (not RAPING them at will!).

“Slave” (H519, ‘amah) may mean maidservant in the literal sense, but it was also applied to a concubine (see Gen. 20:17), and was specifically used of Hagar, Sarah’s maid (Gen. 16:2). The reference to “marital rights” is a circumlocution describing the woman’s right to proper sexual life with her husband-owner. “Marital rights” is a single word, onathah, defined as “cohabitation.”

In “The Broadman Bible Commentary,” Vol. 1, p. 404 it states:

“Because of the secondary and often unprotected role of women in the ancient world, it is of unique significance that the Old Testament gives specific guidance to Israelite jurists who made decisions concerning the ‘amah, the female slave. Such specific compassion for those normally outside the area of direct concern is one mark of the deep moral content which characterizes Israelite law.”

Verses 12-14 deal with (premeditated) murder (I have a writing on this “murder” vs. “killing” already). Classification of striking a man “so that he dies” as “premeditated murder” is based upon the fact that although v. 13 provides a place of refuge for “involuntary homicide,” no refuge was anticipated for this action (see also Num. 35:10; Deut. 19:1; Josh. 20:1—deal with cities of refuge).

I believe that Islam, which prides itself on being “merciful” and “compassionate,” needs such cities for those who desire to leave Islam—they should NOT be put to death, as the Qur’an declares for the apostate.

Beating a Slave

LET’S LOOK at this again (vv. 20, 21).

One might take the phrase “naqam yinnagem” to mean surely he (the slave) will be avenged. The word “punish” is naqam—“to avenge or take vengeance”—and if the owner is the subject, it could be translated: “he will surely suffer vengeance.” Prof. Adam Clarke writes:

“If the salve who had been beaten by his master died under his hand, the master was punished with DEATH” (Clarke’s Comm., vol. 1, p. 412). Clarke offers for us Gen. 9:5, 6. These verses offer for us the insight of how God views “murder.” But if the slave beaten survives several days, the master’s life was preserved, for the slave could have died by other causes.

Some feel that 20, 21 could be speaking of a “free man” that dies when beaten, thus the owner would give his life if the person died.

Islamic Abuse of Women

IN THIS DARK religion, physical violence against one’s wife, let alone, a slave, is far from being a crime punishable by law. Q 38:44 and 4:15 (also see 4:34). This subject right here could take up pages; the Bible has very little on this subject.

Then we have that ugly female mutilation—the amputation of the clitoris, the vulva from the genitalia of Muslim women (affirmed in a hadith by Islam’s [false] prophet Muhammad). When a Muslim woman/girl is a victim of rape, they are stoned (or beat with many lashes). The cruelest punishment is to bury them up to the waist and stone them to death. What about the rapist? There are thousands of written cases that bear witness of females being raped, murdered, burned alive, battered, noses cut off, etc., etc. Women in Islam are no better than dogs.

May I ask you feminine Nazis: “Where is the OUTRAGE?” With all the degrading and deplorable ABUSE/MURDER of Muslim women, we could expect some sort of outrage! Have you “witches in britches” lost the crusading spirit?

How does the Bible answer such ABUSE?: “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and FIGHT for your…daughters, your wives, and your homes” (Neh. 4:14, Old Testament).

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 5:25, New Testament, repeated in Col. 3:19).

Typical of Ignorance

WHEN A LECTURE was presented (on a Minn. Univ. campus) on “Slavery in Islam,” one women, from Saudi Arabia, stood up and stated:

“Women were completely free and equal,” in response to Muhammad’s owning slaves, which she basically said was a lie! She also claimed that he never mistreated anyone, and that Islam is a “peaceful” and “tolerant” religion of brotherhood! Wow!! If this Islamic woman is that DUMB! concerning her very own religion, one can see how DUMB the Western women are.

All one has to do is read their books—the Qur’an and the Hadiths (9 volumes)—they are supposed to be “words from Allah.”

I suggest my readers write us for “Slavery in Islam”—free. We put this small booklet together in 2005, and revised it in 2008. We present many Islamic historians and scholars who speak about slavery in Islam. We present many Islamic authors on this subject, all of them are well-known in Islam, so no one can claim I’m being bigoted and biased. Ancient scholars, such as Ibn Timiyya, Ibn Hisham, and Malik all agree:

“The root of the beginning of slavery is prisoners of war, the bounties have become lawful to the nation of Muhammad.”

They also agree that:

“Slavery is justified because of the war itself, however, it is not permissible to enslave a free Muslim. It is lawful to kill the infidel or to enslave him, and it also makes it lawful to take his offspring into captivity” (they mean a practicing Muslim [free], but an apostate [one who has left Islam] has become an infidel, just as non-Muslims are to them).

To say that Muhammad did not own slaves is beyond belief! May I quote here from one of Islam’s great scholars and chroniclers, Qayyim al-Jowziyya, who claimed that his prophet owned NUMEROUS slaves:

“Muhammad had many male and female slaves. He used the buy and sell them, but he purchased (more slaves) than he sold, especially after Allah empowered him by His message, as well as after his immigration from Mecca. He (once) sold one black slave for two. His name was Jacob al-Mudbir. His purchases of slaves were more (than he sold). He was used to renting out and hiring many slaves, but he hired more slaves than he rented out” (see “Zad al-Ma’ad,” pt. 1, p. 160).

This famous Islamic scholar and chronicler relied always upon the prophet’s (very own) biographies written by great ancient scholars, therefore, he is regarded by Muslims as an AUTHORITY, a primary SOURCE, and a leader among the students in Islamic studies. He gives many names of Muhammad’s slaves in his book Zad al-Ma’ad (pt. 1, pp. 114-116; See also al-Hulya, vol. 1, p. 369, quoted from Ahmad 5:222).

Jesus

YES, JESUS! He was very different from Muhammad. He never owned one slave, let alone MANY. Nor did he have a wife or sex-slaves as did Islam’s (false) prophet (in fact, Muhammad never prophesied anything!!). One ought to read Matt. 23:8 and 12. Verse 12 says: “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be abased; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let me end with this:

“EVERY KNEE shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus (not Muhammad) Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:10).

Muslims need Christ! He is the only way to Heaven/Eternal Life. If you were born a Muslim, you can be BORN AGAIN, as Jesus stated in John 3:3, 5, 7: “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be SAVED” (v. 17).

The WAY has been opened for ALL the world to be saved. JESUS’ DEATH ON THE CROSS, HIS RESURRECTION, ASCENSION, AND GLORIFICATION, ALL TESTIFY TO THIS FACT. MUHAMMAD’S BODY IS STILL IN THE TOMB.