The Wisdom in Islam’s Prohibition of Slavery
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 1977 )
Q1: They say: Why does Islam not forbid slavery - Exalted is Allah above what they say?
A1: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) possesses perfect knowledge and wisdom, gentleness and mercy. He is All-Knowing of the affairs of His creation, Merciful to His servants, and Wise in His creation and legislation. He has legislated for people what brings them well-being in this world and the Hereafter, and what guarantees them true happiness, freedom, and equality, but within a just framework, comprehensive guidance, and limits that do not allow the rights of Allah or the rights of people to be lost. He sent His messengers with this legislation, as bringers of good news and warners. Whoever follows His path and is guided by the guidance of His messengers is worthy of honor and attains success and happiness. Whoever refuses to walk the path of uprightness is subjected to what he dislikes, such as killing or enslavement, in order to establish justice, achieve security and safety, and protect lives, honor, and wealth. For this reason, jihad was legislated to restrain the stubborn and eliminate elements of corruption, and to purify the earth from the oppressors. If any of them are captured by the Muslims, the Imam has the choice regarding them: to kill them if their evil is extreme and their reformation is not expected; to pardon them or accept a ransom from them if they are known for good character and it is easy for them to turn to good; or to
enslave them if he sees that their remaining among the Muslims will reform their character, correct their deviation, and enable them to know the paths of guidance and rightness, and to believe in them and submit to them; due to what they see of the Muslims’ justice toward them, their good companionship, and their kind treatment of them, and what they hear of the texts of legislation regarding the rulings and manners of Islam. Then their hearts will open to Islam, Allah will make faith attractive to them, and He will make disbelief, open sinfulness, and disobedience hateful to them. At that point, they begin a new life with the Muslims, through which they become worthy of earning freedom through the contract of manumission, as Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nur 24:33] , or through manumission as expiation for an oath, zihar, a vow, or the like, or through manumission seeking the Face of Allah and hoping for the reward on the Day of Resurrection, among other types of liberation. Through this, it is known that the origin of enslavement is through capture or taking prisoners in jihad against the disbelievers, in order to reform those who were enslaved by isolating them from the environment of evil, and living them in an Islamic society that guides them to the path of good, rescues them from the clutches of evil, purifies them from the filth of disbelief and misguidance, and makes them worthy
of a free life in which they enjoy security and safety. Thus, enslavement in the ruling of Islam is like a purifier or a bath; those who are enslaved enter through one door to wash away the dirt within them, then they exit through another door in purity, cleanliness, and safety from harm. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q1: They say: Why does Islam not forbid slavery - Exalted is Allah above what they say?
A1: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) possesses perfect knowledge and wisdom, gentleness and mercy. He is All-Knowing of the affairs of His creation, Merciful to His servants, and Wise in His creation and legislation. He has legislated for people what brings them well-being in this world and the Hereafter, and what guarantees them true happiness, freedom, and equality, but within a just framework, comprehensive guidance, and limits that do not allow the rights of Allah or the rights of people to be lost. He sent His messengers with this legislation, as bringers of good news and warners. Whoever follows His path and is guided by the guidance of His messengers is worthy of honor and attains success and happiness. Whoever refuses to walk the path of uprightness is subjected to what he dislikes, such as killing or enslavement, in order to establish justice, achieve security and safety, and protect lives, honor, and wealth. For this reason, jihad was legislated to restrain the stubborn and eliminate elements of corruption, and to purify the earth from the oppressors. If any of them are captured by the Muslims, the Imam has the choice regarding them: to kill them if their evil is extreme and their reformation is not expected; to pardon them or accept a ransom from them if they are known for good character and it is easy for them to turn to good; or to
enslave them if he sees that their remaining among the Muslims will reform their character, correct their deviation, and enable them to know the paths of guidance and rightness, and to believe in them and submit to them; due to what they see of the Muslims’ justice toward them, their good companionship, and their kind treatment of them, and what they hear of the texts of legislation regarding the rulings and manners of Islam. Then their hearts will open to Islam, Allah will make faith attractive to them, and He will make disbelief, open sinfulness, and disobedience hateful to them. At that point, they begin a new life with the Muslims, through which they become worthy of earning freedom through the contract of manumission, as Allah the Exalted said:
And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you.
وَالَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا وَآتُوهُمْ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْof a free life in which they enjoy security and safety. Thus, enslavement in the ruling of Islam is like a purifier or a bath; those who are enslaved enter through one door to wash away the dirt within them, then they exit through another door in purity, cleanliness, and safety from harm. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.