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Death for Apostasy

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Death for Apostasy
Truth_Seeker
11/25/02 at 14:26:29
???

How can death for Apostasy be supported when the Quran tell us that "There shall be no compulsion in Religion" " La Iqraha fid Din" ??

Doesnt this mean that everyone has the right to practise whatever they want to and ONLY ALLAH will judge them on the Day of Judgment. Besides we know that only HE is capable of punishing whoever is guilty. Then isnt it a contradictory practise. I.e. Contradictory to the Quranic statement?
11/25/02 at 14:27:45
Truth_Seeker
Re: Death for Apostasy
jannah
11/25/02 at 14:41:38
There's no compulsion, meaning no one is allowed to force another to become muslim. But once you are muslim, certain laws and obligations are required of you. Just like if you enter the army and then decide to leave, there are penalties..

[quote]Doesnt this mean that everyone has the right to practise whatever they want to and ONLY ALLAH will judge them on the Day of
     Judgment. Besides we know that only HE is capable of punishing whoever is guilty.[/quote]

I don't think the above statement is true. Allah sent a guide of rules and regulations for our benefit. In an Islamic society these rules and regulations would be law and the state would be the one responsible for upholding justice. Just like in this country the rules and regulations are based on non-revealatory sources.

Anyway why do I get the feeling this is another going nowhere topic :) Check the old board, I think this was discussed in detail there.
Re: Death for Apostasy
Aadam
11/27/02 at 20:32:29
[slm]

That's a good question, Truth_Seeker.

True, God is the best of judge, but this doesn't mean that one can do whatever crazy thing one wants and the rest of society just stands by and watches. There's nothing new to be added to Islam,  and the codes of conduct are clear.

And dealing with apostasy, I've got 2 comments/questions:

1. Can we talk of apostasy when a person who was born in a Muslim family, forced to go to the mosque, the Muslim identity forced upon him, but never openly declared faith, decides to leave the religion, which he never entered on his own free will?

2. How many Muslims would accept to have their parent, child or spouse executed (or carry out the execution themselves) just because they deny God?

Salaam,

Aadam
Re: Death for Apostasy
panjul
11/27/02 at 23:18:39
>>>>2. How many Muslims would accept to have their parent, child or spouse executed (or carry out the execution themselves) just because they deny God? >>>>>

The mumin who loves Allah and His deen more than himself and his family only says, "we hear and we obey."

Umar (R) told his son to stop playing a game, which the prophet had forbidden becuse he said it could cause great injury to the people. the son replied and said something to the effect that, "i will be careful." Umar (R) got very angry with him and swore that he will never talk to him for as long as he lives. he said something like, "i'm telling you something the prophet has forbidden and you insist on it!?" and Umar (R) never talked to his son for as long as he lived.

That was just something minor compared to leaving Islam. Would Umar (R) put a a sword to his own son's neck, had he left islam? yes, i belive so.

our examples are the sahaba. i'm sure it must hurt and all, but no matter how inhumane it sounds in this day and age, (the age of ignorance) islam will stay islam.
11/27/02 at 23:19:42
panjul
Re: Death for Apostasy
muslimah853
12/04/02 at 17:14:10
[slm]

Just a note:  I remember Imam Zaid Shakir saying regarding this that many scholars, if not most (I can't remember if he said most), are of the opinion that the punishment for apostasy only applies to a person who forsakes Islam and then leaves the Islamic state...because the person then becomes a spy, at least potentially.    He said that these scholars contend that one who simply leaves Islam and remains in the Islamic state is not subject to the punishment.

In any case, as always, it's best to consult people with real knowledge on these matters.  It becomes very tricky getting real solid info from message boards--particularly on widely misunderstood issues such as this.  And I say that with no insult intended to any of the posters here.

Allah knows best.


'Eid Mubarak everyone  :)
Re: Death for Apostasy
a_Silver_Rose
12/18/02 at 20:51:21
I was confused about this also....and I came across this article....I agree with it , (if its correct, and Allah knows best) and feel better...
well here is the link and article (its a excellent article for those who wish to know .....about apostacy in Islam... Please read completely and impartially.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.faithfreedom.com/ali_sina_exposed/apostates.html

The following was sent to us by a "revert" to Islam. It offers a logical insight to dealing with apostasy in light of the Holy Quran. Please note we are fully aware of the rulings of various states regarding apostasy and are also aware that treason which is a form of apostasy  is punishable by death in the states of Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, and Louisiana. We also know this law existed in England only up until 1999.

Independent: Bush wants death for 'spy who offered secrets to Iraq'

A couple of weeks ago during question-answer session in our center, a member inquired about the punishment for apostasy in Islam. It is the prevalent belief among some Muslims (especially the isolated ones) that according to Shari'a, the apostate must be put to death.

I was once an apostate and openly declared I did not believe in Islam and rejected even the existence of God. Thank God! I was then living in a country where people did not execute apostates. I thank God for giving me a chance to repent and return to the fold of Islam. I, being an apostate once, became free from the cultural and ethnic Islam to study true Islam with an open mind. "Islamic scholars" and Imams do not anymore control my mind and beliefs unless their decrees (fatwas) are (1) in conformity with the Quran, (2) the hadith that they quote do not contradict the Quran.

I believe that many Muslims are reluctant to speak up because many "Islamic" cultures today encourage docility and teach to unquestioningly accept the decisions of "qualified" scholars. This is a new phenomenon; in the time of Muhammad (pbuh), ideas were only supported after they had been proven to be in harmony with the Quran. Scholars could not just pull rank, as they were expected to be able to argue their cases. In fact, in a famous incident of Islamic history, a humble woman of Medina publicly corrected the Caliph. One day, Hazrat Umar was announcing a change in the rule mahr, when the woman in the crowd suddenly stopped him in his track by loudly quoting a verse of the Quran which contradicted his proposal. He had to relent, saying, "The women of Medina know the Quran better than Umar." So, it is time for Muslims to question the imams and scholars if they deviate from the Quran and hadith that do not contradict the Quran. We must not only be satisfied by the answer of the scholars, but we must verify the source of their references. Remember, if Hazrath Umar can make a mistake, ordinary scholars and ordinary people like us also can make greater mistakes.

The Quran and the sayings of the Prophet require Muslims to think critically. Pagans are repeatedly berated for not questioning, for not using reason, even being compared to dumb animals on several occasions!

"When it is said unto them: 'Follow that which Allah has revealed:' they say: 'Nay! We shall follow the ways of our fathers.' What! Even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance?....Deaf, dumb, blind, therefore they have no sense." (2:170-171)

"He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book....." (3:7)

"Will they not then ponder on the Quran? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found herein much incongruity." (4:83)

So, the principle established here is that (1) Muslims are required to think critically and not blindly accept the authority of their scholars, and (2) that the clear message of the Quran is to be preferred to any isolated law interpretation which contradicts the Quran's clear spirit.

The Quran teaches that human beings are individually responsible. So, I believe that Allah would not forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment even if my sins were the result of following the advice of a certain Imam. I would not be able to hide behind any Imam or behind his fatwa even if coming from the most respected and revered Imam of any time. Therefore, views expressed here are my opinions based on the references given. I do not claim to be a scholar, but there are sometimes cases where the violation of the Quran is so self-evident that all Muslims can see them.

I believe that inhuman law of apostasy has nothing to do with Islam of the Prophet (s) and it is an interpolation into Islam by fanatics among us and the selfish rulers. There are many reasons for me to believe that execution for apostasy is a manufactured law rather than divine law.

The Prophet spent his entire life fighting in defence of fundamental human rights that everybody should be free to choose his religion; no one must be physically forced to change religion. The Prophet struggled with the Meccan establishment to have the freedom to invite non-believers to Islam. This was consistent with the practices of all other Prophets.

The Quran states:

"...There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is here forth distinct from error..."  (2:256)

In the light of the above verse, a person has to be insane to belief that Islam prescribes execution for apostasy.

The Quran further states:

"Say (Muhammad it is) truth from Lord of all. Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, Let him disbelieve." (18:29)

In no uncertain terms, Allah commands Prophet to allow people to believe and disbelieve. If the Shari'a recommends to kill an apostate, this law cannot be Islamic because it contradicts the above two verses.

The Quran further states:

"And so, O Prophet, exhort them, thy task is ONLY to exhort; thou canst NOT compel them to believe." (88:21-22)

"Thy duty is to make the message reach them; it is OUR PART to call them to account."  (13:40)

"Call thou (all mankind) unto thy Sustainer's path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in MOST KINDLY MANNER..."  (16:125)

While the Quran commands the Prophet not to compel people to believe in Islam and invite people with the most kind manner and words, fanatics among us threaten people with death mercilessly to keep them in the Muslim Ummah as hypocrites as if the dishonest hypocrites are better than honest apostates. It is a most heinous crime against Islam and the Prophet (s) to manufacture an inhuman law of execution of apostate. If the Quranic verses tell the Prophet not to compel people to believe in Islam (88:22) and the responsibility to call disbelievers to account rests with God only (1:40), the law of execution of apostates is of human origin.

Initial reluctance of the people of Arabia to accept Islam disturbed Prophet. Then the following verse was revealed:

"And had your Lord willed, whoever in the earth would have believed all together, will you then coerce people to become believers? (10:99)

According to the above verse, even God will not coerce people to become Muslims or remain as Muslim once a person accepts Islam. So, Muslims must condemn the law of apostasy and save innocent Muslims becoming intolerant and violent by the heinous indoctrination by fanatics among us because Allah says:

"Who can be more wicked than the one who invent a lie against God,..." (6:93)

So, religious belief is a personal matter. It is God alone --not the state or religious authorities--who know what is in the heart of the people. If the highest human authority, Prophet (s), cannot call anyone to account for belief or disbelief, no sane person can believe that religious scholars and the state have the authority to execute people for their personal belief.

The Quran states:

"A section of the People of the Book say: 'Believe in the morning what is revealed to the believers, Bur reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) turn back."  (3:72)

The People of the Book mentioned in the verse are Jews of the Medina. These Jews used a tactic to create doubt among the Muslims in the hope that some of them might thereby be beguiled into repudiating Islam. How could it be possible for Jews to have enacted this plan to entice Muslims to believe one day and reject next, if death was the penalty for apostasy? The tactic of the People of the Book mentioned in this verse also exposes the un-Islamic apostasy law of the fanatics among us.

Abdullah b.Ubayy b.Salul was the leader of the munafiqun (hypocrites). But The Prophet took no action against him. Prophet prayed for him and stayed at the grave until he was buried. Those fanatics among us must explain the reason for Prophet not executing the known hypocrites like Abdullah b.Ubayy. Ubbay lived until death plotting to destroy Islam and Prophet knew it. He was not executed for apostasy. This suggests that apostasy law is not a divine law but interpolation by fanatics among us.

Another verse states:

"Those who believe, then reject Faith, then believe (again) and again reject Faith, go on increasing in Unbelief--God will not forgive them nor guide them on the Way." (4:137)

An apostate cannot enjoy the repeated luxury of believing and disbelieving if punishment is death. A dead man has no further chance of again believing and disbelieving. Furthermore, if taken at face value, this verse indicates that God will only withdraw His guidance after repeated rejections. It does not tell The Prophet to kill these apostate. So, what right do these religious authorities and Imams have to deprive a person of access to that divine guidance after the first?

The Quran states:

"How shall God guide those who reject faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the apostle was true and that clear signs had come unto them? But God guides not a people unjust. Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of the God, of His Angels, and of all mankind;--In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be their lot;--except for those that repent (even) after that, make amends; For verily God is oft-forgiving, most merciful." (3:86-89)

It is obvious from the these verses that no punishment is to be inflicted by one man or another for apostasy. By no stretch of the imagination can the phrase, "curse of Allah," be interpreted to be a license to murder anyone who he considers to be an apostate. If any such commandment was prescribed it would have been clearly defined as all other punishments are in the Holy Quran.

The fact is that the Quran even mentions that apostates can be forgiven if they amend and repent. How could they repent if apostates are killed? By forced repentance? Then, does not Quran state that there is no compulsion in religion? The one verse that states that there is no compulsion in religion should be enough for a fair minded person to realize that Islam does not teach death to apostates.

Finally, can any one hadith suggesting to kill the apostate invalidate all the Qur'anic verses quoted earlier? We, Muslims, blame the West for anti-Muslim reporting. What do you expect from the West if we provide the sticks to beat us up? So, Muslim brothers and sisters, stand up for justice and against injustice. Will you object the persecution of the new Muslim convert for his apostasy by his erstwhile co-religionists? If we believe that it is injustice to kill a new Muslim by non-Muslims for his apostasy from his former faith, you must give the same just treatment to Muslims who become Christians, Jews and Atheists. Let Allah call to account those people who left Islam.

I, like many Muslims, am still bitter over smear jobs done on my religion by Western media over the Gulf war, and the Rushdie affair. So, the last thing that I want is to see Islam slandered all over again because of the barbaric and un-Islamic apostasy law. Ask yourselves: what kind of religion kills people for simple choice of faith, a change of heart? Not a religion of love and peace, not a religion worthy of respect! Perpetuation of the law to kill apostates can only increase or create doubts in the heart of the Muslims and potential Muslims, as people everywhere are already bombarded by negative images of Islam.

My message to those Muslims who, like me, yearn to see Islam grow in the West: Dawa will never be successful in the West as long as crazy nonsense of law of apostasy is unchallenged by Muslims. If Muhammed Ali, Cat Stevens, and Murad Hoffman were harassed by a reactionary Christian group, the Muslims will be up in arms! We must be consistent.

In closing, Islam is only vulnerable when Muslims abandon its clear teaching of reason, tolerance, and peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A similar article : http://www.understanding-islam.org/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=286
04/12/03 at 20:26:38
a_Silver_Rose
Re: Death for Apostasy
daisynova
12/24/02 at 17:51:51
[quote author=Truth_Seeker link=board=lighthouse;num=1038252389;start=0#0 date=11/25/02 at 14:26:29] ???

How can death for Apostasy be supported when the Quran tell us that "There shall be no compulsion in Religion" " La Iqraha fid Din" ??

Doesnt this mean that everyone has the right to practise whatever they want to and ONLY ALLAH will judge them on the Day of Judgment. Besides we know that only HE is capable of punishing whoever is guilty. Then isnt it a contradictory practise. I.e. Contradictory to the Quranic statement?[/quote]
Well this is good topic....to be think...
Re: Death for Apostasy
Alkhansaa
02/19/03 at 15:31:21
The problem with apostasy is that the apostate not satisfied with his leaving the truth, starts a fitna and fasad fi alardh(he starts a spreading corruption and maligning the truth.

Check sites with apostates, it seems that not satisfied with leving the truth they insist that others leave it with them, and start writing falshoods and trying to convince others to leave their faith too.

That is why it is a fasad fi alardh, why should a person who has seen the light, and I mean really seen it suddenly decide to forsake truth for falsehood?

I previously, elsewhere gave an example if any of you know how ultrasound machines work and the way the different degrees of grey combine to form a picture, I'm sure the sisters at least have seen their babies by ultrasound? Well what if after you had sen the little baby kicking its feet and swimming around in the womb you suddenly said , no there is no such thing as an ultrasound picture, what sort of words would these be? Nonsensical of course and deep down quite untrue that is why most apostates have this prsistent desire to always prove themselves right, and are always insisting that others leave the millah too.

Also, bear in mind that we are guests on this Earth. It belongs to God SWT and what sort of person would eat the food of the host and drink and generally enjoy himself and then be ungrateful enough to deny the Owner, what would we or should we think of such a person?

Another point is that the apostate is given a period of repentance, it differs according to the mazhab that is adopted but I believe most opt for a long time(CAliph Omar said 3 days, Caliph Ali says one month, and there is another mazhab which says for life ) anyway not withstanding the apostate isn't just leaft like this he is taught one again by the greatest of scholars in the country and the aqueeda is explained to him so that he is not leaving the fold of Islam from ignorance. And if you have listened to a levture from the scholars of Aqueeda ma shaa Allah theey are excellent people and it is their unenviable duty to answer refutations which they do admirably, fi ilm rad almuftarayat and ilm alkalam.

So really this apostate if he is leaving from ignorance -will be taught
                                   if he is leaving from enmity and hatred will be advised, if persisting will he not be like a traitor? Have you ever seen a benign apostate? Or one who doesn't bend over backwards trying to force others out of the milla with lies if necessary?

sorry about the length!!!
[wlm] :-)
Re: Death for Apostasy
Abu_Atheek
03/04/03 at 13:54:10
[slm]

Question:

Sometime back I read the following statement in your column, "What the Qur'an Teaches": "This is a depressing scene of how familiar traditions exercise a blinding pressure over our hearts and minds. This pressure deprives man of one of the most basic of his human qualities: That is the freedom to think, reflect and choose one’s beliefs.” Could you please comment on this statement and the crime of apostasy.

[i]Answer:[/i]

Much is said about the punishment of apostasy as defined in Islam. Much of what is said does not rely on accurate information. Indeed, most of what is said betrays a superficial outlook coupled with lack of knowledge.

Those who are quick to criticize Islam often manipulate the much publicized punishment for apostasy in order to level at Islam the charge that it only pays lip-service to freedom of belief. They say how can a religion that preaches freedom of belief prescribe the capital punishment for apostasy? If the people are free to believe in what they like, why is it that a Muslim who decides to renounce Islam and adopt another religion is sentenced to death? Much of what they say does not take into consideration the Islamic attitude to punishment or whether the punishment for apostasy is applicable in all cases.

The first point I would like to make in reply to this question is that the freedom of belief is, from the Islamic point of view, a basic freedom that should be exercised by all people. Indeed, Islam considers a person who grows up in a Muslim family and adopts Islam only because he is brought up as a Muslim to be at fault for not adopting the faith of Islam as a personal choice made on the basis of consideration and reflection. Moreover, the Prophet and his leading companions were always keen to emphasize when they preached the message of Islam that people are free to accept it or reject it. At no time did the Prophet or his leading companions tell anyone that he will be punished by them if he does not adopt Islam. The Prophet’s eldest daughter, Zainab, was married to a non-believer who did not accept Islam until the fifth year of the Prophet’s settlement in Madinah, that is, eighteen years after the start of the message of Islam. It is true that in the last four years before he became a Muslim, she was separated from him on the Prophet’s orders, but that was to implement a ruling that applied to all Muslim men and women who were married to non-believers. Moreover, when the Muslim state in Madinah was gaining supremacy in Arabia, there were so many non-believers who pretended to be Muslims. They were known to the Prophet for their hypocrisy, because God told him about them. At the same time, the Prophet was commanded by God to accept from them what they professed and not to try to establish whether they were true believers or not. He had to leave that to God to judge them as He knows their thoughts and intentions.

Let us now consider how would the Muslim community identify a person as an apostate? If a person decides to turn away from Islam, after having been a Muslim, and keeps the fact to himself, believing in whatever religion he chooses, no one will ever interfere with him. It is when he decides to declare his apostasy and speak out against Islam that the Muslim authority should interfere to stop him. The first thing that the Muslim ruler is required to do in such a case is to ask leading scholars to sit with that person and point to him the truth of Islam. He may have made his decision out of ignorance of some aspects of Islam. These have to be made known to him. When he has been told the truth about Islam and when his arguments are shown to be false, his subsequent attitude determines what may happen to him. If he decides to return to the fold of Islam, then he is welcomed back and good care is taken of him so that his doubts are dispelled, if and when they arise. If he asks for a time to reflect and consider, he is given a period of grace. This may be indefinite, particularly if he chooses a low profile and no longer publicizes his apostasy or criticizes Islam. But if he continues to publicize the fact of his apostasy and calls on people to turn away from Islam and follow his example then he is punished. In such a situation, the punishment is not merely for his rejection of Islam. It is for his active opposition to Islam. He is indeed an enemy who tries to undermine the Islamic faith. He certainly deserves the capital punishment.

I hope I have made the distinction clear between the position of such a person and that of a peaceful person who decides to adopt a religion other than Islam.

It is always taken for granted that Islam prescribes the death penalty for apostasy. I have recently answered a question on this subject, in which I showed that there is a substantial body of scholars who are of the view that this is not a prescribed penalty which must be enforced in every case where the offense is proven. A number of contemporary scholars who are authorities on the Islamic penal code have shown that the death penalty for an apostate is a discretionary punishment. That means that its enforcement is left to the judge and the Muslim ruler. This is a very significant point, because when a punishment is specified by Islam, either in the Qur’an or the Sunnah, then it must be enforced, whenever the conditions for proving the offense are met. For example, once it is proven that a person has committed theft, and the conditions for the punishment are met, then there is no way the punishment could be reduced or suspended. It must be enforced, because it has been specified by God, and no one has the authority to amend what God has decreed.

Perhaps I should also explain here that Islam is not at all keen to enforce punishments, even those which are specified. Every chance is given to the offender to escape punishment. For example, one way of proving an offense is for the offender to make a confession. There must be no pressure on him to confess. Now suppose that an adulterer came and confessed his offense, seeking to be punished. To start with, if he subsequently withdraws his confession, the whole matter is closed, because his subsequent statement, withdrawing the confession, is accepted. If he insists that he has committed the offense, the judge must make sure that he is of sound mind and he is giving the confession on his own accord. The judge should also cross-examine him because on cross-examination the judge may determine that the actual offense did not take place.

If the judge discovers that the confessor had only had the preliminaries of adultery, then the punishment is waived. This shows that every means should be employed in order to make it absolutely certain that the offense has been committed. If there is any suspicion, then the punishment is not enforced. However, if the offense is proven beyond doubt, then the punishment must be enforced and there is no authority to reduce or suspend it.

[i]"Islam in Perspective" – Arab News – 04 April 1994[/i]
03/04/03 at 13:58:57
Abu_Atheek
Re: Death for Apostasy
amatullah
03/10/03 at 20:17:31
On Apostasy and Slavery


Adil Salahi, Saudi Arabia.
[ Questions and comments can be e-mailed to Br. Salahi at:
islam@arabnews.com ]


On Apostasy and Slavery:
Q. I find it difficult to understand two things in Islamic law. The
first is the punishment of apostasy, which is death. I cannot reconcile
this with the Qur’anic statement that there is no compulsion in
religion. Surely people are free to believe what they want. How can
this
be reconciled with inflicting the death penalty on a person simply
because he left Islam to some other religion? The second problem is the
permission to have sex with female slaves. Is this done with permission
from one’s wife, or with the slave’s consent? Are Muslim women allowed
to have sex with male slaves? Please explain.

N.Y. Chundrigar

A. Certain offenses carry mandatory punishments in Islamic law, which
means that when any of them is proven according to Islamic legal
requirements, the punishment has to be enforced, and the offender
cannot
be pardoned. Many scholars consider these offenses to be 7 in number,
and such scholars include apostasy as one of them. However, a number of
highly reputable scholars have questioned this, and concluded that
these
offenses are only four. Apostasy is not among them. However, all
scholars, past and contemporary, agree that no person is questioned
about their faith, which means that a Muslim who converts to some other
religion and keeps this to himself, or within his immediate contacts,
no
one will ever bother him. It is a person who publicizes the fact to
encourage others to do likewise that commits a punishable offense. Here
you should compare this action to someone who tries to undermine the
constitution of the country he lives in. No country allows that. In
fact, most countries prescribe very severe punishments for such
offenders.

Besides, an apostate must be given a chance to reconsider his position.
This is an important Islamic requirement agreed by all scholars,
without
exception. He is called upon to revert back to Islam, and his views are
discussed, and his doubts cleared. If it is a question of beliefs only,
this process may continue as long as necessary.

This means that the apostate should only keep his beliefs to himself in
order not to incur any punishment. However, if he does not, the
punishment is discretionary. What we know for certain is that neither
the Prophet, nor his two immediate successors inflicted the death
punishment on any apostate, although there were cases under each one of
them.


As for slavery, Islam stands firmly in support of the abolition of
slavery. Indeed, it did so from the very first day. But it could not
abolish slavery right away because it was an international institution,
imposing slavery on captives in war. Islam ordered that all slaves
should be kindly treated. The Prophet described them as ‘your
brethren’,
and ordered that they should be fed and clothed as we feed and clothe
our families.

If you consider that there were a large number of slaves in society,
then you wonder what sort of family relation they would have. Of
course,
slaves may be married, but a man slave could not be married to a free
woman, unless he obtained his freedom first. If two slaves got married,
their marriage has the same status as marriage of free people. The
woman
could not have sex with anyone other than her husband, not even with
her
master. Needless to say, this applied to men slaves also in all
situations, whether before or after their marriage.

The point you are asking about is that of sex between a free man and a
woman slave. To start with, he must be her master. If he decides to
take
her to bed, then a new relationship is established. If she gives birth
to a child, she has a new status, which is called ‘a child’s mother’,
and she may no longer be sold. When her master dies, she becomes free.

As you see, this is a permanent relationship that imposes duties and
obligations on both master and slave. Moreover, it was a way of freeing
slaves, because Islam wanted slavery to be ended, but it could not end
it unilaterally when it was an international institution.

People tend to think of slavery only in the darkest historical images
drawn from Roman times or from more recent periods in American history.
Under Islam, the situation was totally different.

The question suggests an image in which women slaves were like unpaid
prostitutes. There was nothing of the sort. No woman, free or slave,
could have more than one man at the same time.

If a slave woman was sold, her new master would have to make sure that
she was not pregnant before he could have a relationship with her. If
he
wants such a relationship, he would be the only one, and then if she
has
a child, she would no longer be a slave in the strict sense of the
word.
She would be on her way to full freedom.

However, now that slavery is abolished, as Islam always wanted, there
is
no way it could return under Islamic law. [28/02/2003]


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