A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihád'/Appendix B/2

by Moulavi Gerágh Ali

[Sidenote: Measures taken by the Koran to abolish slavery.]

2. Slaves are mentioned in the Koran defacto, but not dejure. The Koran took several measures to abolish future slavery. Its steps for its abolition were taken in every moral, legal, religious, and political departments. The liberation of slaves was morally declared to be a work of piety and righteousness—(Sura XC, 13; II, 172).^[1] Legally the slaves were to be emancipated on their agreeing to pay a ransom—(Sura XXIV, 33).^[2] They were to be set at liberty as a penalty for culpable homicide—(Sura IV, 94);^[3] or in expiation for using an objectionable form of divorce—(Sura LVIII, 4);^[4] and also they were to be manumitted from the Public Funds out of the poor-taxes—(Sura IX, 60).^[5] They were religiously to be freed in expiation of a false oath taken in mistake—(Sura V, 91).^[6] These were the measures for the abolition of existing slavery. The future slavery was abolished by the Koran by putting hammer deep unto its root and by annihilating its real source. The captives of war were, according to the clear injunctions of the Koran contained in the 5th verse of the 47th Sura, to be dismissed either by a free grant or by exacting a ransom. They were neither to be enslaved nor killed.

4. "When ye encounter the unbelievers strike off their heads, till ye have made a great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters."

5. "And afterwards let there either be free dismissals or ransoming, till the war hath laid down its burdens. Thus do...."

Sura XLVII.

These verses convey very clearly the decree of the abolition of future slavery, and do not require any further remarks. Moreover they were acted upon accordingly even in the lifetime of the Prophet.

Footnotes

1. "It is to ransom the captive."—XC, 13. "There is no piety in turning your faces towards the east or the west, but he is pious who believeth in God and the Last Day, and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets; who for the love of God disburseth his wealth to his kindred and to the orphans and the needy, and the wayfarer and those who ask; and for ransoming," &c.—II, 172.
2. "And to those of your slaves who desire a deed of manumission, execute it for them, if ye know good in them, and give them a portion of the wealth of God which He hath given you. Force not your female slaves into sin, in order that ye may gain he casual fruitions of this world, if they wish to preserve their modesty. Yet if any one compel them, then verily, after their compulsion, will God be Forgiving, Merciful."—XXIV, 33.
3. "A believer killeth not a believer but by mischance: and whoso killeth a believer by mischance shall be bound to free a believer from slavery," &c.—IV, 94.
4. "And those who thus put away their wives, and afterwards would recall their words, must free a captive before they can come together again," &c.—LVIII, 4.
5. "But alms are only to be given to the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and to those whose hearts are won to Islam, and for ransoming and for debtors, and for the cause of God, and the wayfarer," &c.—IX, 60.
6. "God will not punish you for a mistaken word in your oaths; but He will punish you in regard to an oath taken seriously. Its expiation shall be to feed ten poor persons with such middling food as ye feed your families with, or to clothe them; or to set free a captive: but he who cannot find the means shall fast three days. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn. Keep then your oaths. Thus God maketh his signs clear to you. Haply ye will be thankful."—V, 91.