“The Qur’an also condones ownership of another person – slavery – as the basis of legitimate sexual relationship, i.e., a male freeperson may have sexual intercourse with his female slaves” (Farid Esack, The Qur’an: A User’s Guide, 173). He had just said, “The Qur’an speaks approvingly of only two kinds of relationship for sexual fulfillment – that of marriage between a male and female and that of slave ownership…”
Surah 4:25 states: “And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And Allah is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation according to what is acceptable. [They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers. But once they are sheltered in marriage, if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women. This [allowance] is for him among you who fears sin, but to be patient is better for you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Again, in 2:221, we read: “And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember.”
In 24:32, the Qur’an states: “And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”
Yet, it seems that the Qur’an also encourages an end to slavery: “And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave” (90:12-13).
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According to Esack (176), paying for a slave’s freedom is service to God (2:117) and this can serve to fulfill the alms (9:60). Freeing slaves can serve to negate the penalty of a major crime like an accidental homicide (4:92), nullifying a foolish statement of divorce (58:3) and not being able to fulfill one’s vow (5:92; 89?).
2:177 – “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.”
Before we critique Islam for seeming to have a weak stance on slavery, remember what the Law of Moses taught on slavery and marrying slaves. A modern Jew, trying to argue against slavery, would be in the same boat as Muslims. Christians, of course, understand that the Law of Moses (with its teachings on slavery) was nailed to the cross and the Golden Rule would eliminate slavery in all its forms.
Paul Holland
