Islam and slavery

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Islam
Beliefs
%llah & 'neness of (od )uhammad & "eal of Prophets Prophets of *slam + ,esurrection

Practices
Profession of Faith + Prayer Fasting + -harity + Pilgrimage

History & Leaders

)uslim history %hl al./ayt + "aha!a ,ashidun -aliphs + "hia *mams

Texts & Laws

0ur#an + "unnah + 1adith Fi h + "haria + 2alam + Tasa$$uf

Major branc es
"unni + "hia

!ulture & "ociety

%cademics + %rt + Philosophy "cience + %rchitecture + )os ues Women + -alendar + Festivals 3emographics + Politics

"ee also
(lossary of *slamic terms
This !ox: vie$ + talk + edit

This article documents *slam#s approach to slavery and the status of slaves $ithin *slamic society. *slam, like Judaism, -hristianity and other $orld religions, accepted and even endorsed the institution of slavery.456 )uhammad and those of his -ompanions $ho could afford it themselves o$ned slaves, and some of them ac uired more !y con uest. 1o$ever, the *slamic dispensation enormously improved the position of the %ra!ian slave through the reforms of a humanitarian tendency !oth at the time of )uhammad and the later early caliphs.456 The legal legislations !rought t$o ma7or changes to the practice of slavery inherited from anti uity, from ,ome, and from /y8antium, $hich $ere to have far.reaching effects. /ernard 9e$is considers these reforms to !e the cause of the vast improvements in the practice of slavery in )uslim lands. The reforms also seriously limited the supply of ne$ slaves.456 The 0ur#an considers emancipation of a slave to !e a meritorious deed, or as a condition of repentance for certain sins. The 0ur#an and 1adith contain numerous passages supporting this vie$. )uslim 7urists considered slavery to !e an exceptional circumstance, $ith the !asic assumption of freedom until proven other$ise. Furthermore, as opposed to pre.*slamic slavery, enslavement $as limited to t$o scenarios: capture in $ar, or !irth to slave parents :!irth to parents $here one $as free and the other not so $ould render the offspring free;.4<6 "lavery in *slam does not have racial or color component, although this ideal has not al$ays !een put into practice. =evertheless, historically, !lack slaves could rise to important positions in )uslim nations.4>64?6 *n early *slamic %ra!ia, "laves $ere often %frican !lacks from across the ,ed "ea, !ut !y expansion of the *slamic empire in later times, slaves could !e /er!ers from =orth %frica, "lavs from @urope, Turks from -entral %sia, or -ircassians from the -aucasus. 4A6 The ma7ority of slaves throughout the history of %ra!ia $ere, ho$ever, of %frican origin. The %ra! slave trade $as most active in eastern %frica, although !y the end of the 5Bth century such activity had reached a significantly lo$ e!!. The slavery in the %ra! World in the 5Bth century has !een documented !y 3r. -hristiaan "nouck 1urgron7e, an %ra!ist and a scholar of *ndonesian affairs, $ho had visited )ecca during his 7ourney in the 1i7a8. 1e states in his !ook )ohammedanism that C"laves in the %ra! $orld are generally not that different from servants and $orkers in @uropeD and that their masters Ehandled them $ith a genial humanity that made their lot no $orse . perhaps !etter, as more secure . than that of a factory $orker in nineteenth.century @urope.C 4F6

*t $as in the early <Gth century :post World War *; that slavery gradually !ecame outla$ed and suppressed in )uslim lands, largely due to pressure exerted !y Western nations such as /ritain and France :although the extent to $hich it died out andHor flared up again is disputed;.4<6

!ontents
4hide6

5 Pre.*slamic slavery < "lavery in *slamic society o <.5 "lavery in *slamic 7urisprudence <.5.5 Treatment <.5.< 9egal status <.5.<.5 )ukata!at > 1istory of "lavery in )uslim lands o >.5 'riental slave trade o >.< 5Bth century and post 5Bth century ? "lavery in modern times o ?.5 Juridical "upport for "lavery o ?.< -amel 7ockeys in %ra! countries o ?.> "lavery in "udan o ?.? @xistence of slavery disputed o ?.A Propaganda and $estern demoni8ation of *slam A "ee also F =otes I ,eferences J @xternal links

#edit$ Pre%Islamic slavery

"lavery $as $idely practiced in pre.*slamic %ra!ia, as $ell as in the rest of ancient and early medieval $orld. The ma7ority of slaves $ithin %ra!ia $ere of @thiopian origin, through $hose sale merchants gre$ rich. The minority $ere $hite slaves of foreign race, likely !rought in !y %ra! caravaneers :or the product of /edouin captures; stretching !ack to !i!lical times. =ative %ra! slaves had also existed, a prime example !eing Kayd i!n 1arithah, later to !ecome )uhammad#s adopted son. %ra! slaves, ho$ever, usually attained as captives, $ere generally ransomed off amongst nomad tri!es.4<6 The slave population $as recruited !y the a!andonment, kidnapping or sale of small children. Free persons $ere also a!le to sell their offspring, or even themselves, into slavery. @nslavement $as also possi!le due to legal offences of the la$, as in the ,oman @mpire.
4I6

T$o classes of slave $ere apparent: % purchased slave, and a slave !orn in the master#s homeL the latter over $hom the master had complete rights of o$nership, although $as unlikely to !e sold or disposed of !y the master. Female slaves $ere at times forced into prostitution for the !enefit of their masters in accordance $ith =ear @astern customs, the practice of $hich is condemned in the 0ur#an <?:>>.4<64J6 4B6

#edit$ "lavery in Islamic society

/ilal, a freed !lack slave, $as made the first )ue88in:a person $ho calls for prayers; to envy of many %ra!s. 45G6 The 0urMan, like the 'ld and the =e$ Testaments, assumes the existence of slavery, /ernard 9e$is states.456 The 0ur#an regulates the practice of the institution and thus implicitly accepts it. 9e$is points out that the *slamic legislation C!rought t$o ma7or changes to ancient slavery $hich $ere to have far.reaching effects: Cthe presumption of freedomC and Cthe !an on the enslavement of free persons except in strictly defined circumstancesC. 456 )uslim 7urists defined slavery as an exceptional condition, $ith the general rule !eing a presumption of freedom :al-'asl huwa 'l-hurriya L CThe basic principle is libertyC; for a person if his origins $ere unkno$n. Furthermore, la$ful enslavement $as restricted to t$o instances: capture in $ar :on the condition that the prisoner is not a )uslim;, or !irth in slavery. *slamic la$ did not recogni8e the t$o classes of slave from pre.*slamic %ra!ia.4<6

#edit$ "lavery in Islamic jurisprudence

#edit$ Treatment %lthough slavery itself $as not a!olished !y the 0ur#an, )uslims $ere admonished to treat their slaves $ell:

The 0ur#an urges

kindness to$ards slaves :?:>F, B:FG, <?:>>, ?G:5>; freeing slaves for the expiation of sins :?:B<, A:B<, 5J:>; and the recogni8ing of concu!inage :?:>, <>:F, >>:AG.A<; 4556

*n the instance of illness, for example, it $ould !e re uired for the slave to !e looked after. "lave manumission :declaring the slave to !e free; $ould !e considered a meritorious act, although the slave $ould !e eligi!le to ransom himself $ith the money he has earned $hile conducting his o$n !usiness. "lave o$ners $ere encouraged to allo$ their slaves to earn their freedom, and to Cgive them some of (od#s $ealth $hich 1e has given youC :<?:>>;. 4B6 %8i8ah Y. al.1i!ri, a professor of 9a$ speciali8ing in *slamic 7urispundence, states that !oth the 0urMan and 1adith are repeatedly exhorting )uslims to treat the slaves $ell and that )uhammad sho$ed this !oth in action and in $ords.45G6 %l.1i!ri for example uotes the famous last speech of )uhammad and other hadiths emphasi8ing that all !elievers, $hether free or enslaved, are si!lings.45G6 9e$is explains, Cthe humanitarian tendency of the 0ur#an and the early caliphs in the *slamic empire, $as to some extent counteracted !y other influences,C456 nota!ly the practice of various con uered people and countries )uslims encountered, especially in provinces previously under ,oman la$ :even the -hristiani8ed form of slavery $as still harsh in its treatment of slaves;. *n spite of this, 9e$is also states, C*slamic practice still represented a vast improvement on that inherited from anti uity, from ,ome, and from /y8antium.C456 #edit$ Le&al status Within *slamic 7urisprudence, slaves are a!le to occupy any office $ithin the *slamic government, and instances of this in history include the )amluk $ho ruled @gypt for almost <FG years and the @unuchs :castrated human male; $ho have held military and administrative positions of note.45<6. They are also a!le to marry, o$n property, and lead the )uslim congregational prayers :the five daily ritual prayers;.45>6 %nnemarie "chimmel, a contemporary scholar on *slamic civili8ation, asserts that !ecause the status of slave under *slam could only !e o!tained through either !eing a prisoner of $ar :this $as soon restricted only to infidels captured in a holy $ar;456 or !orn from slave parents, slavery $ould !e theoretically a!olished $ith the expansion of *slam.45<6 4clarify6*slam#s reforms seriously limited the supply of ne$ slaves, according to 9e$is.456 *n the early days of *slam, he notes, a plentiful supply of ne$ slaves $ere !rought due to rapid con uest and expansion. /ut as the frontiers $ere gradually sta!ili8ed, this supply d$indled to a mere trickle. The prisoners of later $ars !et$een )uslims and -hristians $ere commonly ransomed or exchanged.456 Patrick )anning states that *slamic legislations against the a!use of the slaves convincingly limited the extent of slavery in %ra!ian peninsula and to a lesser degree for the $hole area of the $hole Nmayyad -aliphate $here slavery existed since the most ancient times. 1e ho$ever notes that $ith the passage of time and the extension of *slam, *slam !y recogni8ing and codifying the slavery seems to have done more to protect and expand slavery than the reverse. 45?6

Theoretically, free.!orn )uslims could not !e enslaved, and the only $ay that a non. )uslim could !e enslaved $as !eing captured in the course of holy $ar. 45A6 :*n early *slam, neither a )uslim nor a -hristian or Je$ could !e enslaved.45F6; "lavery $as also perceived as a means of converting non.)uslims to *slam: % task of the masters $as religious instruction. %lthough conversion and assimilation into the society of the master didn#t automatically lead to emancipation !ut there $as normally some guarantee of !etter treatment and $as deemed a prere uisite for emancipation 45I6 The property of the slave technically $as o$ned !y the master unless a contract of freedom of the slave had !een entered into, $hich allo$ed the slave to earn money to purchase his freedom and similarly to pay !ride $ealth. The marriage of slaves re uired the consent of the o$ner. Nnder the 1anafi and "hafai schools of 7urisprudence male slaves could marry t$o $ives, !ut the )aliki permitted them to marry four $ives like the free men. %ccording to the *slamic la$, a male slave could marry a free $oman !ut this $as discouraged in practice. 45A6 *slam permits sexual relations !et$een a male master and his female slave outside of marriage. This is referred to in the 0ur#an as ma malakat aymanukum or C$hat your right hands possessC45J645B6;. There are some restrictions on the masterO he may not co.ha!it $ith a female slave !elonging to his $ife,4<6 neither can he have relations $ith a female slave if she is co.o$ned, or already married. *f the female slave has a child !y her master, she then receives the title of CNmm WaladC :lit. )other of a child;, $hich is an improvement in her status as she can no longer !e sold and is legally freed upon the death of her master. The child, !y default, is !orn free due to the father :i.e. the master; !eing a free man. There is no limit on the num!er of concu!ines a master may possess. 1o$ever, the general marital la$s are to !e o!served, such as not having sexual relations $ith the sister of a female slave.4<6 45I6 The concu!ines, under the *slamic la$, had an intermediate position !et$een slave and free.45I6 *n *slam, Cmen are en7oined to marry free $omen in the first instance, !ut if they cannot afford the !ride$ealth for free $omen, they are told to marry slave $omen rather than engage in $rongful acts.C 4<G6 %nother rationali8ation given for recognition of concu!inage in *slam is that Cit satisfied the sexual desire of the female slaves and there!y prevented the spread of immorality in the )uslim community.C4citation needed6 -oncu!inage $as only allo$ed as a monogamous relation !et$een the slave $oman and her master 4<56, ho$ever, in reality in many )uslim societies, female slaves $ere prey for mem!ers of their o$ners# household, their neigh!ors, and their guests. 4<<6 "ome *slamic scholars assert that sexual relations $ith concu!ines $ere only permitted !ecause slavery couldn#t !e eradicated immediately !eing an essential component of social and economic infra.structure.4<>64<?6 *n certain legal punishments, a slave $ould !e entitled to half the penalty re uired upon a freeman. For example: $here a free man $ould !e su!7ect to a hundred lashes due to pre. marital relations, a slave $ould !e su!7ect to only fifty. 'ther cases ho$ever, as $ith theft or apostasy, re uire the same punishment upon the slave as the free man, as long as the necessary conditions for such punishments are fulfilled.4<6 %lso in *slamic legal punishments, a freeman could face the capital punishment if convicted in the killing of a slave and vice versa.
#edit$ Mu'atabat

)ukata!at is a right given to slaves the right to make contract $ith their masters according to $hich they $ould !e re uired to pay a certain sum of money in a specific time period, or $ould carry out a specific service for their mastersO once they $ould successfully fulfill either of these t$o options, they $ould stand li!erated. 4<A6. The exegetical literature identified slaves as mukatab $hen !uying their o$n freedom.4<F6 %s stated in 0ur#an: The 0ur#an, chapter <? :%n.=oor;, verse >>(

%nd if any of your slaves ask for Mukatabat, accept it give it to them if you kno$ any good in them and 4for this6 give them out of the $ealth $hich %llah has given to you.L translated !y Nnkno$n

This right of mukata!at $as granted to slave.men and slave.$omen. Prior to this, various other directives $ere given at various stages to gradually reach this stage. These steps are summari8ed !elo$:4<A6 5. *n the very !eginning of its revelation, the 0ur#an regarded emancipation of slaves as a great virtue.4<I6 <. People $ere urged that until they free their slaves they should treat them $ith kindness.4<J64<B6 >. *n cases of unintentional murder, Zihar:see footnote for definition; 4>G6, and other similar offences, li!erating a slave $as regarded as their atonement and charity.4>56 ?. *t $as directed to marry off slave.men and slave.$omen $ho $ere capa!le of marriage so that they could !ecome e uivalent in status, !oth morally and socially, to other mem!ers of society.4><6 A. *f some person $ere to marry a slave.$oman of someone, great care $as exercised since this could result in a clash !et$een o$nership and con7ugal rights. 1o$ever, such people $ere told that if they did not have the means to marry free. $omen, they could marry, $ith the permission of their masters, slave.$omen $ho $ere )uslims and $ere also kept chaste. *n such marriages, they must pay their do$ers so that this could !ring them gradually e ual in status to free.$omen.4>>6 F. *n the heads of Kakat :9egal almsgiving, *slamic religious tax;, a specific head :for freeing necks 4emancipation of slaves6; $as instituted so that the campaign of slave emancipation could receive impetus from the pu!lic treasury.4>?6 I. Fornication :sexual intercourse !et$een a man and a $oman $ho are not married to each other; $as regarded as an offence. "ince prostitution centers around this offence, !rothels that $ere operated !y o$ners using their slave.$omen $ere shut do$n automatically, and if someone tried to go on secretly running this !usiness, he $as given exemplary punishment.4>A6 J. People $ere told that they $ere all slavesHservants of %llah and so instead of using the $ords +, -. / :slave.man; and 01 /2 / :slave.$oman;, the $ords used should !e 34 /5 / :!oyHman; and 674 /5 / :girlH$oman; so that the psyche a!out them should change and a change is !rought a!out in these age.old concepts.4>F6

B. % ma7or source of slaves $ithin the institution of slavery at the advent of *slam $ere the prisoners of $ar. The 0ur#an rooted this out !y legislating that prisoners of $ar should !e freed at all costs, either !y accepting ransom or as a favour !y not taking any ransom money. =o other option $as availa!le to the )uslims.4>I64>J6

#edit$ History of "lavery in Muslim lands

#edit$ 8riental slave trade

5>th century slave market in the Yemen Main article: Oriental slave trade The oriental slave trade is sometimes called *slamic slave trade, !ut religion $as hardly the point of the slavery, Patrick )anning, a professor of World 1istory, states. 4>B6 %lso, this term suggests comparison !et$een *slamic slave trade and -hristian slave trade. Furthermore, usage of the terms C*slamic tradeC or C*slamic $orldC implicitly and erroneously treats %frica as it $ere outside of *slam, or a negligi!le portion of the *slamic $orld.4>B6 *n the Jth century %frica $as dominated !y %ra!./er!ers in the north: *slam moved south$ards along the =ile and along the desert trails. The "olomonic dynasty of @thiopia often exported =ilotic slaves from their $estern !orderland provinces, or from ne$ly con uered or recon uered )uslim provinces. =ative )uslim @thiopian sultanates :rulership; exported slaves as $ell, such as the sometimes independent sultanate :rulership; of %dal :a sixteenth century province.cum.rulership located in @ast %frica north of =orth$estern "omalia;.4?G6 'n the coast of the *ndian 'cean too, slave.trading posts $ere set up !y %ra!s and Persians. The archipelago of Kan8i!ar, along the coast of present.day Tan8ania, is undou!tedly the most notorious example of these trading

colonies. @ast %frica and the *ndian 'cean continued as an important region for the 'riental slave trade up until the 5Bth century.4<6 9ivingstone and "tanley $ere then the first @uropeans to penetrate to the interior of the -ongo !asin and to discover the scale of slavery there.4?56 The %ra! Tippu Ti! extended his influence and made many people slaves.4?56 %fter @uropeans had settled in the (ulf of (uinea, the trans."aharan slave trade !ecame less important. *n Kan8i!ar, slavery $as a!olished late, in 5JBI, under "ultan 1amoud !in )ohammed.4?<6 The rest of %frica had no direct contact $ith )uslim slave. traders.

#edit$ 9:t century and post 9:t century

Proclamation of the a!olition of slavery !y Pictor 1ughes in the (uadeloupe, the 5st =ovem!er 5IB? "lavery in )uslim lands $as influenced !y the revolution against slavery in 5Bth century in @ngland and later in other Western countries $hich gave rise to a strong a!olitionist movement in @urope. -ontrasting $ith ancient and colonial systems, slaves in )uslim lands had a certain legal status and had o!ligations to as $ell as rights over the slave o$ner. "lavery $as not only recogni8ed !ut $as ela!orately regulated !y "haria la$. %lthough emancipation of slaves $as recommended, it $as not compulsory. 9e$is eludicates that it $as for this reason that Cthe position of the domestic slave in )uslim society $as in most respects !etter than in either classical anti uity or the nineteenth. century %mericasC, and that the situation of such slaves $ere no $orse than :and even in some cases !etter than; free poors4?>6. *ronically, the enlightened incentives and opportunities for slaves to !e emancipated meant there $as a strong market for ne$ slaves and thus strong incentive to inslave and sell human !eings. The processes of ac uisition and transportation of slaves to )uslim lands often imposed appalling hardships, though Conce the slaves $ere settled in *slamic culture they had genuine opportunities to reali8e their potential. )any of them !ecame merchants in )ecca, Jedda, and else$here.C The hardships of ac uisition and transportation of slaves to )uslim lands dre$ attention of @uropean opponents of slavery. The continuing pressure from @uropean countries eventually overcame the

strong resistance of religious conservatives $ho $ere holding that for!idding $hat (od permits is 7ust as great an offense as to permit $hat (od for!ids. "lavery, in their eyes, $as Cauthori8ed and regulated !y the holy la$C. There $ere also many pious )uslims $ho refused to have slaves and persuaded others to do so. 4??6 @ventually, the 'ttoman empire#s orders against the traffic of slaves $ere issued and put into effect. 4?>6 "lavery in the forms of carpet$eavers, sugarcane cutters, camel 7okeys, sex slaves, and even chattel exists even today in some )uslim and non.)uslim countries :"ome have uestioned the use of the term slavery as an accurate description 4?A6;. 4?F6 -hattel slavery in )auritania and "udan, Trokosi slavery :Ca trokosi is a virgin girl $ho is dedicated :married; to a priest as a penance for a crime committed !y a mem!er of her familyC;, -hild slavery in %sia, -hild trafficking in $est and central %frica are examples of slavery in t$enty.first century.

#edit$ "lavery in modern times

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Please improve the article or discuss proposed changes on the talk page. You can edit the article to add more encyclopaedic text or link the article to a page of uotations, possi!ly one of the same name, on Wiki uote. "ee Wikipedia#s guide to $riting !etter articles for further suggestions.

T e neutrality of t is section is disputed;

Please see the discussion on the talk page.

The issue of slavery in the *slamic $orld in modern times is controversial. There is hard evidence of its existence and destructive effects, !ut some maintain that *slamically sanctioned slavery is not prevalent and that reports of it are part of an effort to demoni8e *slam.

#edit$ <uridical "upport for "lavery

*n <GG> a high.level "audi 7urist, "haykh "aleh al.Fa$8an, issued a fat$a claiming E"lavery is a part of *slam. "lavery is part of 7ihad, and 7ihad $ill remain as long there is *slam.D 1e attacked )uslim scholars $ho said other$ise maintaining, EThey are ignorant, not scholars, ... They are merely $riters. Whoever says such things is an infidel.D 4<6. %t thetime of the fat$a, %l.Fa$8an $as a mem!er of the "enior -ouncil of -lerics, "audi %ra!iaMs highest religious !ody, a mem!er of the -ouncil of ,eligious @dicts and ,esearch, the *mam of Prince )itae! )os ue in ,iyadh, and a professor at *mam )ohamed /in "aud *slamic Nniversity, the main Wahha!i center of learning in the country. While slavery continues to !e technically illegal in "audi %ra!ia despite the fat$a, the proclamation Cis particularly distur!ing and dangerous !ecause it effectively legitimates the trafficking in and sexual exploitation of so.called domestic $orkers in the (ulf region and especially "audi %ra!ia,C according to reformist 7urist and author %!ou el Fadl4?I6

%ccording to ,o!ert 1ughes :$riting for Time )aga8ine;, slavery in %frica has !een dominated !y %ra!s. CC"lave markets, supplying the %ra! emirates, $ere still operating in 37i!outi in the 5BAGsO and since 5BFG, the slave trade has flourished in )auritania and the "udan. There are still reports of chattel slavery in northern =igeria, ,$anda and =iger.C 4>6 %nd according to 3r. 2$aku Person.9ynn, CThe saddest and most painful reality of this situation is, that same slave trading is occurring today, still in the name of *slam. *t is primarily happening in the countries of )auritania, located in north$est %frika, and "udan, in northeast %frika.C 4?6 %ccording to the N.". "tate 3epartment:
"audi %ra!ia is a destination for men and $omen from "outh and @ast %sia and @ast %frica trafficked for the purpose of la!or exploitation, and for children from Yemen, %fghanistan, and %frica trafficking for forced !egging. 1undreds of thousands of lo$.skilled $orkers from *ndia, *ndonesia, the Philippines, "ri 9anka, /angladesh, @thiopia, @ritrea, "omalia, and 2enya migrate voluntarily to "audi %ra!iaO some fall into conditions of involuntary servitude, suffering from physical and sexual a!use, non.payment or delayed payment of $ages, the $ithholding of travel documents, restrictions on their freedom of movement and non.consensual contract alterations. The (overnment of "audi %ra!ia does not comply $ith the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. 4A6

%ccording to multiple sources, religious calls have also !een made to capture and enslave Je$ish $omen. C*t is hard to imagine a serious person calling for %merica to enslave its enemies. Yet a prominent "audi cleric, "haikh "aad %l./uraik, recently urged Palestinians to do exactly that $ith Je$s: CTheir $omen are yours to take, legitimately. (od made them yours. Why don#t you enslave their $omenQC 4F6, 4I6

#edit$ !amel joc'eys in =rab countries

%ccording to //- ne$s, young children have !een kidnapped or sold !y their parents to %ra! countries, $here they are forced to !ecome camel 7ockeysand Csu!7ected to slave la!our.C 4J6, 4B6 -hildren are routinely !eaten, starved, over$orked, raped, and forced to engage in camel races that sometimes result in the deaths of the child 7ockeys. %lthough N%@ has promised to end slavery, human rights groups have suggested that those promises may !e insincere. 45G6

#edit$ "lavery in "udan

"lavery in the "udan predates *slam, !ut continued under *slamic rulers. Though it never completely died out in "udan, there has !een a relatively recent upsurge in slave.taking that has its roots in *slam. %ccording to John @i!ner, an historian and human rights specialist $riting in )iddle @ast 0uarterly:

"udan is the only place $here chattel slavery is not 7ust surviving !ut experiencing a great revival. This renascence of the slave trade !egan in the mid.5BJGs and resulted directly from an upsurge of *slamism in "udan at that time, and especially from the *slamist emphasis on the rene$al of 7ihad. %fter gaining the upper.hand in 2hartoum !y a!out 5BJ>, the *slamists# immediate goal $as to transform the multi.ethnic, multi.religious population of "udan into an %ra!.dominated )uslim state, and to do so through 7ihad. Nnder Tura!i#s po$erful influence, the ruler of the time, JaRfar an.=umayri, declared himself to !e :sounding like a caliph of old;, the Crightly guidedC leader of an *slamic state. 4556

John @i!ner of -hristian "olidarity *nternational, as uoted !y the %merican %nti."lavery (roups, discusses slavery in "udan. 1e states:
C*t !egins $hen the armed forces of the government.!acked mu7adeen, or allied militias, raid a southern "udanese village. They kill men on the spot, !eat the elderly, and capture the $omen and children. ,aiders and their victims start the horrific march to the =orth. -hildren are executed $hen they cry. People $ho try to run a$ay are shot. The young girls are taken !y soldiers into the !ush and gang raped. C@ach victim later !ecomes one of t$o kinds of slaves, a house slave or a field slave. 1ouse slaves cook, clean, fetch $ater and fire$ood, and do other household chores. The field slaves cultivate the land, $eed, and tend to livestock. -hildren usually tend co$s and goats. /ut all slaves are mocked, insulted, threatened, and !eaten into su!mission. C"ome masters are simply interested in la!or and do not convert slaves to *slam. 'ther masters teach slaves *slam and give their slaves )uslim names. )any female slaves are su!7ected to genital mutilation or circumcision . a rite of passage for some )uslims, !ut something not practiced !y the 3inka.C 45<6

%ccording to -/" ne$s, slaves have !een sold for SAG apiece. 45>6 %ccording to -==, -hristian groups in the Nnited "tates have expressed concern a!out slavery and religious oppression against -hristians !y )uslims in "udan, putting pressure on the /ush administration to take action. 45?6 -== has also uoted the N.". "tate 3epartment#s allegations: CThe 4"udanese6 government#s support of slavery and its continued military action $hich has resulted in numerous deaths are due in part to the victims# religious !eliefs.C 45A6 Writing for The Wall Street ournal on 3ecem!er 5<, <GG5, )ichael ,u!in said:
What#s "udanese slavery likeQ 'ne 55.year.old -hristian !oy told me a!out his first days in captivity: C* $as told to !e a )uslim several times, and * refused, $hich is $hy they cut off my finger.C T$elve.year.old %lokor =gor 3eng $as taken as a slave in 5BB>. "he has not seen her mother since the slave raiders sold the t$o to different masters. Thirteen.year.old %kon $as sei8ed !y "udanese military $hile in her village five years ago. "he $as gang.raped !y six government soldiers, and $itnessed seven executions !efore !eing sold to a "udanese %ra!. )any freed slaves !ore signs of !eatings, !urnings and other tortures. )ore than three. uarters of formerly enslaved $omen and girls reported rapes. While nongovernmental organi8ations argue over ho$ to end slavery, fe$ deny the existence of the practice. ...4@6stimates of the num!er of !lacks no$ enslaved in "udan vary from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands :not counting those sold as forced la!or in 9i!ya;...

#edit$ >xistence of slavery disputed

%ccording to "eyyed =asr, professor of *slamic studies at (eorge Washington Nniversity:
*f some $rite today that slavery is still practiced here and there, as in the "udan or some other %frican lands, it is more like the slavery of s$eatshops in -hina or the West today. *n neither case is it a prevalent practice, nor are such practices condoned !y religious authorities. : !eart of "slam# p$ %&'(

Jok )adut Jok, professor of 1istory at 9oyola )arymount Nniversity, states that the a!duction of $omen and children of the the !lack south !y %ra! north is slavery !y any definition ho$ever the government of "udan insists that the $hole matter is no more than the traditional tri!al feuding over resources. 4?J6

#edit$ Propa&anda and western demoni?ation of Islam

)ark 9eopold, senior associate mem!er at "t %ntony#s -ollege at 'xford Nniversity, states that: 4?B6
"tories of exploitation of %fricans at the hands of $icked #%ra! slavers# formed an important ideological theme underpinning @uropean colonialism throughout %frica. The easy association of slavery $ith *slam throughout much of the earlier literature :found especially !ut !y no means exclusively in -hristian missionary $ritings; is one aspect of much $ider, and perhaps currently more dangerous than every Western demoni8ation of )uslim faith and its !elievers.

9eopold points out that although there is no reason not to use the careful scholarly accounts of the colonial or -hristian sources, there is a Ccontinuing sense of unease among many %fricanists at the orientalist heritage of @uropean accounts of the @ast and =orth @ast slave tradesC 4?B6 Professor Yusuf Fadl 1asan, Professor of )iddle @ast and "udanese 1istory, and ,ichard (ray, @meritus Professor of %frican 1istory at Nniversity of 9ondon, state that
4AG6

The "outhern "udan $as transformed into a !attleground against *slam and %ra!s or northern "udanese. . . . )issionary societies en7oyed a monopoly of education in the "outh. They utilised that platform to keep the memory of the %ra! slave trade alive. . . . )issionaries poisoned the minds of children !y teaching them more a!out %ra! slave traders and scarcely anything a!out the role of @uropeans here in the "udan and in the trans.%tlantic flo$ of %frican slaves. 3ou!tless *slam $as !adly impaired !y the RmythM of the rapacious %ra! traders. *ts image $as greatly tarnished especially $hen it $as exploited !y @uro.-hristian propaganda. %lthough the inference4clarify6 painted is unfounded, the RmythM is pro!a!ly the most important single factor that induced the sense of !itterness, hatred and mistrust that clouded the =orth."outh relationship and $hich has lingered on until today.

#edit$ "ee also

)a malakat aymanukum -hristianity and "lavery "laves freed !y %!u /akr -riticism of the 0ur#an )uhammad#s slaves

#edit$ @otes
5. T a b c d e f g h i j 9e$is 5BB?, -h.5
<. T a b c d e f g h i /runschvig. #%!dO @ncyclopedia of *slam >. A 9e$is :5BB<; p. 5B, I? ?. A The famous medieval 7urist al.(ha88ali denounced the perception of a $hite man !eing !etter than a !lack one as adopting the same hierarchical principles of ignorance endorsed !y "atan: something $hich al. (ha88ali !elieves $ould eventually result in polytheism. cf$ %8i8ah Y. al.1i!ri, <GG> A. A /loom and /lair :<GG<; p. ?J F. A 1urgron7e, 456 I. A 9e$is :5BB<; p. ? J. A )endelsohn :5B?B; pp. A?LAJ B. T a b John 9 @sposito :5BBJ; p. IB 5G. T a b c %8i8ah Y. al.1i!ri, <GG> 55. A 9e$is, /ernanrd, )ace and Slavery in the Middle *ast : an !istorical *n+uiry# 'xford Nniversity Press, 5BBG. p.F 5<. T a b "chimmel :5BB<; p. FI 5>. A @sposito :<GG<; p.5?J 5?. A )anning :5BBG; p.<J 5A. T a b "ikainga :5BBF; p.A 5F. A John @sposito :5BBJ; p.?G 5I. T a b c Paul 9ove7oy :<GGG; p.< 5J. A "ee Tahfeem ul 0ur#an !y "ayyid %!ul %la )aududi, Pol. < pp. 55<.55> footnote ??O %lso see commentary on verses <>:5.F: Pol. >, notes I.5, p. <?5O <GGG, *slamic Pu!lications 5B. A Tafsir i!n 2athir ?:<? <G. A =ashat :5BBB; p. ?< <5. A /loom and /lair :<GG<; p.?J <<. A "ikainga :5BBF; p.<< <>. A (hamidi, ,e uisites of =ikahO "lavery <?. A 1e!a (. 2ot! ).3., Se,uality in "slam, Ph3 Thesis, )aimonides Nniversity, <GG? <A. T a b (hamidi, -hapter: The "ocial 9a$ of *slam <F. A )ichael /onner, CPoverty and @conomics in the 0urManC, ournal of "nterdisciplinary !istory, xxxv:> :Winter, <GGA;, >B5&?GF <I. A 0ur#an BG:5>

<J. A "ahih )uslim,5FF<, 5FF5, 5FAI, 5FAB <B. A "unan %!u 3a$ud, A5F? >G. A % particular form of severing relationship $ith one#s $ife. *n this form, the man $ould declare something to the effect that his $ife shall from no$ on !e like a mother to him, as mentioned in 0ur#an AJ:> >5. A 0ur#an ?:B<, AJ:>, A:JB ><. A 0ur#an <?:><.>> >>. A 0ur#an ?:<A >?. A 0ur#an B:FG >A. A (hamidi, The Penal 9a$ of *slam >F. A "ahih )uslim, <<?B >I. A 0ur#an ?I:? >J. A (hamidi, *slamic 9a$ of Jihad >B. T a b )anning :5BBG; p.5G ?G. A Pankhurst :5BBI; p. AB ?5. T a b 1olt et$ al :5BIG; p.>B5 ?<. A *ngrams :5BFI; p.5IA ?>. T a b /ernard 9e$is, :5BB<;, pp. IJ.IB ??. A "eyyed 1ossein =asr :<GG?;, p.5J< ?A. A Jok )adut Jok :<GG5;, p.> ?F. A James ,. 9e$is and -arl "kutsch, The !uman )i-hts *ncyclopedia, v.>, p. JBJ.BG? ?I. A The .reat Theft: Wrestlin- "slam from the *,tremists , !y 2haled %!ou @l Fadl, 1arper "an Francisco, <GGA, p.<AA ?J. A Jok )adut Jok :<GG5;, p.> ?B. T a b )ark 9eopold, Slavery in Sudan# past and present, %frican %ffairs, Polume 5G<, =um!er ?GB,pp. FA>. FF5:B;, 'xford Nniversity Press AG. A 1asan and (ray:<GG<;, pp. <I&J;

#edit$ Beferences

C%!dC. *ncyclopaedia of "slam Online. @d. P.J. /earman, Th. /ian uis, -.@. /os$orth# *$ van /on0el and W$1$ !einrichs$ 2rill 3cademic 1ublishers$ *""= %456-67%'$ %l.1i!ri, %8i8ah Y. :<GG>;. C%n *slamic Perspective on 3omestic PiolenceC. '5 8ordham "nternational 9aw ournal %74. /loom, JonathanO /lair, "heila :<GG<;. "slam: 3 Thousand :ears of 8aith and 1ower. Yale Nniversity Press. *"/= G.>GG.GB?<<.5$ @sposito, John ;%77&($ "slam: The Strai-ht 1ath. 'xford Nniversity Press. *"/= G.5B.A55<>>.?$ . First @dition 5BB5O @xpanded @dition : 5BB<. 1asan, Yusuf FadlO (ray, ,ichard :<GG<;. )eli-ion and <onflict in Sudan. =airo!i: Paulines Pu!lications %frica. *"/= BBFF.<5.J>5.B$ Javed %hmed (hamidi ;'==%($ Mi0an. 9ahore: %l.)a$rid$ '-9- 4'7=%>7=$

Jok, )adut Jok :<GG5;. War and Slavery in Sudan. Nniversity of Pennsylvania Press. *"/= G.J5<<.5IF<.?$ *d$: 1olt, P. ) O 9am!ton, %nnO 9e$is, /ernard :5BII;. The <ambrid-e !istory of "slam. -am!ridge Nniversity Press. *"/= G.A<5.<B5>I.<$ *ngrams, W. 1. :5BFI;. Zan0ibar. N2: ,outledge. *"/= G.I5?F.55G<.F$ 9e$is, /ernard :5BB<;. )ace and Slavery in the Middle *ast. =e$ York: 'xford Nniversity Press. *"/= G.5B.AGA><F.A$ 9ove7oy, Paul @. :<GGG;. Transformations in Slavery. -am!ridge Nniversity Press. *"/= G.A<5.IJ?>G.5$ )anning, Patrick :5BBG;. Slavery and 3frican 9ife: Occidental# Oriental# and 3frican Slave Trades. -am!ridge Nniversity Press. *"/= G.A<5.>?JFI.F$ )endelsohn, *saac :5B?B;. Slavery in the 3ncient ?ear *ast. =e$ York: 'xford Nniversity Press. '-9- >54>@>'4$ Pankhurst, ,ichard :5BBI;. The *thiopian 2orderlands: *ssays in )e-ional !istory from 3ncient Times to the *nd of the %&th <entury. The ,ed "ea Press. *"/= G.B><?5A.5B.B$ =asr, "eyyed ;'=='($ The !eart of "slam: *ndurin- Aalues for !umanity. N": 1arper"anFrancisco. *"/= G.GF.GGBB<?.G$ "chimmel, %nnemarie ;%77'($ "slam: 3n "ntroduction. N": "N=Y Press. *"/= G. IB5?.5><I.F$ "ikainga, %hmad %. :5BBF;. Slaves "nto Workers: *mancipation and 9abor in <olonial Sudan. Nniversity of Texas Press. *"/= G.<B<.IIFB?.<$ Tucker, Judith @.O =ashat, (uity :5BBB;. Women in the Middle *ast and ?orth 3frica. *ndiana Nniversity Press. *"/= G.<A>.<5<F?.<$

#edit$ >xternal lin's

http:HHen.$ikipedia.orgH$ikiH*slamUandUslavery