and Aristotle. In their societies slavery sprang from numerous causes—war, the taking of captives, kidnapping, and outright brigandage. One might even sell the children under his authority, and some went so far as to count the very peasants as slaves. They viewed bondsmen with utter scorn, consigning them to filthy and back-breaking labor.

Aristotle, one of the ancients, held that slaves are not destined for any eternal bliss or torment; they are, he said, like animals. The Pharaohs subjected the Children of Israel to the harshest slavery, killing their sons and sparing their women. After the Europeans discovered the Americas, they treated the native inhabitants in a manner even worse.

Such, then, were the causes, consequences, and sheer prevalence of slavery outside Islam—and we have mentioned only a fraction of its enormities. Let us now turn to slavery as regulated by Islam.

First: Islam drastically restricted the avenue by which a person could be enslaved. It declared all people free, and permitted slavery only in one circumstance: when combatant unbelievers are taken prisoner. Even then, the commander must choose what best serves the public interest—keeping them as slaves, ransoming them, or releasing them without ransom.

This is the sole ground for slavery, affirmed by sound transmitted evidence and fully in accord with sound reason. For whoever blocks the path of my creed and mission, seeks to curtail my freedom, incites others against me, and wages war upon me deserves to be detained, thereby allowing space for me and for my call.

This alone is the cause of slavery in Islam—not pillage, plunder, the sale of free men, or their enslavement as practiced by other nations.

Second: Islam treated the slave with gentleness and compassion, and threatened punishment for overburdening or oppressing him. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Fear Allah with respect to those whom your right hands possess.” He ﷺ also said, “The slave is entitled to his food and clothing; do not impose upon him work beyond his capacity.” Narrated by Muslim.

Indeed, Islam elevated the rank of the slave until he became the brother of his master. The Prophet ﷺ declared, “They are your brothers and your servants whom Allah has placed under your authority. Whoever has his brother under his hand, let him feed him from what he himself eats and clothe him with what he wears. Do not burden them with what overpowers them; and if you must burden them, then assist them.” Agreed upon.

He further ennobled them in the very terms of address so that they would not feel demeaned, saying, “None of you should say: ‘my slave’ or ‘my slave-girl’…”