SLAVERY. Arabic ʿUbūdīyah (عبودية), Heb. עֲבוֹדָה ʿabōdāh. A slave, ʿAbd (عبد) ([Sūrah ii. 220]), Heb. עֶבֶד ʿebed; Mamlūk (مملوك) ([Sūrah xvi. 77]); A female slave, amah (امه) ([Sūrah ii. 220]). The term generally used in the Qurʾān for slaves is ما ملكت ايمانكم mā malakat aimānukum, “that which your right hands possess.”
Muḥammad found slavery an existing institution, both amongst the Jews and the idolaters of Arabia, and therefore it is recognised although not established in the Qurʾān.
I.—The Teaching of the Qurʾān on the subject of slavery is as follows:
(1) Muslims are allowed to cohabit with any of their female slaves. [Sūrah iv. 3]: “Then marry what seems good to you of women, by twos, or threes, or fours; and if ye fear that ye cannot be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands possess.” [Sūrah iv. 29]: “Take of what your right hands possess of young women.” [Sūrah xxxiii. 49]: “O prophet! verily We make lawful for thee wives to whom thou hast given their hire (dowry), and what thy right hand possesses out of the booty God hath granted thee.”
(2) They are allowed to take possession of married women if they are slaves. [Sūrah iv. 28]: “Unlawful for you are … married women, save such as your right hands possess.” (On this verse al-Jalālān the commentators say: “that is, it is lawful for them to cohabit with those women whom you have made captive, even though their husbands be alive in the Dāru ʾl-Ḥarb.”)
(3) Muslims are excused from strict rules of decorum in the presence of their female slaves, even as in the presence of their wives. [Sūrah xxiii. 5]: “Those who are strict in the rules of decorum, except for their wives, or what their right hands possess.” See also [Sūrah lxx. 29].
(4) The helpless position of the slave as regards his master illustrates the helpless position of the false gods of Arabia in the presence of their Creator. [Sūrah xvi. 77]: “God has struck out a parable, an owned slave, able to do nothing, and one provided with a good provision, and one who expends therefrom in alms secretly and openly, shall they be held equal? Praise be to God, most of them do not know!” See also [Sūrah xxx. 27].
(5) Muslims shall exercise kindness towards their slaves. [Sūrah iv. 40]: “Serve God and do not associate aught with Him, and show kindness to your parents and to kindred … and to that which your right hands possess.”
(6) When slaves can redeem themselves it is the duty of Muslims to grant the emancipation. [Sūrah xxiv. 33]: “And such of those whom your right hands possess as crave a writing (i.e. a document of freedom), write it out for them if ye know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of God which He has given you. And do not compel your slave-girls to prostitution if they desire to keep continent.”
From the teaching of the Qurʾān above quoted it will be seen that all male and female slaves taken as plunder in war are the lawful property of their master; that the master has power to take to himself any female slave, either married or single; that the position of a slave is as helpless as that of the stone idols of Arabia; but they should be treated with kindness, and be granted their freedom when they are able to ask for and pay for it.