Slavery In Today's World

By Adam Majewski

Bismillah

The Noble Qur'ân Al-Baqarah 2:177

It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masâkin (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.) in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are Al­Muttaqûn (pious).

In much of today's world there is slavery whether people accept or deny it. How ever in today's modern day slavery still does exist. The most notorious countries for acts of slavery with in the Islamic Ummah according to www.theamericanmuslim.org are Saudi Arabia and the Sudan. Both these countries which rule by Sharia law.

Everyone should know that during Muhammads time Peace and Blessings be Upon Him(PBUH) slavery was never fully accepted and the Holy Quran only permits it under certain circumstances which don't pertain to modern day Islam. In today's world, according to the Holy Quran slavery is not allowed.

In some of the worlds major Islamic countries there has been a resurgence of slavery. The Surprising thought is that in these countries slavery is outlawed using Sharia Law, as well with there actual legal system's. Many of these countries are not enforcing their own beliefs or laws.

Here in America when anyone hears about slavery they scream foul play, and protest against it, not seeing that slavery is in all, full swing here in some of the states. Here in America slavery still exists just as much as in other countries. According to the State Department figures, around 18,000 people a year are brought in to the U.S.A as Modern day slaves, making what are called slave wages.

The Quran never fully abolished slavery, but it did put in to place that over time with it's restrictions on slavery would one day from an islamic view be abolished.

According to Roger Du Pasquier, Unveiling Islam slaves had some what more opportunities then their "Master's":

"Slavery was not abolished by the Koran, but believers are constantly admonished to treat their slaves well. In case of illness a slave has to be looked after and well cared for. To manumit [free] a slave is highly meritorious; the slave can ransom himself by paying some of the money he has earned while conducting his own business. Only children of slaves or non-Muslim prisoners of war can become slaves, never a freeborn Muslim; therefore slavery is theoretically doomed to disappear with the expansion of Islam. The entire history of Islam proves that slaves could occupy any office, and many former military slaves, usually recruited from among the Central Asian Turks, became military leaders and often even rulers as in eastern Iran, India (the Slave Dynasty of Delhi), and medieval Egypt (the Mamluks). Eunuchs too served in important capacities, not only as the guardians of the women's quarters, but also in high administrative and military positions. -- p. 67"

With much of the slave trade today finally being brought forward, it spans across all cultures not just one. Yet in Islam the slave trade mainly prevails because not of the faith and religion, but because of interpersonal relationships and personal short comings of the communities with in Islam. Over time slavery will be abolished only though if everyone come's together to end it. The one thing holding everyone back is that people are only talking and not doing. Action speaks louder to everyone then words, once everyone is able to over come their short comings and take action, then will slavery will finally end.