Hi

[diplomaticmuslim]

in his biography Bill Gates said he cried 3 times in his life. and all three times he turned to God for answers.

Abraham Lincoln cried when his son died. He turned to God at that moment. this is written in his letters.

"When harm touches man, he calls on Us, lying on his side or sitting down or standing up. Then when We remove the harm from him he carries on as if he had never called on Us when the harm first touched him. In that way We make what they have done appear good to the profligate. (Surah Yunus: 12)"

And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allah Alone), turning to Him in repentance, but when He bestows a favor upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah, in order to mislead others from His Path. Say: "Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely, you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!" [Noble Quran 39:8]

 

[The Skeptic]

Hello,

I was anticipating that answer. Now let's say you were the first human being on earth...how would you prove it?

LoL well, if I was the first human being on earth, how would you be able to even ask me that question about the existence of a brain? You wouldn't be aware of the existence of my brain or even your brain for that matter and ask me if it exists or not....

 

[The Skeptic]

in his biography Bill Gates said he cried 3 times in his life. and all three times he turned to God for answers.

Abraham Lincoln cried when his son died. He turned to God at that moment. this is written in his letters.

Sources please.

By the way, anyone turning to a "god" in the time of need doesn't necesarily proof the existence of Allah does it? All it says is that person may very well be an Agnostic. I'm an Agnostic to a general god, but an Atheist to the gods mankind ever came up with in history-and may continue to come up with in as long mankind survives. I use the word god in my grammar a lot, doesn't necessarily mean I believe in one...

 

[allah is with me]

welcome to tti...........

 

[diplomaticmuslim]

notice the words "in his biography" and "in his letters". i gave you the sources but you chose to ignore.

similarly people have given you the proof of Allah's Existence and proof of Islam. but you have chosen otherwise.

whether this ignorance is deliberate or induced, i dont know. its your choice and you will be judged on your actions on the Day of Judgement, not on anyone else's actions.

you should be able to think for yourself. the Quran emphasizes this again and again. think for yourself. it says did you create (all the worlds and creation and you) yourself or was there a Creator?

why do you keep thinking muslims follow islam blindly? if this was a religion without proof it would have died out years ago like greek paganism, sumerian animism etc. science keeps proving the Quran again and again.

since i was a an atheist for a time being, i did look at islam with skepticism. every muslim revert looks at islam with skepticism at first. Malcom X, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Ribery, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Queen Noor of Jordan,Yvonne Ridley, Marmaduke Pickthall, Professor Tim Winter, the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, Phillipe Troussier, Mike Tyson, Ice Cube, David Wharnsby, they were all skeptical first like many others. do you think muslims are blindly following Quran without proof? This religion has existed for centuries. so many nations accepted it, non-arabs, so many people have accepted it because it brings peace with proof and reasoning.

this is not greek paganism borne in western society by old men, this is the true uncorrupted religion with belief in one Allah free from wants and Perfect in every sense.

 

[a_stranger]

Answers in Quran

28:68 (Asad) AND [thus it is:] thy Sustainer CREATEs whatever He wills; and He chooses [for mankind] whatever is best for them. Limitless is God in His glory, and sub*!limely exalted above anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity!


29:44 (Asad) [[and hence are certain that] God has CREATEd the heavens and the earth in accordance with [an inner] truth: for, behold, in this [very creation] there is a message indeed for all who believe [in Him].


45:22 (Asad) for, God has CREATEd the heavens and the earth in accordance with [an inner] truth, and [has therefore willed] that every human being shall be recompensed for what he has earned and none shall be wronged.


52:35 (Asad) [Or do they deny the existence of God?] Have they themselves been CREATEd without anything [that might have caused their creation]? or were they, perchance, their own creators?


45:24 And they say: "What is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing but time can destroy us." But of that they have no knowledge: they merely conjecture:

 

[The Skeptic]

Hello The Skeptic,

What was revealed over 1400 years ago still applies today! Did you know women in Islam were given voting rights since the revelation of the Quran, while in the U.S. women were given voting rights less than 100 years ago?

Yeah, I know. Islamic states were the first ones in history to give voting rights to women. I don't deny that. However, any law that is resistant to change, is still pretty backwards.

This is just a small example, but did YOU know that Islam allows slavery to some extent? You accuse the U.S for only recognizing women's rights very recently-which is true. But, the U.S also diminished slavery-and yet Islam allows it.

You said what's in the Quran which was written 1400 years ago, still applies today well, a country under the complete ruling of the Sharia Law today will recognize slavery as proper in this day and age, no?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_and_Islam

You tell me who is "backwards"?

Any law that is resistant to change.

Did you know the Quran revealed that the earth is a spherical celestial body with an orbit?

Did you know that Eratosthenes discovered that in Greek 2500 years ago?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes

Did you know that Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him) split the moon in half for those who rejected his prophecy - but in 1969 Neil Armstrong made a statement that the moon had been split at some point in time.

Interesting. Please show me Neil Armstrong's quote stating the moon had once been completely cut in half. Not just a crack, but completely in half. Then I'll analyze it and get back to you on that.

You tell me who is "backwards"?

Again, any law that is resistant to change.

For the sake of arguement, let's just say you are "advanced" - are you better than your ancestors? Will your future kids regard you as "backwards"? Will their kids regard their parents "backwards"? This is an endless cycle.

No my friend, that is YOUR "endless cycle", because what you just argued is a straw-man. I never described "backwards" laws to be the way you described. Not sure where you're getting that idea from. I stated that any law that is resistant to change, is backwards. So therefor, IF you had asked me if my future children viewed the laws of today as being backwards, because it was resistant to change, then yeah, I'd be more inclined to agree with you.

Furthermore, as a hypothetical example, let's say there are some creatures in some distant planet today who are more advanced than you, your duty would be endless....you better get going on a shuttle to space and discover the universe or you'll be unfortunate and live backwards all your life! And even if you discovered their advances, then you might have to go back to Earth or some other planet where they upgraded their laws and became advanced than them and even if you discovered the most advanced society, when you die you'll become backwards because they might become further advanced than before. You have a tough duty ahead of you my friend.

This was pretty entertaining. Thank you

Again, for the record, I never described a law being backwards as you are describing...

You seem to have vast knowledge of sharia law, please enlighten us, give us the source to where you attain your information regarding Islam/sharia law.

I list my sources, each time I argue a point. I have been doing so for everything that is important.

You live in a democratic society which changes it's laws every single day!

LOL really? Every single day? You never studied government in High school have you?

Why do you think laws are ratified & amended? Because they follow their own desires & whims. You would just be a follower of some men who want you to follow their views.

Is that really how you think the world works? I mean no disrespect, but you seemed to be so coked up on conspiracy theories that you have a very distorted world view.

Let me enlighten you.

I don't deny that there are some historical incident that was caused by the govt. U.S govt. did many sadistic things indeed. However, that's a totally different argument. Your argument is pretty much about how our govt. system works.

Laws don't get ratified and amended for people's desires and whims. LOL

I mean, if that was the case, then why did we have the civil rights movement? The south wanted to discriminate against blacks, and it WAS a law back then. Did we change that simply out of our desires and whims? Get your head out of your ass brother....

We Muslims stick only with God's law because God is perfect and so are His laws!

Like I said, resistant to change. Thus, backwards.

Even if you oppose the democratic system, by nature you are still following your own whims because you are creating man-made guidlines for yourself to follow.

As I said before, not out whims and desires, instead for the betterment of human lives. Call it what you want, but it doesn't change how poisoned your view of our govt. is. I'm not saying our govt. is perfect. It's anything BUT perfect! But, it is resistant to change, and we learn over time what's applicable, and whats not. We are...humans after all.

Btw, do you live in the west? Why are criticizing the west so much if you enjoy the benefits you yourself receive from the western govt.?

You see you claim to be a "free" thinker, but in reality you are not free from your brain, the air you breathe, or even death. Try and free yourself from those. The fact is, God gave you those and you are not grateful of what has been given to you. How can a "free" thinker deny himself as a creation? A creation can not be made without a Creator

What the hell are you talking about bro? Seriously man, read more.

Being a freethinker doesn't mean I'm trying to detach myself from living...

Freethinker is a term that just defines me as someone who doesn't subscribe to any organized way of thinking...

If I may ask you, what is the purpose of life?

Good question.

The purpose of life is whatever you make it out to be. Why should we all have the same purpose? If anything, I'd say the purpose of life is to live life to the fullest, without harming yourself or others. Personally, I believe the purpose of MY life is to give back to the world. Strive to make the world a little better for the next generation than how it was before I was born.

 

[The Skeptic]

notice the words "in his biography" and "in his letters". i gave you the sources but you chose to ignore.

In his biography...okay, which one? Written by who?

In his letter...okay, which one? Written to whom?

You failed to give me links, and when I ask you for the sources so I can look at them. It was not ignorance, but a humble request.

Call it what you want.

similarly people have given you the proof of Allah's Existence and proof of Islam. but you have chosen otherwise.

So I think for myself and analyze the sources...sue me.

whether this ignorance is deliberate or induced, i dont know.

I don't know either, because I don't see any ignorance on my part since I askd for sources.

May just be your delusion.

science keeps proving the Quran again and again.

In your mind perhaps..

since i was a an atheist for a time being, i did look at islam with skepticism. every muslim revert looks at islam with skepticism at first. Malcom X, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Ribery, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Queen Noor of Jordan,Yvonne Ridley, Marmaduke Pickthall, Professor Tim Winter, the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, Phillipe Troussier, Mike Tyson, Ice Cube, David Wharnsby, they were all skeptical first like many others. do you think muslims are blindly following Quran without proof? This religion has existed for centuries. so many nations accepted it, non-arabs, so many people have accepted it because it brings peace with proof and reasoning.

Here is a list of people who converted to Christianity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_converts_to_Christianity

By your own logic, this MUST mean, since so many people found Christianity to be enlightening, Christianity must also be a valid religion to be called the "true" religion right?

 

[The Skeptic]

welcome to tti...........

Thank You

 

[TheHumbleWun]

LoL well, if I was the first human being on earth, how would you be able to even ask me that question about the existence of a brain? You wouldn't be aware of the existence of my brain or even your brain for that matter and ask me if it exists or not....

So the first human being was unfortunate!? :astag: Just like you accepted the fact you have a brain because you placed your trust on a doctor and his little x-ray machine, why don't you trust God (the All Knower) and His signs & revelations in the Quran which you can also see? The fact is we Muslims already know the existence of God and we're trying to explain to you as if you were unaware you had a brain and that it existed!

 

[The Skeptic]

So the first human being was unfortunate!?

No dude. Read my reply and try to understand it. I asked you, if I was the first human being, how would ANY OF US be aware of the existence of a brain for YOU to ask me if I have one or not?

Just like you accepted the fact you have a brain because you placed your trust on a doctor and his little x-ray machine, why don't you trust God (the All Knower) and His signs & revelations in the Quran which you can also see?

Because what the doctor showed me wasn't signs of my brain existing. It was clear cut observable evidence that my brain exists...

 

[The Skeptic]

Mhamzah,

I've finished listening to the lectures you have provided. It was pretty interesting. I want to write a very descriptive reply to it and take my time writing it. I'm in exam mode now, and I have to get some stuff done. As soon as it's over, I'll write you a response.

Thanks for the patience.

 

[TheHumbleWun]

No dude. Read my reply and try to understand it. I asked you, if I was the first human being, how would ANY OF US be aware of the existence of a brain for YOU to ask me if I have one or not?


Because what the doctor showed me wasn't signs of my brain existing. It was clear cut observable evidence that my brain exists...

Your logic is flawed. Your answer implies that the first human being was unfortunate to you today because he couldn't tell if he had a brain.

The All Knower has shown observal evidence that He exists too, you just have to read it with an open heart & mind. His signs are crystal clear.

God doesn't need to show His face so you could believe. It takes the glory of God away. On the Day of Judgement you'll find yourself alone with God and He will ask you why you didn't believe? What you are going to say? Ignorance is not an answer.

If you were to perform probability analysis, you are better off believing than not believing because if you believe you have nothing to loose and everything to gain since you currently don't believe.

 

[mhamzah]

notice the words "in his biography" and "in his letters". i gave you the sources but you chose to ignore.

similarly people have given you the proof of Allah's Existence and proof of Islam. but you have chosen otherwise.

whether this ignorance is deliberate or induced, i dont know. its your choice and you will be judged on your actions on the Day of Judgement, not on anyone else's actions.

you should be able to think for yourself. the Quran emphasizes this again and again. think for yourself. it says did you create (all the worlds and creation and you) yourself or was there a Creator?

why do you keep thinking muslims follow islam blindly? if this was a religion without proof it would have died out years ago like greek paganism, sumerian animism etc. science keeps proving the Quran again and again.

since i was a an atheist for a time being, i did look at islam with skepticism. every muslim revert looks at islam with skepticism at first. Malcom X, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Ribery, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Queen Noor of Jordan,Yvonne Ridley, Marmaduke Pickthall, Professor Tim Winter, the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, Phillipe Troussier, Mike Tyson, Ice Cube, David Wharnsby, they were all skeptical first like many others. do you think muslims are blindly following Quran without proof? This religion has existed for centuries. so many nations accepted it, non-arabs, so many people have accepted it because it brings peace with proof and reasoning.

this is not greek paganism borne in western society by old men, this is the true uncorrupted religion with belief in one Allah free from wants and Perfect in every sense.

:salam2:

Even the source I gave, Dr Gary Miller (Abdul Ahad Omar), his intention of studying Islam was not to accept it, he studied Quran to find faults in it, but ended up accepting Islam.

Like I said before Quran does not demand belief, It is not simply delivered as: here is what you are to believe, but throughout the Quran the statements are always: Have you O man thought of such and such, have you considered so and so. It is always an invitation for you to look at the evidence; now what you believe.

"When harm touches man, he calls on Us, lying on his side or sitting down or standing up. Then when We remove the harm from him he carries on as if he had never called on Us when the harm first touched him. In that way We make what they have done appear good to the profligate. (Surah Yunus: 12)"

And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allah Alone), turning to Him in repentance, but when He bestows a favor upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah, in order to mislead others from His Path. Say: "Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely, you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!" [Noble Quran 39:8]

Islam tells us every new-born child is born in a state of fitrah (with an innate knowledge of Tahid - Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah), Then his parents and surrounding make him a Jew, a Christian, idol worshipper, man worshipper, money worshipper or an atheist.

Thats what those two verses are asking human beings to think and reflect upon, why is it that when a calamity befalls you, you turn towards Allah, you dont remember those other deities whom you used to invoke in good times or your denial of God; but you despairs of them all and turns only to Allah, Lord of the worlds." This is a clear proof (that Quran draws your attention to) of the fact that in the depths of one's heart he has the feeling that all other deities are helpless, and the realization that Allah alone is the Possessor of all powers and authority, lies buried and hidden deep in his mind.

Once you are done through the lecture 'History of religion', maybe you would want to check this thread as well (its related to that topic);

http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54665

 

[The Skeptic]

Your logic is flawed. Your answer implies that the first human being was unfortunate to you today because he couldn't tell if he had a brain.

No how is that person unfortunate?

The first human being wouldn't know what a brain is, thus he wouldn't need to prove anything to anyone.

If somehow that person came to our time, and I asked him if he has a brain or not, I don't expect him to know unless he sees brain scans of his brain first, or at least learn such a thing exists first.

 

[massi]

Did you know that Eratosthenes discovered that in Greek 2500 years ago?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes

1/ there were views of the Greek philosophies says the earth Spherical according to their studies .
2/ this view was not supported so far but it was dismissed by the church because it was against the Bible !!
3/ the church was burning every single one who claim the inverse !!!
4/The Quran has cleared the truth about the earth Spherical ...and more the Muslim scientist developed in the Astronomy more their faith increase , not only that but they have calculated the diameter and Perimeter of the earth Spherical ...!!! and modern science prove it in now days!!!!!!
5/ our prophet peace be upon him never know how to read or to write , and never study the astronomy ...!!!​

 

[TheHumbleWun]

No how is that person unfortunate?

The first human being wouldn't know what a brain is, thus he wouldn't need to prove anything to anyone.

If somehow that person came to our time, and I asked him if he has a brain or not, I don't expect him to know unless he sees brain scans of his brain first, or at least learn such a thing exists first.

Re-read my reply carefully. He is unfortunate because you believe you are better off than he since you now know you have a brain (based on the the trust you put on a another human being and his little machine). Your example can never be true because no one can come back from the dead! This is not the sci-fi forum.

 

[massi]

Yeah, I know. Islamic states were the first ones in history to give voting rights to women. I don't deny that. However, any law that is resistant to change, is still pretty backwards.

This is just a small example, but did YOU know that Islam allows slavery to some extent? You accuse the U.S for only recognizing women's rights very recently-which is true. But, the U.S also diminished slavery-and yet Islam allows it.

You said what's in the Quran which was written 1400 years ago, still applies today well, a country under the complete ruling of the Sharia Law today will recognize slavery as proper in this day and age, no?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_and_Islam

Islam and slavery
I often hear Christian missionaries criticizing Islam and accusing it because Islam permitted slavery, and saying that this is a transgression against man’s freedom and rights. How can we respond to these people?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Discussing slavery and asking questions about it on the part of those who promote Christianity and try to divert people from following the religion of Islam is something that annoys the wise person and makes him point the finger of accusation towards the ulterior motives that lie behind these questions.

That is because slavery is well established in Judaism and Christianity, where it has taken unjust forms. They have many books which discuss that in detail and condone it. Therefore it makes you wonder: how can these churchmen call people to Christianity when Christianity condones and legitimizes slavery?

In other words: how can they stir up an issue when they themselves are up to their necks in it?!

The issue of slavery is completely different when discussed from the angles of Christianity and Islam, and when compared with the situation that prevailed at the advent of Islam.

Hence we must discuss this topic in some detail with reference to what is said in Judaism, Christianity and contemporary culture on this matter, then we will speak of slavery in Islam.

Many lies have been fabricated about Islam on this topic, at a time when criminals with lengthy track records are safe and nobody points a finger at them.

Islam and slavery:

Islam affirms that Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, created man fully accountable, and enjoined duties upon him, to which reward and punishment are connected on the basis of man’s free will and choice.

No human being has the right to restrict this freedom or take away that choice unlawfully; whoever dares to do that is a wrongdoer and oppressor.

This is one of the basic principles of Islam. When the question is asked: why does Islam permit slavery? We reply emphatically and without shame that slavery is permitted in Islam, but we should examine the matter with fairness and with the aim of seeking the truth, and we should examine the details of the rulings on slavery in Islam, with regard to the sources and reasons for it, and how to deal with the slave and how his rights and duties are equal to those of the free man, and the ways in which he may earn his freedom, of which there are many in sharee’ah, whilst also taking into consideration the new types of slavery in this world which is pretending to be civilized, modern and progressive.

When Islam came, there were many causes of slavery, such as warfare, debt (where if the debtor could not pay off his debt, he became a slave), kidnapping and raids, and poverty and need.

Slavery did not spread in this appalling manner throughout all continents except by means of kidnapping; rather the main source of slaves in Europe and America in later centuries was this method.

The texts of Islam took a strong stance against this. It says in a hadeeth qudsi: “Allaah, may He be exalted, said: ‘There are three whose opponent I will be on the Day of Resurrection, and whomever I oppose, I will defeat … A man who sold a free man and consumed his price.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2227).

It is worth pointing out that you do not find any text in the Qur’aan or Sunnah which enjoins taking others as slaves, whereas there are dozens of texts in the Qur’aan and the ahaadeeth of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which call for manumitting slaves and freeing them.

There were many sources of slaves at the time of the advent of Islam, whereas the means of manumitting them were virtually nil. Islam changed the way in which slavery was dealt with; it created many new ways of liberating slaves, blocked many ways of enslaving people, and established guidelines which blocked these means.

Islam limited the sources of slaves that existed before the beginning of the Prophet’s mission to one way only: enslavement through war which was imposed on kaafir prisoners-of-war and on their womenfolk and children.

Shaykh al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The reason for slavery is kufr and fighting against Allaah and His Messenger. When Allaah enables the Muslim mujaahideen who are offering their souls and their wealth, and fighting with all their strength and with what Allaah has given them to make the word of Allaah supreme over the kuffaar, then He makes them their property by means of slavery unless the ruler chooses to free them for nothing or for a ransom, if that serves the interests of the Muslims. End quote from Adwa’ al-Bayaan (3/387).

He also said:

If it is said: If the slave becomes Muslim then why keep him as a slave, when the reason for slavery is kufr and fighting against Allaah and His Messenger, so this reason no longer applies?

The answer is that the well known principle among the scholars and all wise people, which is that the previously established right cannot be erased by a right that is established later, and that what came first takes precedence, is obvious.

When the Muslims captured kuffaar, their right to possession was affirmed by the law of the Creator of all, Who is All Wise and All Knowing. So this right is confirmed and established. Then if the slave became Muslim after that, his right to escape slavery by embracing Islam was superseded by the mujaahid’s prior right to take possession of him before he became Muslim, and it would be unjust and unfair to annul the prior right because of a subsequent right, as is well known to all wise people.

Yes, it is good for the master to free the slave if he becomes Muslim. The Lawgiver enjoined and encouraged that, and opened many doors to it. Glory be to the Most Wise, the All Knowing. “And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Knower” [al-An’aam 6:115].

“in truth” means in what He tells us, and “in justice” means in His rulings.

Undoubtedly this justice refers to owning slaves and other rulings of the Qur’aan.

How many people criticize something sound when their problem is their own misunderstanding. End quote from Adwa’ al-Bayaan (3/389).

Capture of prisoners during war was the most common way of acquiring slaves. Prisoners would inevitably be captured during any war, and the prevalent custom at that time was that prisoners had no protection or rights; they would either be killed or enslaved. But Islam brought two more options: unconditional release or ransom. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam)” [Muhammad 47:4]. During the battle of Badr the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) accepted ransoms from the mushrik prisoners of war and let them go, and the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) let many of the prisoners go for free, releasing them with no ransom. During the conquest of Makkah it was said to the people of Makkah: “Go, for you are free.”

During the campaign of Banu’l-Mustaliq, the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married a female prisoner from the defeated tribe so as to raise her status, as she was the daughter of one of their leaders, namely the Mother of the Believers Juwayriyah bint al-Haarith (may Allaah be pleased with her). Then the Muslims let all of these prisoners go.

Islam is not thirsty for the blood of prisoners, nor is it eager to enslave them.

Thus we may understand the limited ways that can lead to slavery. Islam did not abolish it altogether, because the kaafir prisoner who was opposed to truth and justice was a wrongdoer, or was a supporter of wrongdoing or was a tool in the execution or approval of wrongdoing. Letting him go free would give him the opportunity to spread wrongdoing and aggression against others and to oppose the truth and prevent it reaching people.

Freedom is a basic human right which cannot be taken away from a person except for a reason. When Islam accepted slavery within the limits that we have described, it put restrictions on the man who exploits his freedom in the worst possible way. If he was taken prisoner in a war of aggression in which he was defeated, then the proper conduct is to keep him in reasonable conditions throughout his detention.

Despite all that, Islam offers many opportunities to restore freedom to him and people like him.

The principle of dealing with slaves in Islam is a combination of justice, kindness and compassion.

One of the means of liberating slaves is allocating a portion of zakaah funds to freeing slaves; the expiation for accidental killing, zihaar (a jaahili form of divorce that is forbidden), breaking vows and having intercourse during the day in Ramadaan, is to free a slave. In addition to that, Muslims are also encouraged in general terms to free slaves for the sake of Allaah.

This is a brief summary of some of the principles of dealing with slaves in a just and kind manner:

1 – Guaranteeing them food and clothing like that of their masters.

It was narrated that Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “They are your brothers whom Allaah has put under your authority, so if Allaah has put a person’s brother under his authority, let him feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears, and let him not overburden him with work, and if he does overburden him with work, then let him help him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6050).

2 – Preserving their dignity

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard Abu’l-Qaasim (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whoever accuses his slave when he is innocent of what he says will be flogged on the Day of Resurrection, unless he is as he said.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6858).

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) manumitted a slave of his, then he picked up a stick or something from the ground and said: There is no more reward in it than the equivalent of this, but I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whoever slaps his slave or beats him, his expiation is to manumit him.” Narrated by Muslim (1657).

3 – Being fair towards slaves and treating them kindly

It was narrated that ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan tweaked the ear of a slave of his when he did something wrong, then he said to him after that: Come and tweak my ear in retaliation. The slave refused but he insisted, so he started to tweak it slightly, and he said to him: Do it strongly, for I cannot bear the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. The slave said: Like that, O my master? The Day that you fear I fear also.

When ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf (may Allaah be pleased with him) walked among his slaves, no one could tell him apart from them, because he did not walk ahead of them, and he did not wear anything different from what they wore.

One day ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab passed by and saw some slaves standing and not eating with their master. He got angry and said to their master: What is wrong with people who are selfish towards their servants? Then he called the servants and they ate with them.

A man entered upon Salmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) and found him making dough – and he was a governor. He said to him: O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah, what is this? He said: We have sent our servant on an errand and we do not want to give him two jobs at once.

4 – There is nothing wrong with slaves having precedence over free men in some matters

- with regard to any religious or worldly matters in which he excels over him. For example, it is valid for a slave to lead the prayer. ‘Aa’ishah the Mother of the Believers had a slave who would lead her in prayer. Indeed the Muslims have been commanded to hear and obey even if a slave is appointed in charge of their affairs.

5 – A slave may buy himself from his master and be free.

If a person is enslaved for some reason but then it becomes apparent that he has given up his wrongdoing and forgotten his past, and he has become a man who shuns evil and seeks to do good, is it permissible to respond to his request to let him go free? Islam says yes, and there are some fuqaha’ who say that this is obligatory and some who say that it is mustahabb.

This is what is called a mukaatabah or contract of manumission between the slave and his master. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them. And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of Allaah which He has bestowed upon you”

[al-Noor 24:33]

This is how Islam treats slaves justly and kindly.

One of the results of these guidelines is that in many cases, the slave would become a friend of his master; in some cases the master would regard him as a son. Sa’d ibn Haashim al-Khaalidi said, describing a slave of his:

He is not a slave, rather he is a son whom [Allaah] has put under my care.

He has supported me with his good service; he is my hands and my arms.

Another result of the Muslims treating slaves in this manner is that the slaves became part of Muslim families as if they were also family members.

Gustave le Bon says in Hadaarat al-‘Arab (Arab Civilization) (p. 459-460): What I sincerely believe is that slavery among the Muslims is better than slavery among any other people, and that the situation of slaves in the east is better than that of servants in Europe, and that slaves in the east are part of the family. Slaves who wanted to be free could attain freedom by expressing their wish. But despite that, they did not resort to exercising this right. End quote.

How did non-Muslims treat slaves?

Attitude of the Jews towards slaves:

According to the Jews, mankind is divided into two groups: the Israelites form one group and all of mankind is another group.

As for the Israelites, it is permissible to enslave some of them, according to specific teachings contained in the Old Testament.

As for people other than the Israelites, they are a low-class race according to the Jews, who may be enslaved via domination and subjugation, because they are people who are doomed to humiliation by the heavenly decree from eternity. It says in Exodus 21:2-6:

“If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.

3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.

4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

5 But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,'

6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life”

As for enslaving non-Hebrews, this is done by taking them captive or overpowering them, because they believe that their race is superior to others, and they try to find a justification for that slavery in their distorted Torah. So they say that Ham the son of Noah – who was the father of Canaan – angered his father, because Noah was drunk one day and became naked as he was sleeping in his tent, and Ham saw him like that. When Noah found out about that after he woke up, he got angry and he cursed his progeny who were descendents of Canaan, and he said – according to the Book of Genesis 9:25-26): “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.’ He also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem.’”

In the same chapter (v. 27) it says: “May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his [or their] slave”.

In the Book of Deuteronomy 20:10-14, it says:

“When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.

11 If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you.

12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.

13 When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it.

14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves”

Attitude of the Christians towards slaves:

Christianity confirmed slavery as it had been affirmed beforehand by Judaism. There is no text in the Gospels that prohibits or denounces slavery. It is remarkable that the historian William Muir criticized our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for not immediately abolishing slavery, whilst overlooking the attitude of the Gospels concerning slavery, as there is no report from the Messiah, or from the Disciples, or from the churches concerning this issue.

Rather, in his Epistles, Paul advised that slaves should be loyal to their masters, as he says in his Epistle to the Ephesians, where he enjoins slaves to obey their masters as they would obey the Messiah:

“5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free”

(Ephesians 6:5-9).

In Grand Larousse encyclopédique, it says: It comes as no surprise that slavery has continued among Christians until today; the official representatives of the faith have affirmed its validity and accepted its legitimacy.

… to sum up: the Christian religion approved fully of slavery and still does so today. It is very difficult for anyone to prove that Christianity strove to abolish slavery.

The saints affirmed that nature makes some people slaves.

Churchmen did not prevent slavery or oppose it; rather they supported it, to such an extent that the philosopher saint Thomas Aquinas supported the philosophical view that agreed with the view of religious leaders, and he did not object to slavery, rather he praised it because – according to the view of Aristotle – it is one of the conditions in which some people are created naturally, and it does not contradict faith for a man to be content with the lowest position in life.

Haqaa’iq al-Islam by al-‘Aqqaad (p. 215).

In the Dictionary of the Bible by Dr. George Yousuf it says: Christianity did not object to slavery for political or economic reasons, and it did not urge believers to oppose their generation’s views with regard to slavery, or even debate it, and it did not say anything against the rights of slave owners or motivate the slaves to seek independence; it did not discuss the harm or harshness of slavery and it did not enjoin the immediate release of slaves.

It did not change anything in the nature of the relationship between master and slave; on the contrary, it affirmed the rights and duties of both parties.

Contemporary Europe and slavery

It is the reader’s right, in this era of advancement and progress, to ask questions about the pioneers of this progress and the numbers of people who died because of the way in which they were hunted, and who died on their way to the coast where the ships of the English Company and others would wait, then the rest died due to changes in climate. Approximately 4% died as they were being loaded onto the ships, and 12 % during the journey, let alone those who died in the colonies.

The slave trade continued at the hands of English companies that obtained the right of monopoly with the permission of the British government, then gave free rein to British subjects to enslave people. Some experts estimate that the total number of people seized by the British during slavery and exiled to the colonies between 1680 and 1786 CE was around 2,130,000.

When Europe made contact with Black Africa, this contact led to human misery during which the black people of that continent were faced with a major calamity that lasted for five centuries. The states of Europe came up with evil ways of kidnapping these people and bringing them to their lands to serve as fuel for their revival, where they burdened them with more work than they could bear. When America was discovered, the calamity increased and they became slaves in two continents instead of just one.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica says (2/779) on the topic of slavery: Hunting slaves in the villages that were surrounded by the jungle was done by lighting fires in the straw of which the corrals surrounding the villages were made, then when the villagers fled to open land, the British hunted them down with whatever means they had at their disposal.

During the period from 1661 to 1774, for every million Black Africans who reached the Americas, a further nine million died during the hunting, loading and transportation. In other words, only one tenth of those who were hunted survived and actually reached the Americas, where they found no rest or relief, rather they were subjected to hard labour and torture.

At that time, they had laws which any wise person would be ashamed of.

Among these evil laws were those which said that any slave who transgressed against his master was to be killed, and any slave who ran away was to have his hands and feet cut off, and he was to be branded with hot iron; if he ran away again, he was to be killed. How could he run away if his hands and feet had been cut off?!

It was forbidden for a black man to become educated, and the jobs of whites were forbidden to coloureds.

In America, if seven black people gathered together, that was regarded as a crime, and if a white man passed by them it was permissible for him to spit at them and give them twenty lashes.

Another law stated that the blacks had no soul and that they possessed no smartness, intelligence or willpower, and that life existed only in their arms.

To sum up, with regard to his duties and service to his master, the slave was regarded as sane, responsible and punishable if he fell short, but with regard to his rights, he had no soul and no being, and he was not more than a strong pair of arms!

Finally, after many centuries of enslavement and oppression, there came the protocol to abolish slavery and strive to put an end to it, in a resolution issued by the United Nations in 1953 CE.

Hence their consciences did not awaken until the last century, after they had built their civilization on the corpses of free men whom they had enslaved unlawfully. What fair-minded person can compare this with the teachings of Islam, which came fourteen hundred years ago? It seems that accusing Islam with regard to this topic is like the saying, “She accused me of her problem then walked away.”

And Allaah knows best.

​

 

[Muslimah16]

Hey the Skeptic!

hope you're keeping well.
I just want to ask you a question please if i may. What is the purpose of this life then? If there is no Creator then why were we created?

Hope to see your answer soon bro.

P.s. just wanted to add, what about the miracles we see around us in our day to day life? like the most famous example, how does the sky never fall down on us? How is it still up and intact (LOL-couldnt think of another word you know what i mean tho right?) without any pillars or such for support? When we build builidings, we need to sort out the pillars first! Whats going to keep it 'up'. (i hope i am making sense )

 

[mhamzah]

You said what's in the Quran which was written 1400 years ago, still applies today well, a country under the complete ruling of the Sharia Law today will recognize slavery as proper in this day and age, no?

:salam2:

Slavery was widely practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia. Islam found the slavery system already existing and put forward ways to abolish it. Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, (who is an example for all the Muslims) himself freed 63 slaves, and his wife Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, freed 67 slaves. The Qur'an and Hadith, make it a praiseworthy act for masters to set their slaves free. Just to quote few verses, though there are many others.

Pickthal: It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the prophets; and giveth wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observeth proper worship and payeth the poor-due. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the Allah-fearing. (2:177)

Pickthal: Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest. The expiation thereof is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk, or the clothing of them, or the liberation of a slave, and for him who findeth not (the wherewithal to do so) then a three days' fast. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah expoundeth unto you His revelations in order that ye may give thanks. (5:89)

Pickthal: The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarer; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise. (9:60)

And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? But he hath not attempted the Ascent - Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! -It is) to free a slave, (90:10-13)

No a country under the complete ruling of the Sharia Law today will not recognize slavery as proper in this day and age because Quran and Sunnah enjoins on believers to free slaves, so much so that the act of freeing slaves is mentioned along side the most important issues in Islam (belief in Allah, Prophets, pbut etc).

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Your argument that Islamic law is backward is based on an assumption, that Muslims want change. However your are missing a key point here, a large majority of the Muslim world wants to be governed by Islamic law. They don't want the 'western style' democracy, so what would make the 'western style' democracy than (backward as it is resisting the change Muslim want, thats what you claimed).

Some of the experts here in U.K are saying that the way forward for U.K and to get out of the current economic mess is to go for Islamic finance and banking.

Source: 'Faith and Finance', Accountants magazine, May 2008 issue, (page 26 -if my memory serves me right).

Professional accounting bodies here in U.K like ABE (The Association of Business Executives) and CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) has already started offering professional courses in Islamic Finance, due to the rapid growth of the industry, estimated at 15% to 20% (though I am aware not all those who claim to be offering Islamic finance are Shariah compliant).

I'll wait for your reply to those lectures. Bye 4 now.