Islam and Slavery.

The Arabs just like other nations were enslaving people.

There are types and types of slavery not just one type.

Th Prophet came and showed them how to treat people you consider slaves, he used to call Zaid ibn Al Harith his son. Zaid was given first to Khadija and then Khadija in turn gave Zaid to the Prophet to be brought up as he was a young boy. Which slave owner calls thier slaves sons? They are more likely to be addressed harshly and with strong words of abuse

He made Zaid ibn Al Harith a commander in his army

Zaid and Zaids son, Usama, were of the most beloved people to the Prophet

The Prophet freed a black woman called Umm Ayman (Barakah) and she was married to Zaid ibn Al Harith, after previous husband had died. Umm Ayman had a son from Zaid called Usama ibn Zaid

The Prophet Muhammad's great grandmother was a black woman as he is from the line of Ismaeel the son of Hajar Ibrahims wife from Africa, Egypt.

The Prophet sends companions and family members to Africa to escape the persecution and assaults of the Arabs of the time in Mecca, he sent them there not once but twice, and says that there in Africa they will find a just King, he ws speaking about a black man.

He gave Bilal the honour of calling the Adhan (call to prayer) on top of the kaba and call the Adhan when others where saying 'drag him down, his voice is not good'. Maybe others with better voices could have done it but no it was given to a special person not because of his colour but it was to prove a point to the racists of that time and in every time amongst the Arabs and people of other colours and nationalities.

In the Prophets farewell speech the Prophet said "no white is better than a black person"

In the Quran it says a believing bondswoman is better than a free woman who is pretty and allures you (Baqarah v 221).

As for hadeeths that some people use to claim that the Prophet encouraged slavery most of them are not aware that slavery amngst the Arabs as well as other people was widespeared that it took gradual measures and steps to show them that if you are not able or if it is not possible to free slaves all in one go, which was almost impossible because they were so dependent upon slaves it would have meant the collapse of society, it should be done in stages.

Using people for their services as servants is not unislamic but they should be paid, fed and treated well and clothed well too. The only recognised form of slavery in Islam is that of the relation of all of humanity to the Creator, we should all be serving God by doing good and not spreading wickedness and evil and nor disbelief.

Lincoln and the likes lay claim to the freeing of slaves in the western world and broke the cycle of slavery in 1928 but not 100 ago nor 1000 years ago but 1400 years ago the Quran had already said it is better that you free these people, they are not your slaves they are your brothers in faith and brothers in humanity and all of you are from the same mother and father Adam and mother Eve. Look how many verses speak against slavery and not one verse pro the enslaving of any nation of people. The Quran 90:13 and 5:89 and 4:92 as well as others for more info see this site http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/slavesq.htm and even better read the Quran.

What is worse than the physical shakles of slavery is Mental slavery. In the west and other places an ongoing form of slavery continues where the mind is not allowed to be free to accept certain views, especially when it comes to religion and in particular Islam. Secularists and Atheists are keen to give the image that religion should remain a personal issue and not part of politics and society as a whole. Well they can keep trying, just banning the hijab by force does not make people believe less in the legitimacy of hijab in public or any other religious issue. Beating people over the head with the same line about slavery is a form of brainwashing that works maybe on some people but has not fooled the rest.