slavery

Dear scholars,a few days ago I (no muslim) had a dicussion with a close friend of mine (muslim)about the status of slavery in Islam. Unfortunatly he couldn't answer me all my questions, but pointed me to your web site. I found some statements in the quran that you should treat your slaves right etc. But I didn't find anything explicit saying that slavery is wrong.Regarding to wikipedia Mohamed also owned himself some female slaves like Safiyya bint Huyayy (-> Former slave, then his wife) or Maria al-Qibtiyya.So here comes the questions:1. What is the exact status of slavery in islam? 2. Is it true that slavery was common in the early islam communities? 3. Did Mohamed really own slaves or concubines like the two above? 4. Is it, regarding to the quran, ok for a muslim to own slaves?thanks in advance for our reply.K.S.

Assalamu alikum! islam& slavery of woman -------------- at first;i really often read articles and texts from fatwa bank, they are really veryhelpful, but this time i thought much by myself and read in books and online but i didnt find answer. I prayed to Allah swt that He will let me find ananswer , that gives my heart again peace.. so here it is: 1. can in islam a muslim woman be a slave of a muslim man? --> Quran 4:25 "..marry...believing maids" --> does that means he can marry a believing maid and that means he can Have a believing (muslim?!) woman as maid ("whomher rights u posses) 2. can the man have so many female slaves like he wants ? And have intercourse with them? next to his woman/ women? 2.1 do they buythem or only from war, like i read? ( from war would be more islam-logic cause if buying it would an active way of pushing slavery) 3. Do the female slave (because she is property of man) have a right to say "no" to s.intercourse ? If the man wants intercourse with her. 4. can the man have intecourse with her although she is maybe married with someone else? and if she prayes to many gods? May Allah all of u reward much and may Allah theallmighty make ur Iman much more and more stronger!!! wassalam Sakina

Assalamu Aleikum, Is slavery permitted in Islam? I've read your answers to similar questions and got more confused. I really didn't see the proof from Quran that Islam prohibits slavery. You said that it was aimed to be taken away in steps as prohibition of alcohol is, and there is indeed Quran verse prohibiting that. In terms of slavery, I haven't seen such verse(s) except those encouraging Muslims to free slaves, which by any circumstances doesn't mean that slavery is haram. On the contrary it recognizes slavery as institution.Please advise. May Allah reward you for your efforts

As-salamu `alaykum. the fifth argument that the Christian group posed, which caused much perplexity to Muslims in the area, is related to the claim that the Prophet used to rent out and hire many slaves and hence Islam is a religion of slavery. Could you please send my question to Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi to refute such a claim?

Assalamu Alaikum - my question relates to sex with slavesWhy could the prophet (SAW) not restrain/overcome his rampant sexual desires when he wives?!?  This has really really shaken my faith.  I do not see how the prophet (SAW) is setting a good example here at all - as a Muslim I feel that family is the most important tie, with one wife a man should control himself and not have relations outside a marriage.  What possible justification is there for such depravity?  Please help explain this to me, as it is causing me some distress. Why shouldn't a man be satisfied with his wife or wives?  Why does he need to have sex outside marriage?  This is just greed and lust.  I've read a poor excuse that the poor woman in such a situation is fortunate because she might become pregnant and her child would be free and supported.  But why not just free her in the first place and support her?I hope inshallah you are able to answer my question, as this has been glossed over on many other websites with the strange claim that by having sex with her the man is somehow doing the women a favour.  This feels terribly unjust to me, and Allah has told us to stand against injustice.  Far better to free the slave and provide them with support, or just leave them be and support them - not seek some sordid gratification via them - treating them like property.Please please answer my question - I'm not received help on this from anywhere and I'm really worried about my faith

As-salamu `alaykum. Could you please shed light on the issue of slavery and how Islam managed to abolish it?