A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihád'/Appendix B/2

[Sidenote: Measures taken by the Koran to abolish slavery.]

2. Slaves are mentioned in the Koran defacto, but not dejure. The Koran took several measures to abolish future slavery. Its steps for its abolition were taken in every moral, legal, religious, and political departments. The liberation of slaves was morally declared to be a work of piety and righteousness&mdash;(Sura XC, 13; II, 172). Legally the slaves were to be emancipated on their agreeing to pay a ransom&mdash;(Sura XXIV, 33). They were to be set at liberty as a penalty for culpable homicide&mdash;(Sura IV, 94); or in expiation for using an objectionable form of divorce&mdash;(Sura LVIII, 4); and also they were to be manumitted from the Public Funds out of the poor-taxes&mdash;(Sura IX, 60). They were religiously to be freed in expiation of a false oath taken in mistake&mdash;(Sura V, 91). These were the measures for the abolition of existing slavery. The future slavery was abolished by the Koran by putting hammer deep unto its root and by annihilating its real source. The captives of war were, according to the clear injunctions of the Koran contained in the 5th verse of the 47th Sura, to be dismissed either by a free grant or by exacting a ransom. They were neither to be enslaved nor killed.


 * 4. "When ye encounter the unbelievers strike off their heads, till ye have made a great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters."


 * 5. "And afterwards let there either be free dismissals or ransoming, till the war hath laid down its burdens. Thus do...."


 * Sura XLVII.

These verses convey very clearly the decree of the abolition of future slavery, and do not require any further remarks. Moreover they were acted upon accordingly even in the lifetime of the Prophet.