The Status of slaves in the Major religions
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While Christianity and Judaism favour slavery, Islam has restricted it drying up its sources. Islam, contrary to what the Christian missionaries claim, didn't invent slavery, it was rampant in the whole of the world and in the Arab Peninsula. When Islam budded into life, it didn't abolish slavery at once because this would cause many social and political troubles, so Islam gradually began to dry its sources.
Anyway, contrary to the status of the slave in the Holy book, the status of a slave in the religion of Islam is the same as the status of free noble men. The following lines is a comparison between the status of a slave in Islam and the Holy Book:
(1)In the Holy Book, beating slaves is allowed on condition that beating him would not disable him for two days.
Exodus 21:20-21"And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money [property]."
(2)In Islam punishing a slave severely is atoned by freeing him.
Prophet Mohummed says: (saw) said: "Whoever slaps his slave or strikes him, his atonement (kaffara) is to free him."
(3) The Holy Book condones killing a slave
20-21 "If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.
(4)In Islam, the killer of a slave must be killed
In Islam, whoever kills a slave, even if he is his master, should be killed, the prophet says: whoever kills his slave, we will kill him.
(5)A slave is not ordinary people in the Bible
· In the Old Testament, there is no difference between the slaves and animals.
Exodus 23:12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed."
· Bulls are to be put to death if they gore normal people but they are just stoned if they gore a slave.
Exodus 21:32 "If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull must be stoned. (but not to death)"
(6)In Islam slaves are ordinary people and even brothers and sisters, slaves in Islam were given high posts in Islam such as army leader and leaders in prayer. The Mouzin of the prophet was once a negro slave.
The prophet says " Those slaves are your brothers, only God gave you an upper hand over them. So let that who has his brother (i.e. slave) under him give him the same food he himself eats, and the same clothing as he himself wears. The master may not give his brother a task that is beyond his ability. If he does give him such task, let him lend him a hand.".
The prophet prohibited the Moslems to use the word salve, he, instead, ordered the Moslems to say" my girl, my boy."
(7) In the Bible a father can sell his daughter
In the Bible, the FATHER HAS THE RIGHT TO SELL HIS DAUGHTER TO BE FORCED TO SLEEP WITH OTHER MEN according to Exodus 21:7-8, and if she tries to be redeemed (to be set free), then her punishment is to be STUCK WITH HER MASTER!
In Islam bringing up a female and educating her will give you a high rank in the Paradise. The prophet says" whoever teaches his girl and honoures her, he will enter the paradise."
(8)In the Holy Book, slaves are property
Exodus 21:20-21"And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money [property]."
In Islam they are our brothers and sisters, they even can lead masters in prayers and hold high offices.
A slave led As'isha, the prophet's wife in prayer.
Zeid ibn Harith was a slave who became the Islamic Army leader.
By Magdy Abdalshafy