Islamic views on slavery

Islamic views on slavery represent a complex and multifaceted body of Islamic thought, with various Islamic groups or thinkers espousing views on the matter which have been radically different throughout history. The Quran and the hadith (sayings of Muhammad) are the sources used for Sharia ,where the legislation concerning slaves is derived from.^[1]

The Quran does not outline the rights of slaves expansively, but rather highlights the virtues in freeing slaves. The Qur'an mentions various ways slaves could be freed: as a general good deed, as a use for Zakat, through a contract and as expiation for sins.^[2]

The hadiths, which differ between Shia and Sunni,^[3] address slavery extensively, assuming its existence as part of society but viewing it as an exceptional condition and restricting its scope.^[4][5] The hadiths forbade enslavement of dhimmis, the non-Muslims of Islamic society, and Muslims. They also regarded slaves as legal only when they were non-Muslims who were imprisoned, bought beyond the borders of Islamic rule, or the sons and daughters of slaves already in captivity.^[5]

Many early converts to Islam were the poor and former slaves. One notable example is Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi, who is noted for being the first Muezzin.^[8] In modern times, various Muslim organizations reject the permissibility of slavery and it has since been abolished by all Muslim majority countries.^[9] However, there are extremist groups who have revived slavery while they were active.^[10]