What Does the Islamic Tradition Say About Slavery? Khaled Abou El Fadl

As a part of the Usuli Institute’s Project Illumine Series - where Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl presents his original English commentary of the Qur’an - the Shaykh touches on the topic of slavery in the Islamic tradition. This clip comes from the Surah Ma’arij Halaqa, where slavery was discussed following the commentary on verse 29, regarding prisoners of war. The second part of this clip addresses why the early Islamic tradition was not in favor of the institution of slavery. Lastly, during the halaqa, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl noted that the issue of slavery will be discussed further in Surah Al Baqarah, so stay tuned for that Halaqa soon InshaAllah!
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[@sarahy.274]

I had emailed you about this question earlier this year, so glad to see a video on this! I also like this style of video where it is short and addresses a single topic :)

[@TheUsuliInstitute]

Thank you for your message! We will be sharing more excerpt clips on KZbin, so stay tuned. If you would like to send us another question on this topic, please do so and we will share it with the Shaykh as soon as possible. We receive many questions amidst the many initiatives we have going on, so if we do not respond in the most timely manner, apologies in advanced.

[@Ryan-iw2rg]

@@TheUsuliInstitute where should we email if we have a question?

[@jabarbnar]

Dr. Jonathan Brown's book on this subject is a good one, but of course, has its negatives. looks like Dr. Khaled is not happy with it. I would love to see a book by Dr. Khaled on slavery.

[@HeyIntegrity]

What did he say about it? What are the negatives.

[@nk7274]

Or perhaps a detailed book review on Dr. Brown's book

[@belzeri6518]

Assalam walaikum, Can sheikh Khaled Abou El Fadl please write a book on slavery in Islam ?

[@syedsharjeelaskari2161]

Very good analysis. May Allah bless you

[@MrResearcher122]

The subject sounds tortuous. Professor El-Fadl, however, knows context and text seldom meet, but in regards to Slavery in Islamic lands it's not as if we are jumping into a twilight zone where guess work is filling the gaps. Slavery was abolished in Saudi in the 60s, and there are former slaves-and some eunuchs- still living Mecca and Madina. Existence of eunuchs perhaps tells us enough about how far the context deviated from the text.

[@hanifahizabella7480]

Assalam Aleykum Professor , May you please provide me with source that regardless if its female or male born the slave will receive freedom .JazakaAllah Khairn

[@rashiq9154]

Is that last line an indirect punch to Dr. Jonathan Brown?

[@HeyIntegrity]

I don't think so. He said historian that just doesn't earn or spite the western audiences. Brown definitely didn't do that. historians generally take neutral stancss. I have not read the book yet but has brown not mentioned the narrations of freeing slaves?

[@lifechoices6643]

Sir you will be rewarded in hereafter but maybe not in this life.here you will be ignored

[@dearrationals]

My question is, what does "marriage with a slave" mean? There is such a thing as marital rpe too and a marriage of contract cannot happen without consent. Otherwise it's forced marriage AND rpe. Does the "slave" have full right to reject marriage and "buy" their freedom?

[@dearrationals]

I also don't understand that last part, why would a female slave even think she could have sexual relations with her captor?