An ideological attack is occurring against Islam, one that masks the truth of the transatlantic slave trade.
It aims to mark the European transatlantic slave as just another enslavement example in history and at the same time draw the Arab (often stated as Islamic) world into the same frame as "Guilty" by association" in slavery. This is just another devious lie amongst many other lies in such as the one hiding the real spiritual, moral, intellectual and ethical foundations that has given to Europe its birth.
What are the differences that make the European(Christian) transatlantic slave trade so unique ? Well we shall delve into some details.
The Eurpean transatlantic slave trade is very unique purely because of the size of enslaved people, "tyranny", "racism", "focus on a continent", "exploitation", "death", "torture" and "mobilization". Approximately 12 million people were shipped across and an estimated 100 million + effected. So as Muslims we need to be aware of some facts.
To differentiate Slavery within the Islamic cultural context and that of the European transatlantic slave trade is a difficult one. Because the differences are in the "details" and "subtleties" which often makes the distinction masked in this "slogan" orientated world.
First we need to understand that not all slavery is the same, just as we cannot Lump all Religions into one. Two religions can be vastly different in their details, history and belief and so i think is the case similarly with the topic of slavery.
Some global principles of note
- Slavery existed in every part of the world since ancient times. Iranian, Roman, Greek, Chinese and Arabs and others all partook in some form of Slavery.
- In the Islamic world, slavery was not by skin colour, for example, Turkic slaves were common in being the slaves of Central Asia and so were Greeks , ibn Battutta (the 13 the Century traveller) notes this in his travels . Arabs were themselves enslaved by fellow Arabs. Africans by fellow Africans, European slaves "Slavs" were also common since the age of Roman.
- In Islam, slave "trading" was not in itself sanctioned. Slavery was allowed via the prisoner of War Scenario/Captives taken through war. So it was not a money making institution as in the case of the transatlantic slave trade.
- The Quran and hadiths (sayings of the prophets) teaches the meritorious (highly praiseworthy) act of freeing slaves. Freeing slaves is to the level of a highly praised act of Worship for the individual.
- Islam denigrated the institution of slavery to the point that slavery became almost nonexistent in parts of the Islamic world and was never a highly held institution AND when Islam came the "freeing" of slaves became an institution in itself.
Why the European transatlantic slave trade was the worst form of slavery.
- The Volume of slavery
In the mobilization of slaves approximately 2 million died in the ships during the transport to the new World itself. this is a huge figure taken that the "World population" at that time was estimated at 400-500 million.
- The treatment of slaves
Islam introduced rights for the slaves, Salves had rights which came from God. Many sayings of the prophet talk about the treatment of slaves and their God given rights.
From the prophets (Mohammad) last sermon
The sayings of the prophet teaches "That all man is equal before God"
"... All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any
superiority over white except by piety and good action...." (Last Sermon)
Again, this in stark contrast to the transatlantic Empire slaves who were considered sub human and based on the "Slave Code".
- the enduring "Racism" the product of the transatlantic slave trade.
1964 Oxford union debate, Malcolm X, made his famous statement of "by any means necessary for justice". So racism and extremism was an institution and part and parcel of Europe and the New World until very recently. Itself an end product of the transatlantic slave trade, even though the "trading of slaves" had ended, Racism and its various manifestations continued. So the mentality that the slave was Sub human continued socially and institutionally.
This is in stark contrast to the "slaves" of Islam, who were, since the start of the Last prophet sent from God, of the highest ranks in society.
- Slaves as Royalty, Leaders and Rulers within the Islamic cultural continent
Examples of these are many, but some notable ones are :
-Qutb bin Aybek - Delhi sultan - a Fearless leader
-Mohammad Ali Pasha - Ruler of Egypt - of Illyrian origins
-Mahmud Ghaznavi - central Asia
-The Rulers of Baghdad, Baghdad use to be one of the centres of learning in the Islamic golden age
-One of the first men to embrace Islam was Bilal of slave origins was given the high position of Muezzin "Caller to prayer" during the prophets time.
-Slaves also were and are part of Royal families within the Arab and Islamic world. to this day
- Through divide and rule strategy the slave trading European Empires processed slavery more efficiently for. Even in the case of indirect Slavery, When Africans were enslaving Africans they were doing this in part via their sponsors who were the European Empires.
- We as Muslims cannot apologise for every ruler or Kings actions, as in the case of certain leaders in Islamic history, since Not every Muslim follows what islam preaches.
The Media labels "Arab" slavery as "islamic" but not "European" slavery as "Christian". So via misinformation Every wrong and injustice a ruler of sultan done is marked as being from Islam.
Below is a Rendition from a chapter of a book about the Governors of Regions in the Islamic empire, and it will become clear to a sincere reader the distinction between the types of slavery.
Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Aal ash-Shaykh writes in Qurrah ‘Uyoon al-Muwahhideen, while explaining Chapter 40 of Kitaab at-Tawheed of his grandfather Imaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahumallaah):
In Tahdheeb al-Kamaal from al-Waleed al-Muwaqqaree from az-Zuhree, who said: I reached ‘Abdul-Malik bin Marwaan, so he said: Where have you come from O Zuhree?
He said: I said: From Makkah.
He said: Who did you leave in charge of it and its people?
I said: ‘Ataa bin Abee Rabaah.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So how will he take charge of them?
I said: With his piety and his narrations.
He said: Indeed it is befitting that the People of Piety and Narrations are in charge.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Yaman?
I said: Taawoos bin Kaysaan.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
He said: I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So how will he take charge of them?
I said: In the same way that ‘Ataa would.
He said: Indeed that is certainly befitting.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Misr?
I said: Yazeed bin Abee Habeeb.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
He said: I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Shaam?
I said: Makhool.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave. [‘Abd Noobee]. A woman from Hudhayl freed him.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of al-Jazeerah?
I said: Maymoon bin Mihraan.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Khuraasaan?
He said: I said: ad-Dahhaak bin Muzaahim.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of al-Basrah?
I said: Al-Hasan al-Basree.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: Woe to you! And who is in charge of the people of al-Koofah?
He said: I said: Ibraaheem an-Nakha’ee.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
He said: I said: He is an ‘Arab.
He said: Woe to you O Zuhree! You have relieved me, while Allaah has certainly put the freed slaves in charge of the ‘Arabs, such that they are on the Minbar-s giving the Khutbah-s, while the ‘Arabs are [sitting] below.
He said: I said: O Ameer al-Mu-mineen! This is a religion such that the one who preserves & memorises it, takes charge, while the one who loses & neglects it, falls.
It aims to mark the European transatlantic slave as just another enslavement example in history and at the same time draw the Arab (often stated as Islamic) world into the same frame as "Guilty" by association" in slavery. This is just another devious lie amongst many other lies in such as the one hiding the real spiritual, moral, intellectual and ethical foundations that has given to Europe its birth.
What are the differences that make the European(Christian) transatlantic slave trade so unique ? Well we shall delve into some details.
The Eurpean transatlantic slave trade is very unique purely because of the size of enslaved people, "tyranny", "racism", "focus on a continent", "exploitation", "death", "torture" and "mobilization". Approximately 12 million people were shipped across and an estimated 100 million + effected. So as Muslims we need to be aware of some facts.
To differentiate Slavery within the Islamic cultural context and that of the European transatlantic slave trade is a difficult one. Because the differences are in the "details" and "subtleties" which often makes the distinction masked in this "slogan" orientated world.
First we need to understand that not all slavery is the same, just as we cannot Lump all Religions into one. Two religions can be vastly different in their details, history and belief and so i think is the case similarly with the topic of slavery.
Some global principles of note
- Slavery existed in every part of the world since ancient times. Iranian, Roman, Greek, Chinese and Arabs and others all partook in some form of Slavery.
- In the Islamic world, slavery was not by skin colour, for example, Turkic slaves were common in being the slaves of Central Asia and so were Greeks , ibn Battutta (the 13 the Century traveller) notes this in his travels . Arabs were themselves enslaved by fellow Arabs. Africans by fellow Africans, European slaves "Slavs" were also common since the age of Roman.
- In Islam, slave "trading" was not in itself sanctioned. Slavery was allowed via the prisoner of War Scenario/Captives taken through war. So it was not a money making institution as in the case of the transatlantic slave trade.
- The Quran and hadiths (sayings of the prophets) teaches the meritorious (highly praiseworthy) act of freeing slaves. Freeing slaves is to the level of a highly praised act of Worship for the individual.
- Islam denigrated the institution of slavery to the point that slavery became almost nonexistent in parts of the Islamic world and was never a highly held institution AND when Islam came the "freeing" of slaves became an institution in itself.
Why the European transatlantic slave trade was the worst form of slavery.
- The Volume of slavery
In the mobilization of slaves approximately 2 million died in the ships during the transport to the new World itself. this is a huge figure taken that the "World population" at that time was estimated at 400-500 million.
- The treatment of slaves
Islam introduced rights for the slaves, Salves had rights which came from God. Many sayings of the prophet talk about the treatment of slaves and their God given rights.
From the prophets (Mohammad) last sermon
The sayings of the prophet teaches "That all man is equal before God"
"... All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any
superiority over white except by piety and good action...." (Last Sermon)
Again, this in stark contrast to the transatlantic Empire slaves who were considered sub human and based on the "Slave Code".
- the enduring "Racism" the product of the transatlantic slave trade.
1964 Oxford union debate, Malcolm X, made his famous statement of "by any means necessary for justice". So racism and extremism was an institution and part and parcel of Europe and the New World until very recently. Itself an end product of the transatlantic slave trade, even though the "trading of slaves" had ended, Racism and its various manifestations continued. So the mentality that the slave was Sub human continued socially and institutionally.
This is in stark contrast to the "slaves" of Islam, who were, since the start of the Last prophet sent from God, of the highest ranks in society.
- Slaves as Royalty, Leaders and Rulers within the Islamic cultural continent
Examples of these are many, but some notable ones are :
-Qutb bin Aybek - Delhi sultan - a Fearless leader
-Mohammad Ali Pasha - Ruler of Egypt - of Illyrian origins
-Mahmud Ghaznavi - central Asia
-The Rulers of Baghdad, Baghdad use to be one of the centres of learning in the Islamic golden age
-One of the first men to embrace Islam was Bilal of slave origins was given the high position of Muezzin "Caller to prayer" during the prophets time.
-Slaves also were and are part of Royal families within the Arab and Islamic world. to this day
- Through divide and rule strategy the slave trading European Empires processed slavery more efficiently for. Even in the case of indirect Slavery, When Africans were enslaving Africans they were doing this in part via their sponsors who were the European Empires.
- We as Muslims cannot apologise for every ruler or Kings actions, as in the case of certain leaders in Islamic history, since Not every Muslim follows what islam preaches.
The Media labels "Arab" slavery as "islamic" but not "European" slavery as "Christian". So via misinformation Every wrong and injustice a ruler of sultan done is marked as being from Islam.
Below is a Rendition from a chapter of a book about the Governors of Regions in the Islamic empire, and it will become clear to a sincere reader the distinction between the types of slavery.
Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Aal ash-Shaykh writes in Qurrah ‘Uyoon al-Muwahhideen, while explaining Chapter 40 of Kitaab at-Tawheed of his grandfather Imaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahumallaah):
In Tahdheeb al-Kamaal from al-Waleed al-Muwaqqaree from az-Zuhree, who said: I reached ‘Abdul-Malik bin Marwaan, so he said: Where have you come from O Zuhree?
He said: I said: From Makkah.
He said: Who did you leave in charge of it and its people?
I said: ‘Ataa bin Abee Rabaah.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So how will he take charge of them?
I said: With his piety and his narrations.
He said: Indeed it is befitting that the People of Piety and Narrations are in charge.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Yaman?
I said: Taawoos bin Kaysaan.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
He said: I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So how will he take charge of them?
I said: In the same way that ‘Ataa would.
He said: Indeed that is certainly befitting.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Misr?
I said: Yazeed bin Abee Habeeb.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
He said: I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Shaam?
I said: Makhool.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave. [‘Abd Noobee]. A woman from Hudhayl freed him.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of al-Jazeerah?
I said: Maymoon bin Mihraan.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of Khuraasaan?
He said: I said: ad-Dahhaak bin Muzaahim.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: So who is in charge of the people of al-Basrah?
I said: Al-Hasan al-Basree.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
I said: He is a freed slave.
He said: Woe to you! And who is in charge of the people of al-Koofah?
He said: I said: Ibraaheem an-Nakha’ee.
He said: So is he an ‘Arab or a freed slave?
He said: I said: He is an ‘Arab.
He said: Woe to you O Zuhree! You have relieved me, while Allaah has certainly put the freed slaves in charge of the ‘Arabs, such that they are on the Minbar-s giving the Khutbah-s, while the ‘Arabs are [sitting] below.
He said: I said: O Ameer al-Mu-mineen! This is a religion such that the one who preserves & memorises it, takes charge, while the one who loses & neglects it, falls.
