Encouraging freedom
فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍIslam made freeing a slave the expiation for accidental killing, for zihar, for breaking an oath and for deliberately breaking the Ramadan fast. It encouraged contracts of manumission and told believers to help the one buying his freedom.
Treatment
إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ، جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ، فَأَطْعِمُوهُمْ مِمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ، وَأَلْبِسُوهُمْ مِمَّا تَلْبَسُونَThey are your brothers, whom Allah has placed under your authority. So feed them from what you eat and clothe them from what you wear.
Bilal ibn Rabah, Zayd ibn Harithah and Usamah ibn Zayd were freed slaves who reached high standing in the Muslim community.
Frequently asked questions
Is slavery permitted today?
No. It has been abolished in Muslim countries, and Muslim scholars hold that what is called human trafficking today is forbidden.
Quran text and translations: QuranEnc. Hadith translations: HadeethEnc. Sources are shown on each item. Found a mistake? Tell us.