Slavery is Polytheism, the greatest sin against God and crime humanity
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I notice that many so-called Muslims are confused about slavery. Many think that since it is mentioned in the Quran, then it is approved by the Quran. Such a conclusion cannot be farther from truth.
The widely practiced slavery was abolished by the Quran (379; 43,25,92; 589; 867; 2432-33; 583-4; 9013; 2286; 1239-42; 7924). The Quran rejects slavery not as one of the big sins, but as the greatest sin and crime, equivalent of setting up partners to God, which is an unforgivable sin if maintained until death. The Quran unequivocally rejects accepting other than God as lord/master (rabb). Claiming to be the lord/master of someone is tantamount to claiming to be God (1239-40; 364; 931). Decades after Muhammed's departure kings and their accomplice religious leaders wanted to resurrect and justify slavery by distorting the verses about Joseph's reference to his friend's master (1241,42). However, they ignored the fact that Joseph never called anyone other than God as his lord or master, and he advised his prison mates to seek freedom by rejecting the unjust claim of false lords/masters on them (1239-40).
Verse 1675-76 compares a slave with a free person and empha-sizes the importance of being a free person. No wonder, the Quran condemns Pharaoh for his claim of being the lord and master of other people (7915-26). God saved the Jews from slavery and reminded them that their freedom was more important than the variety of foods they were missing (257-61). The Quran warns Muhammed not to capture and imprison his enemies during peacetime, and gives him permission for such only as a measure against those who participate in war (867). The Quran acknowledges the fact that those who set up partners with God had slaves (2432; 1675), and freeing them is considered an activity and a quality of muslims (9013).
It is ironic that Jews who suffered the most from slavery and were saved by God through the leadership of Moses (Exodus 113-14), later justified enslaving other people, including selling one's own daughter, and inserted that practice into their holy books (Exodus 217-8; 2121-22; 26-27; Leviticus 2544-46; Joshua 96-27).
Though Jesus never condoned slavery, St. Paul, the founder of modern Christianity, once asked the masters to treat their slaves nicely (Colossians 322), and asked the slaves to be "submissive to your masters with all fear" (1 Peter 218; Ephesians 65; 1 Timothy 62; Colossians 322; Titus 29) justifying the Marxist maxim, "Religion is the opium of masses." The use of religion by the privileged class to enslave or exploit people is vividly depicted by the Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya "When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'let us close our eyes and pray'. When we opened them, we had the Bible, and they had the land."
I had written extensively on this issue, but it is too late now and I will just share some ENDNOTES from the QURAN a Reformist Translation on this issue
003079 The Quran considers slavery to be polytheism. See 43,25,92; 589; 867; 2432-33; 583; 9013; 2286; 1239-42; 7924
004001 .... (A long discussion on polygamy is skipped)
The expression Ma malakat aymanukum has been translated by most translations as "whom your right hands posses" or "cap-tives" or "concubines." (See the note 236). We translated this and similar expressions found in 43,24,25,36; 1671; 236; 2431,33,58; 3028; 3350,52,55; and 7030, as "those with whom you have contractual rights." These were the wives of the enemy combatants who were perse-cuted because they acknowledged the message of Islam and sought asylum at the Muslim community (6010). Since they did not get through a normal divorce process, an exceptional contract allows them to marry muslims as free women. Marrying them could create some social, economic and personal complications for the hus-band. They have nothing to do with IBaD (slaves), as sectarian translations and commentaries state. As we will learn, the Quran categorically rejects slavery and considers it to be the greatest sin (See 379; 425,92; 589; 867; 2432-33; 583; 9013; 2286; 1239-42; 7924). The practice of slavery was justified and resurrected to a certain extent via the influence of Jewish and Christian scholars, as well as fabricated hadith and sharia laws, decades after Muhammed's departure.It is ironic that Jews who suffered the most from slavery and were saved by God through the leadership of Moses (Exodus 113-14), later justified enslaving other people, including selling one's own daughter, and inserted that practice into their holy books (Exodus 217-8; 2121-22; 26-27; Leviticus 2544-46; Joshua 96-27).
Though Jesus never condoned slavery, St. Paul, the founder of modern Christianity, once asked the masters to treat their slaves nicely (Colossians 322), and asked the slaves to be "submissive to your masters with all fear" (1 Peter 218; Ephesians 65; 1 Timothy 62; Colossians 322; Titus 29) justifying the Marxist maxim, "Religion is the opium of masses." The use of religion by the privileged class to enslave or exploit people is vividly depicted by the South African archbishop Desmond Tutu "When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'let us close our eyes and pray'. When we opened them, we had the Bible, and they had the land."
The word YaMYN means "right hand" or metaphorically "right," "power" or "con-trol." However, its plural form aYMaN is consistently mentioned in the Quran to mean not "right hands" but to mean "oaths" or "promises," implying the mutual nature of the relationship (See 433 589; 912; 1691-94; 2224-225; 3028; 662; 553; 6109). This unique Quranic usage is similar to the semantic difference between the singular and plural forms of the word Ayat (signs) (see 2106).
The expression in question, thus could be translated as "those whom your oaths/contracts have rights over" or "those whom you hold rights through your con-tracts," or by reading aYMaN (oaths/contracts) as an object rather than a subject, "those who hold/possess your contracts."
The marriage declaration is a mutual part-nership between two sexes and is formed by participation of family members. A married woman cannot marry another man without getting divorced from her hus-band. However, if a woman escapes and joins muslims while her husband stayed behind participating in a war against muslims, she may marry a Muslim man without actually getting divorced from her combatant husband; she will legally be considered a divorcee (6010). Since this contract is different from the normal marriage contract, this special relationship is described in different words. The same is valid for a man whose wife allies with the hostile enemy. See 2431 and 3355. Those who work for another person according to employment contracts are also referred to with the same expression. See 1671; 3028. Also, see 425,36; 236; 2458; 3350; 3352; 7030.
The Quran does not demand those who lived together based on a mutual promise (AYMaN) during the days of ignorance, without a marriage contract, to get di-vorced. Similarly, it does not want those who married two sisters before accepting islam to be a way of life (423). This tol-erance does not encourage living together without marriage. It only does not want to incur further damage to the family structure and does not want to create hurdles for those who wish to live according to the principles of islam.
004025 Slavery as an evil practice of Pharaoh and other polytheists is abolished by the Quran (379; 43,25,92; 589; 867; 2432-33; 583; 9013; 2286; 1239-42; 7924). No wonder, this verse emphasizes the equality between men and women, between the free and those who were unjustly enslaved by polytheists. See 6010.
God issues a lighter penalty for formerly slave women who commit adultery be-cause of their past. Their tragic history and experience is considered a mitigating factor. This rule, at the same time, rejects the Sunni and Shiite punishment for adul-tery (death), since there cannot be half of a capital punishment. See 242.
008067 This verse prohibits slavery. Prisoners of war are released after the war ends (474). Also, see 43,25; 901-20.
024032 The reference pronoun of the word "IBaDukum" is misunderstood, and contrary to the clear verses of the Quran, it is abused for the justification of slavery. The expression "your slaves" should be understood as "slaves among you" or "slaves from your group" not as "the slaves that you own." For instance, the expression "feed your poor" does not mean "poor that you own." Similarly, "your ingrates" means, "the ingrates among you." (5443; also see 724). It would be literally awkward to repeat the preposition "from" (min) twice. (For a discussion on slavery, see the endnote for verse 43)
027031-037 .... "What really made Solomon angry is the state of slavery that affects the people owned by the Queen of Sheba and not their religion. Solomon?s reaction against slavery and oppression should be an ex-ample for every leader who has the power, the means and the potential to free slaves and fight for the rights of oppressed people even if they are living in another country. What Solomon did in the past is what the United States should do in our time. Their resemblance is reflected in their military power but the difference resides in the fact that only Solomon has submitted to God?s laws. If Solomon was living in the 21st century, who would you think will be at the top of his black list? Yes, many from the so called Muslim countries."
058004 The beginning of the verse, "faman lam yajid" (literally as for the one who does not find), clearly indicates that the slaves instructed to be freed in the previous verse are not expected to belong to muslims. Otherwise, an expression such as "if one does not possess" should have been used. Slavery is prohibited by the Quran as one of the greatest sins. See 379; 43,25,92; 589; 867; 2432-33; 583-4; 9013; 2286; 1239-42; 7924.
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024032 The reference pronoun of the word "IBaDukum" is misunderstood, and contrary to the clear verses of the Quran, it is abused for the justification of slavery. The expression "your slaves" should be understood as "slaves among you" or "slaves from your group" not as "the slaves that you own." For instance, the expression "feed your poor" does not mean "poor that you own." Similarly, "your ingrates" means, "the ingrates among you." (5443; also see 724). It would be literally awkward to repeat the preposition "from" (min) twice. (For a discussion on slavery, see the endnote for verse 43)
Salaam Edip,
I could not find the highlighted word above in 2432 or elsewhere in AlQuraan. If you are referring to IBaDi-kum as then you are translating it wrong. Because you cannot translate IBaDi-kum as slaves among you because then IBaDi-na has to be translated as slaves among us and also check 290 for IBaDi-Hi, that cannot be translated also as you have done above.
I think you made a mistake while typing unintentionally, please check and make necessary corrections.
Pointing it out does not mean that I support slavery, I am totally against slavery because AlQuraan does not support it.
May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmKhan -
Very good posting. There is a debate raging on whether or not Blacks in America and elsewhere around the world should reject Islam over the issue of slavery.It is good many muslims are trying to clear this up!
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Salaam Edip,
I could not find the highlighted word above in 2432 or elsewhere in AlQuraan. If you are referring to IBaDi-kum as then you are translating it wrong. Because you cannot translate IBaDi-kum as slaves among you because then IBaDi-na has to be translated as slaves among us and also check 290 for IBaDi-Hi, that cannot be translated also as you have done above.
I think you made a mistake while typing unintentionally, please check and make necessary corrections.
Pointing it out does not mean that I support slavery, I am totally against slavery because AlQuraan does not support it.
May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmKhanDear brother
The human language is not mathematics. So, please look at the references I have provided to support that particular point (5443; also see 724).
Since human languages could create ambiguity in meaning, the best way to eliminate such an ambiguity is to consider the immediate and then the entire context of the word/phrase/statement. Please be more attentive to the references I provide, and give me a little benefit of doubt, since I really studied the subject before I wrote those notes ))
Peace,
Edip -
Peace Edip.
Quote Slavery is prohibited by Qoran as one of the greatest sins
Are you sure all the verses you quoted as evidence are dealing with slavery? Some are dealing with" idolatry"like
Idolatry and slavery are two different things. Not that I do not agree with the statement, I just do not agree with all the verses you quoted.Also does not mention either slavery or idolatry.
Peace.
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Dear brother
The human language is not mathematics. So, please look at the references I have provided to support that particular point (5443; also see 724).
Since human languages could create ambiguity in meaning, the best way to eliminate such an ambiguity is to consider the immediate and then the entire context of the word/phrase/statement. Please be more attentive to the references I provide, and give me a little benefit of doubt, since I really studied the subject before I wrote those notes ))
Peace,
EdipBut this all depends on how you define polytheism. Experience here has taught me that many don't have a clue what shirk is so they apply it on many things. This is something that i noticed about Quranist is that they use shirk in ways not supported by the reality of human history or Quranic verses.
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Peace Bigmo.
GOD defines polytheism for you in Qoran
Shirk is believing anything other that GOD Alone can harm you or benefit you, as simple as that
" They serve/worship/... beside GOD what can neither harm them nor benefit them..."
Peace.
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Peace Bigmo.
GOD defines polytheism for you in Qoran
Shirk is believing anything other that GOD Alone can harm you or benefit you, as simple as that
" They serve/worship/... beside GOD what can neither harm them nor benefit them..."
Peace.
So who is the "they" and describe me their beliefs. I notice I often get vague understanding of shirk when I ask that question to those who tend to accuse people of shirk. They never give you a theology but its something like "worshiping other than God" without telling us worshiping what. And what exactly is meant by "worshiping". These vague answers tells me that there has not been an investigation of what shirk is. They are assumptions made but no actual examples given.
From my understanding of shirk, shirk is the belief that God is not the sole creator or sustainer of existence and that many gods created and sustained the universe. Its the belief that no single deity can exist and that the divine world and the human world are intertwined. What this has to do with slavery is beyond me. Slavery is a form of oppression and tyrany as the Quran tells us about the Pharoah and Jospeh's brothers.
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Peace Edip.
Quote Slavery is prohibited by Qoran as one of the greatest sins
Are you sure all the verses you quoted as evidence are dealing with slavery? Some are dealing with" idolatry"like
Idolatry and slavery are two different things. Not that I do not agree with the statement, I just do not agree with all the verses you quoted.Also does not mention either slavery or idolatry.
Peace.
Then you need to study the issue a bit.. I cannot spoon-feed everyone... If you are interested in the subject, it would take you less than 5 minutes to check several translations of the Quran about the (mis)translation of those verses... You have Super-secretary Google under your service, 24/7
Peace,
Edip -
The words are the main idols which enlsave most people.
Set yourself free from language, and the language will be your tool.
Otherwise it will only point your idols.
Peace,
R. -
Peace Edip.
I would not rely on anyone for spoon feeding or anything else. I rely only on my creator Alone. Also every thing we have/own belongs to/is from GOD anyway,even our time and knowledge.
I was pointing out that is about idolatry not slavery. Are you suggesting they are the same?
As you know there is only one unforgivable sin, it is idolatry , if one does not repent. You could argue that if one dies a disbeliever, then he/she is accountable for all sins. However, idolatry is the greatest of all sins, not slavery.
Also , all of us serve someone in life, technically we are all " slaves" to something or someone
Are they the ones who assign your Lord's mercy? We have assigned their shares in this life, raising some of them above others in ranks, in order to let them serve one another. The mercy from your Lord is far better than any material they may hoard.
I may read/show interest in all opinions, but I try and pick what " is best" with the help of my Lord..
May the Lord grant us more patience and help us to share our time and knowledge for His cause.
Peace.
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Peace Bigmo.
"They" are the ones who believe anything else beside GOD Alone can harm them or benefit them.
Peace.
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The words are the main idols which enlsave most people.
Set yourself free from language, and the language will be your tool.
Otherwise it will only point your idols.
Peace,
R.And the characters above are made of "words" and it is written according to the grammar and with the lexicon of a "language."
An example of pure "nonsense."
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Peace Bigmo.
Some do not even know they are committing " Shirk". So it can be vague!
12106 The majority of those who believe in GOD, do not do so without committing idol worship.?(Believe other than GOD can harm them or benefit them/Follow others!).
Peace.
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Peace Edip.
You are implying that Slavery = Idolatry ? ( The greatest sin against GOD!)
Please see reply 10.
Peace.
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Peace Bigmo.
Some do not even know they are committing " Shirk". So it can be vague!
12106 The majority of those who believe in GOD, do not do so without committing idol worship.?(Believe other than GOD can harm them or benefit them/Follow others!).
Peace.
How can something that is worse than murder, rape, slavery, lying, cheating, betrayal and is something that is unforgiven be so vague and be done without people knowing they are doing it?
But now I know you don't know what shirk is that is why you downplay it.
Anyways, this is shirk
http//video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7359195828637989025
You don't commit shirk, you believe in shirk. Its a theology not an act.
Good lecture. Please spread it around.
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Peace Bigmo.
How am I downplaying shirk when I am saying it is the greatest sin?
It is you who is not understanding what I said.
I have quoted , do you understand what it means?
check this also http//www.total-loyalty-to-god-alone.co.uk/website-pages/god-v-others/
Peace.
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Peace Bigmo.
How am I downplaying shirk when I am saying it is the greatest sin?
It is you who is not understanding what I said.
I have quoted , do you understand what it means?
check this also http//www.total-loyalty-to-god-alone.co.uk/website-pages/god-v-others/
Peace.
"Some do not even know they are committing " Shirk". So it can be vague!"
Shrik is not something someone can be involved in without knowing. It also is not something you just commit but its something you believe and accept. Its the theology behind the act that determines shirk and not just the act itself.
http//www.adf.org/articles/cosmology/discussing-pagan-theology.html
Norse creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_OBq865VjI&feature=related
Hinduism creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTy49JlgJZE
Ancient Egyptian creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNxZqINCyj4
Ancient Greek creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=75kDb2OqBWI&feature=related
The Incas creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayR4zAV43qk&feature=related
Germanic creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4-hnhqVPmw&feature=related
Shinto creation story.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxp_q46z0Q
Aboriginal creation story
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3XoYZgvEH8
Some native American creation story
Even a casual glance at these shirk theologies we can see its not something people can be involved in without knowing what they are getting into. Its certainly the furthest thing from vagueness you can ever imagine. No follower of shirk can ever defend himself. Its a mockery of the divine and nothing else.
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Peace Bigmo.
I disagree, some people practise " Shirk" but think they are guided.
Qoran confirms this.That is why" the majority who believe in God commit idol worship
Peace.