We often see criticism especially in atheist forums and debates that the Qur’an does not forbid slavery and even legitimizes this by showing evidence of verses related to slavery. Is the situation really as the Qur’an opponents think?… Let’s examine this.

In the Qur’an, when we examine the verses related to slavery or people in this situation one by one, we see clearly that Allah has never shown slavery legitimate through the Quran channel. This is much clearer when we list and explain the relevant verses in the following section. It is necessary to emphasize the reasons for this resident perception. Because how is this inhumane application which is inexcusable in Qur’an and took place many civilized (!) countries until recently found its way into the Islam practice?

We can also find the answer to this question by looking into the declaration of the domination of the Arabic orthodox ecoles before Qur’an written in the sources other than Qur’an. Just as there are many misunderstandings and malpractice on this site, even though the reality itself is exactly the opposite, as if the Qur’an was at least not opposed to slavery feeling was appeared.

The morality of the Qur’an is, at first, stand against all idol/tagut/master domination. It is unthinkable that Qur’an which leads people to live according to the creation and with honor and foresee love, mercy and peace in the community pardons the slavery… Let us now examine the verses in which slavery is concerned. an-Nahl Surah verse 75 is the most used by the opposition of Qur’an… The explanation of this verse in two ways is as follows:

Edip Yüksel: God cites the example of a bonded slave, who has no power over anything; and someone to whom We have given plentiful provision, from which he gives secretly and openly. Are they equal in comparison? All praise belongs to God, but most of them do not know.

Yaşar Nuri Öztürk : Allah gave an example: A slave, who has no power over anything, an item of someone and someone to whom We have given plentiful provision, from which he gives secretly and openly. Are they the same?! All praise belongs to God, but most of them do not know this.

As you can see, the verse is very clear and in no way does neither the slavery is legitimate, nor is it open to misunderstanding in this sense. The logic mistake that the Qur’an opponents do not understand is this; The fact that the Quran speaks of any subject does not legitimize that subject. Indeed, the Koran encourages believers to establish various possibilities for the slaves in the hands of non-Muslims in every situation and possibly.

And let’s look at “al-Baqarah verse 221;”

Do not marry idolatresses, unless they have believed. A believing maid is better than an idolatress, even if you like her. And do not marry idolaters, unless they have believed. A believing servant is better than an idolater, even if you like him. These call to the Fire, but God calls to the Garden and to forgiveness, by His leave. He makes clear His communications to the people, that they may be mindful. (al-Baqarah, 221)

I read tons of articles claiming that concubinage and slavery is legitimized by looking at the verse and based on the “believing maid” sentence. We will understand that a mistake is being made when the text of the verse is written:

Slaves are more propitious than the masters

“Eme/concubine and abd/slave” expressions with “and conjunction” connects to “müşrikatun” and “müşrikiyn” expressions. When it comes to comparison, it turns out that these “concubines and slaves” are concubines and slaves in the hands of the polytheists. In fact, the correct expression should be;

The “prisoners” who have faith among “the concubines and slaves in their hands” are better compared to the idolatresses…

Let alone legitimatizing the slavery, this verse which assumes the “slaves of the polytheists better than their masters” is said to be the verse which legitimizes the slavery in many atheist platform. In this regard, let’s give two different interpretations again.

Edip Yüksel : Do not marry idolatresses, unless they have believed. A believing maid is better than an idolatress, even if you like her. And do make your daughters marry idolaters, unless they have believed. A believing servant is better than an idolater, even if you like him… These call to the Fire, but God calls to the heaven and to forgiveness. He makes clear His communications to the people, that they may be mindful.

Yaşar Nuri Öztürk : Do not marry idolatresses, unless they have believed. A believing women who doesn’t have her freedom is better than an idolatress, even if you like idolatresses. And do not marry idolaters, unless they have believed. A believing slave is better than an idolater, even if you like him. These polytheists call to the Fire, but God calls to the heaven and to forgiveness, by His leave. He makes clear His communications to the people, that they may be mindful.

As it is plainly seen, there is no such expression in these verses that justifies or overlooks slavery that the Qur’an’s opponents believe. Criteria of choosing spouses for believers before marriage are explained by comparison…

While Allah ordered his messenger who was sent to humanity as an example not to make other people slave/servant to him, saying that there is slavery in the Qur’an is really an abduction of reason.

Ali İmran verse 79…

No man, whom Allah has given book, wisdom and prophethood to him, will call on the people to say: ‘Worship me after Allah.’ On the contrary, he says, ‘Become servants who devote themselves to your Lord according to the book you have learned and taught.’

In other words, it is a great mistake to assume that the slavery is legitimatized in a text that ordered that no one, including the prophet, can even speak of slavery.

The Qur’an, which absolutely forbids slavery, determines the superiority and the rating criteria of the people as devotion. According to this, people will be judged not according to their race, color or other characteristics but merely according their virtue/devotion.

O people! We created you from a male and a female, and made you races and tribes, that you may know one another. The best among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is All-Knowing, Well-Experienced ……. (al-Huhurad Surah, 13)

One of the most important reasons for the fact that slavery is in the Qur’an is the effect of the Arab Middle East cult which has always been complained. The meaning writers who were influenced by this reactionary and fundamentalist ecole changed some words not original in the Qur’an into slaves or concubines, and they made a very grave mistake. Instead of looking at the events and other sources by centering Qur’an, they placed the mistakes in these weak and faulty sources inside the Qur’an….Like there is no such a thing regarding marriage with girls at young age or beating women… One of the most important mistakes of this kind is the 32nd verse of an-Nur Surah …

Yaşar Nuri Öztürk : Wed the singles among you, and those who are fit among your servants and maids. If they are poor, God will enrich them from His bounty. God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.

Edip Yüksel : Wed the singles and virtuous servants and maids among you. If they are poor, God will enrich them from His bounty. God is All-Encompassing.

By adding slave and concubine to this verse which are not in the original text is a mistake… Briefly speaking, the Qur’an never legitimizes the master – slave relationship among people. All humanity is servant of Allah. There can never be master-slave discrimination among people. The Qur’an encourages even non-believer communities and people to free their slaves…al-Balad Surah 12th and 13th verse…

Righteousness does not consist of turning your faces towards the East and the West. But righteous is he who believes in God, and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Scripture, and the prophets. Who gives money, though dear, to near relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the homeless, and the beggars, and for the freeing of slaves; those who perform the prayers, and pay the obligatory charity, and fulfill their promise when they promise, and patiently persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and in the time of conflict. These are the sincere; these are the pious.. (al-Baqarah Surah, 177)