Does Islam Allow The Practice Of Slavery?! Muhammed Ali

Summary

In this video, a new Muslim convert shares his journey to Islam, describing his background as an African-American raised with Christian values. He expresses his doubts about Christianity, leading him to explore Islam, and eventually take the Shahada. The speaker answers the convert's question regarding the concept of 'Milku al Yamin' (right-hand possession), explaining how captives of war are treated in Islam. The speaker emphasizes that this practice differs from slavery and discusses the humane treatment and eventual freedom offered to captives. The conversation ends with the speaker offering guidance and support to the new Muslim.

Takeaways

• 😊 The speaker welcomes a new Muslim convert who comes from a Christian background and recently took the Shahada.
• 📖 The convert shares their journey to Islam, which began with questions about Christianity and the role of religion in African-American history.
• 🤔 The convert is curious about the Islamic concept of 'Milku al Yamin' (right-hand possession) and raises concerns about whether it involves adultery (Zina).
• 👩‍🏫 The speaker explains that 'Milku al Yamin' refers to captives of war, specifically those who were part of the enemy army, and clarifies that this is distinct from slavery.
• ⚖️ Multiple options exist for dealing with captives of war, including ransoming, exchanging, freeing them, or in some cases, 'Milku al Yamin'—but it is strictly regulated.
• 🍽️ The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized that captives should be treated humanely, fed the same food, and clothed with the same clothes as their captors, with physical harm strictly forbidden.
• 💰 Islam encourages the freeing of captives as a virtuous act, including through Zakat (mandatory alms) and as expiation for sins.
• 🛑 The speaker differentiates 'Milku al Yamin' from the historical Atlantic slave trade, noting that captives are not treated as property and their condition is not hereditary.
• ✋ The speaker highlights that it is forbidden in Islam to enslave free people or sell them, with the Prophet explicitly condemning such practices.
• 🙌 The convert expresses gratitude for the explanation and the speaker congratulates them on their journey to Islam, encouraging them to continue learning.

Q & A

What prompted the speaker to convert to Islam?

The speaker was raised in a Christian household but had questions about Christianity, such as the portrayal of God as a white man and contradictions in the Bible. His curiosity led him to explore Islam further, and after attending a Friday congregation (Jum'a), he felt that Islam was the truth. His natural inclination, or Fitra, led him to take the Shahada (declaration of faith).

What is 'Milku al Yamin' in Islam?

'Milku al Yamin' refers to captives of war, both men and women, who are taken by Muslim forces after a battle. These captives are not slaves in the traditional sense but are placed under the care of those who captured them. They are to be treated with respect, including being fed and clothed the same way as their captors.

How does 'Milku al Yamin' differ from traditional slavery?

Traditional slavery involves forcing someone to work without compensation and treating them as property. In contrast, 'Milku al Yamin' captives must be treated with dignity and are not considered property in the same sense. They have rights, can ransom themselves, and can go free. They cannot be overworked or mistreated.

What options do Muslim leaders have with captives of war?

Muslim leaders can decide between several options for captives: ransoming them, exchanging them for Muslim prisoners, freeing them, executing them if they pose a danger, or treating them as 'Milku al Yamin' (right-hand possession). The leader's decision is based on what is most beneficial for the Muslim community at the time.

Can Muslims take civilians as 'Milku al Yamin'?

No, Muslims cannot take civilians as 'Milku al Yamin'. Only those who are part of the enemy army and participated in the battle can be taken. Civilians who did not fight cannot be taken as captives.

Are captives in 'Milku al Yamin' treated like slaves in terms of inheritance?

No, 'Milku al Yamin' status is not inherited. If a captive has children, those children are not automatically considered captives or slaves. This is different from traditional slavery, where the status could be passed down to offspring.

Is it permissible to have intercourse with a 'Milku al Yamin' captive?

There is a scholarly opinion that limits this to captives who are Jewish or Christian women, but this is a matter of interpretation within Islamic law. Regardless, captives are to be treated with respect and human dignity.

How are 'Milku al Yamin' captives encouraged to gain their freedom?

Islam encourages freeing captives by making it an act of righteousness. Captives can ransom themselves, and Muslims are encouraged to help them financially to gain their freedom. Freeing captives is also a recommended act of charity (Zakat) and a way to expiate sins.

What happens if someone mistreats a 'Milku al Yamin'?

If a person mistreats their 'Milku al Yamin', such as overworking or hitting them, they are required to set them free. The Prophet Muhammad explicitly forbade mistreatment of captives, emphasizing their fair treatment.

What is the significance of freeing 'Milku al Yamin' in Islam?

Freeing 'Milku al Yamin' is seen as a virtuous and rewarding act in Islam. It is recommended in the Quran and Hadiths, and it is one of the ways Muslims can fulfill their obligation to pay Zakat (charity) and expiate sins. The system is designed to ultimately encourage the reduction or elimination of captives over time.

Outlines

00:00

😊 A Journey to Islam and Initial Questions

The conversation begins with a new Muslim convert discussing his journey to Islam. He shares how his background in Christianity and exposure to contradictions in the Bible led him to question his faith. Growing up in a multicultural environment, he was introduced to Islam through friends and eventually attended a Friday prayer (Jum'a). This experience, along with learning more about Islam, led him to take his Shahada (declaration of faith). Despite finding peace in Islam, he encountered Islamophobic content online that raised questions for him. He is particularly curious about a sensitive topic involving the treatment of women in war (Right Hand Possession or 'Milku al Yamin') and whether it conflicts with Islamic teachings on adultery (Zina). He feels that his local Imam's response did not fully address his concerns.

05:03

🤔 Understanding 'Milku al Yamin' (Right Hand Possession)

The speaker provides a detailed explanation of 'Milku al Yamin,' referring to captives taken during war, particularly women who accompanied the opposing army. These captives are distinct from the general civilian population. The speaker emphasizes that captives of war can be male or female and are not subject to the same conditions as historical slavery. The options for dealing with captives include ransoming them, exchanging them for Muslim prisoners, freeing them, or as a last resort, keeping them as 'Milku al Yamin.' The leader of the Muslim community decides the best course of action based on the situation at hand.

10:05

📜 Islamic Guidelines for Treating War Captives

The discussion continues with a focus on how Islam mandates the treatment of captives. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized treating captives with dignity: they must be fed and clothed like their captors and not overburdened with work. Additionally, Islam prohibits hitting captives, and they can secure their freedom through a process known as 'Mukataba' (a contract for freedom in exchange for payment). Islam also encourages freeing captives as an act of righteousness and includes it as a way to give charity (Zakat) or as an expiation for sins (Kaffara). Importantly, captives do not pass their status onto their descendants, and it is forbidden to enslave free people.

🤝 Clarifying Misconceptions on Captivity in Islam

The final paragraph clarifies a key distinction in Islamic rulings on captives. It is stressed that only those who actively participated in battle can be taken as captives; civilians uninvolved in combat are off-limits. The speaker acknowledges the listener's understanding and appreciates their engagement in learning more about Islam. The new convert expresses gratitude for the speaker's clear and comprehensive explanation and praises their work in educating both new Muslims and potential converts. The interaction ends on a positive note with mutual prayers for continued guidance and success in their faith journeys.

Keywords

💡Shahada

The Shahada is the Islamic declaration of faith, stating, 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.' In the script, the speaker describes how they took their Shahada after becoming curious about Islam and attending a Jum'a (Friday prayer), marking their official conversion to the religion. It symbolizes the entry into the fold of Islam, signifying belief in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad.

💡Zina

Zina refers to unlawful sexual relations in Islam, including adultery and fornication. In the transcript, the speaker questions whether engaging with women taken as captives of war would be considered Zina since Islam forbids extramarital relations. The speaker's confusion arises from hearing that war captives could be taken into possession and treated differently, and they seek clarification on how this aligns with Islamic teachings on Zina.

💡Milku al Yamin

Milku al Yamin refers to captives or those in 'right-hand possession' in Islamic jurisprudence, primarily during the context of war. The term is explained in detail to the speaker, distinguishing it from slavery. It applies to individuals captured in war, including both men and women, and outlines the Islamic rules and humane treatment these captives must receive. The concept is central to the discussion on how Islam treats captives and the limits of interaction, including prohibitions on abuse.

💡Jum'a

Jum'a refers to the weekly Friday congregational prayer that holds special significance in Islam. The speaker mentions attending Jum'a with a friend at a mosque, where they heard a sermon (Khutbah). This event played a role in their deeper engagement with Islam, contributing to their decision to eventually convert. Jum'a is an essential part of Muslim practice and often serves as a community gathering point.

💡Fitra

Fitra is an Islamic concept meaning the natural, innate disposition of human beings to recognize and submit to the truth of God. The speaker refers to Fitra when describing how they felt a natural pull toward Islam during their exploration of the faith, feeling as though it was the truth revealed to them. This concept is used in the script to highlight the idea that Islam resonates with one's natural instincts or inherent sense of truth.

💡Kaffara

Kaffara refers to the act of expiation or making amends for sins in Islam, often through good deeds or charitable acts. In the script, Kaffara is mentioned in the context of freeing captives (Milku al Yamin) as a way to atone for one's sins. This highlights the broader theme in Islam of redemption and the ethical treatment of captives, offering pathways for both captor and captive to seek forgiveness and improvement.

💡Islamophobia

Islamophobia refers to prejudice, hatred, or fear of Islam and Muslims. In the script, the speaker talks about encountering Islamophobic content online, where critics raise questions or doubts about Islam's teachings. Although the speaker notes that these doubts do not shake their faith, they recognize that such content often misrepresents Islamic beliefs to generate negative perceptions. The term is essential in understanding external pressures faced by converts or Muslims in general.

💡Imam

An Imam is a Muslim religious leader who leads prayers and provides guidance to the community. In the script, the speaker mentions asking an Imam about their doubts regarding the treatment of captives in Islam. While the Imam’s answer did not fully satisfy them, prompting further exploration, this highlights the role of Imams as key figures in providing religious interpretation and support for Muslims, especially new converts.

💡Khutbah

A Khutbah is a sermon delivered during the Friday Jum'a prayer in Islam. The speaker recalls attending a Jum'a where they heard a Khutbah that resonated with them but did not answer all their questions about Islam. This illustrates the educational role that Khutbahs play in guiding and instructing the Muslim community, particularly in encouraging spiritual reflection and understanding.

💡Right-Hand Possession

Right-Hand Possession is another term for Milku al Yamin, referring to captives taken during war under Islamic law. In the script, it is discussed extensively to clarify that it is not the same as slavery. The concept is nuanced, with captives being granted specific rights and protections, such as humane treatment, food, clothing, and the option to ransom or free themselves. This term is central to the speaker's inquiry about Islamic ethics during war and the rights of captives.

Highlights

Introduction of a recent Muslim convert sharing his journey into Islam, expressing curiosity about the faith and his motivations for taking the Shahada.

The speaker emphasizes the common experience of African-Americans who feel Christianity was used to subjugate their ancestors, leading to a spiritual search and eventual conversion to Islam.

The convert's experience of attending Jum'a (Friday prayer) for the first time with a Muslim friend, where he unexpectedly decided to take his Shahada, marking a pivotal moment in his life.

Despite converting to Islam, the convert encounters Islamophobic content online, which raises questions, but his faith remains unshaken. He seeks answers from an Imam regarding Islamic practices during wartime.

The concept of 'Milku al Yamin' (Right Hand Possession) is introduced, with the speaker explaining that it refers to captives of war, not civilians, and cannot be equated to slavery as it was historically practiced in the West.

The speaker elaborates on the options for dealing with captives of war in Islam, including ransom, exchange, freeing them, or utilizing 'Milku al Yamin,' which involves humane treatment with food, clothing, and the possibility of eventual freedom.

The speaker distinguishes Islamic war captives from slavery by highlighting that captives are not considered property, are not subject to inheritance, and have the right to seek freedom through a process called Mukataba (contract of freedom).

Islam explicitly encourages freeing captives as a righteous act, and it is even a recommended way to spend Zakat (mandatory alms-giving) or expiate sins.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) forbade overburdening or mistreating captives, and if a Muslim hits a captive, they must set them free, reflecting a significant departure from the brutality associated with historical slavery.

The speaker addresses the misconception that Islam allows taking women as captives from civilian populations. He clarifies that only women who participated in battle alongside their army were considered captives.

A major point emphasized is that captives in Islam are not inherited, unlike slaves in other systems, and the child of a captive is not automatically a captive.

The Quran explicitly promotes the act of freeing captives as a moral obligation, reinforcing that Islam advocates for justice and humane treatment of prisoners.

The convert expresses his satisfaction with the speaker's detailed explanation, noting that it cleared up his concerns and helped solidify his understanding of Islamic teachings.

The speaker concludes by encouraging the new convert, expressing joy and praise for his conversion to Islam and the journey he has embarked upon.

The interaction ends with mutual prayers and well-wishes, emphasizing brotherhood and community support for new Muslims in their faith journey.

Transcripts

– How are you? – Alssalam 'alaykum السلام عليكم (peace be upon you)

– I'm good – Wa 'alaykum assalam وعليكم السلام (peace be upon you too), so you're a Muslim yeah?

I am.. I recently took my Shahada but..

– Alhamdulillah الحمد لله (All praise is due to God) – I had some questions and I watch your Channel all the time

It's good I left you for the end then because you're a Muslim

Yeah I didn't know if I was gonna get kicked off for being a Muslim but I thought I might take the chance

No I'll let you go you've been waiting for like an hour or something

I cannot just kick you out.. My heart is too soft

Well yeah.. so I come from a Christian background..

I took my Shahada after just being curious about Islam

I had a lot of questions about Christianity

My father raised us like.. We're from New York you know there's a large Muslim Community in New York

And he had a lot of friends that didn't eat pork, didn't do a lot of certain things and he kind of instilled that in us

So I kind of had like a very foundational knowledge of Islam

So, looking into it further after thinking.. why is god a white guy? why does the Bible have all these contradictions in it?

If this is from God, why is it like this?

And me being African-American, I learned history about the Bible being forced on my people to subjugate us more easily.. you know what I mean

A lot of these things had me questioning Christianity

So I looked into Islam a bit.. my friend who has a Muslim friend invited him to come to the mosque

He was nervous so he's like: Raekwon, you want to come with me? we go for Jum'a (Friday congregation)

The Khotba (Sermon) was very insightful but I didn't learn a lot more. But the Fitra (natural instinct) in me I would say caused me to.. I think this is the Truth!

I didn't come with the intentions to convert, but one of the brothers said we have two new converts willing to take their Shahada

And I'm like.. I wonder who those guys are?

So I end up taking it and I've been learning more and more as time goes by

And the more I learn Alhamdulillah, it's like revealed to me this is the truth. I can't find anything that makes me think that this may not be the Truth

However, recently I came across something, you know there's a lot of Islamophobic YouTubers and stuff

It doesn't shake my faith because it's.. they are things that are just like "oh what about this?", "what about this?"

and it's not like.. does that break the religion? does that make it not true? you know what I mean?

But, say for instance this one thing that I came across that I asked my Imam (Muslim religious leader) about

but I wasn't really satisfied with the answer so that's why I'm here

In terms of.. I believe it was the Prophet'sﷺ Companion

They were on some sort of a war or some battle or something.. let me just paraphrase it

The Arab women.. they were allowed to take them in their Right Hand and possess them in their Right Hand

And have intercourse with them even though it says they were missing their wives.. they were without their wives

But my question is you know Zina (adultery) is forbidden, would that not be considered Zina?

– Why? My Imam told me.. – OK, I get you question

It's OK, I don't blame the Imam maybe he's not equipped probably to deal with this question

Some Imams are not.. because these are more of an Islamophobic doubts that the average Muslim usually does not encounter

You have to kind of misrepresent certain things and put them in a certain light in order for it to be a question

But it's interesting what you said, I just wanted to comment on what you said first, we welcome you to Islam, we're happy, Alhamdulillah you're a Muslim

And I just wanted to comment on an interesting thing you said about God being a white man

Because you see that, as you said, if you read the history you know that the religion was enforced on the African people

I'm North African, I'm an Arab, I'm North African still, right!

How the religion was enforced on the people

Now what I find funny always and what I say to the people is that look..

The white men have enforced the religion on the African people

And now the white man himself left the religion and you have the African people defending a religion that the white man left that was enforced on them

So for me this is like.. what's going on? they enforced the religion on you and they themselves they don't want it anymore they left it

And now even though you were enforced, you are the one who's defending it.. so for me it's like crazy!

Now to deal with your question, because that's a common question and I wanted to make a video about this

So we'll make just this video as the video about it.. to explain this

So there is something in Islam called "Milku al Yamin". In Islam, it is "Right Hand Possession"

Now there's a huge difference.. and this is what Islamophobes try to do

They try to compare slavery to "Milku al Yamin", they try to say that these two things are the same thing

Now can you define for me what slavery is? because I want to expound on this topic

– What do you consider as slavery? What is slavery? – Slavery is forcing somebody into work with no compensation and no benefit towards them

OK excellent and they have no freedom to to escape as well,right?

No

And they are considered.. property yes. They're considered a property of that person so this is the definition of Slavery

If this is the definition of slavery, then this does not exist in Islam to put it completely simply

Now talking about "Milku al Yamin", how can you have "Milku al Yamin" in Islam?

Milk Al Yamin are captives of war, people who are taken in war when you're fighting against another army, the women that came with the army

So it's not like Muslims can defeat an army and then go into the city and take the women, that's not the case

The women that came with the fighting army, because the army used to come, the women would be in the back.

They would have tents in the back and things like that and the army goes and fights

So the women who come with the army. Some do not come, they stay in the city and some women come with the army, they come with their husbands etc..

The women who came with the army, some of them they use arrows and bows as well to fight

Some of them are for healing.. they deal with the sick and all of that, there are many reasons

So the women that come to fight in the war are the ones who are taken captives, but not only the women, also the men

So "Milku al Yamin" can be a man or a woman it's not just women, it can be both. So it's a captive of war that is taken

Now the question is when there is a war and we take captives

Do we have to make them all -this is a starting thing that I want to talk about- do we have to make them all "Milku al Yamin"?

The answer is no! The Quran says that there are options.

Who determines which option to take? the leader of the Muslim at the time

For what he sees as most fit for the situation, most beneficial situation of the Muslims he makes that decision

What what are these options?

1/ You can ransom them, send them to the enemy and then get money

2/ Or you can exchange them with other prisoners, you can send them and get some from the Muslim prisoners that were taken – OK

3/ And you can let them go free, completely,

like the prophetﷺ what he did at the conquest of Mecca when he took the captives of the conquest of Mecca he let them go free

4/ Or you can even kill them because those people were coming to kill you to begin with, so there is no doubt that they were coming to take your life

And at that time there was no prisons, so you can say another option is to put them in prison there was no prison to put them in a prison or something

5/ So these are the options and the last one is "Milku al Yamin"

Now the leader of the Muslims, he looks at the situation of the Muslims, what do we need the most?

Maybe there's a lot of prisoners that are taken so let's exchange prisoners, maybe you need money now so let's ransom them for money

So he looks what is the best situation, and then he behaves based on that

Now those people who are taken as "Milku al Yamin", how are they dealt with in Islam?

First thing the prophetﷺ he said

I want to say also that many scholars or a lot of scholars believe you cannot have intercourse with "Milku al Yamin" if that woman is not a Jew or a Christian

You also stipulate that that woman has to be from a Jewish or Christian religion, that's a big opinion that is taken in a lot of the schools of thought

But, moving forward, how do you deal with those people that are taken as captives of war?

Because they're taken as captives of war, it is a punishment for them that they are captives of war, so there are certain duties and jobs that they need to do

So they will work.. they will serve.. whoever that person that's taken them

But in return the prophetﷺ said: that you have to feed them from the same food that you eat, you have to clothe them from the same clothing that you wear

You cannot overburden them in work. If you overburden them in work, then you have to help them in the work OK?

OK

And the prophetﷺ he said you cannot hit them.. in fact if you hit them, you have to let them go free, they're no longer your "Milku al Yamin"

It's not like slavery, Atlantic slavery, and beating slaves and all of that. There's no such thing

And they can go free by ransoming themselves

So what they can do is they can go to a judge, and give an amount of money, there is something called مُكاتبة Mukataba

And they say to the judge I want to go free and they give him the amount of money and then go free

In fact the Quran commands or recommends that the person who has "Milku al Yamin" to help "Milku al Yamin" to ransom

If he needs money to help them finance it as well to go free

So this is how they're dealt with in Islam

Also, this idea of"Milku al Yamin" is not inherited, not like slavery was inherited.. if the father is a slave and has a son, the son is also slave

No, in Islam "Milku al Yamin" is not inherited to the next generation

It's just that person because that next generation is not responsible, the person who's taken as a captive of war is the one who is "Milku al Yamin"

The next generation that if a child is newly born, that child is not inherited, he's not also a"Milku al Yamin" as his mother was "Milku al Yamin"

Not only that, Islam commands explicitly to free "Milku al Yamin". Allah says this is a good deed to do

So Allahﷻ says in the Quran (Albalad90:11-13) وَمَاۤ أَدۡرَاكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ (what would make you know what the good way is?)

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ (freeing "Milku al Yamin")

That's the good way, that's the righteous way, you get rewarded for it

Not only that it's one of the ways to give زكاة (Zakat: mandatory alms-giving). You know every Muslim has to pay Zakah

One of the things that you do in paying the Zakah is to free "Milku al Yamin"

Not only that, when you commit a sin there's something called the Expiation of Sins (Kaffara)

So if I make a sin and I want to expiate the sin, a way to expiate the sin is to let that "Milku al Yamin" go

So Allah has made all of these options to free them, which will in the end anyways result in no longer having any "Milku al Yamin"

Not only that, unlike slavery you cannot take a free person and make him a servant

In fact the prophetﷺ he said to us "Allah is the enemy of 3 people"

And one of them is a person who takes a free person and he sells him as a slave, that's completely prohibited in Islam

The only way that can happen is in war, people who were coming to fight you in war, they were coming to kill you

And one of the options that can be done is "Milku al Yamin"

And if that option is done, then that person you have to treat him like you're treating your family literally

by clothing them and feeding them from what you have, and they can go free

But it's a punishment for them that they have to serve you, it's a kind of a community service, today they have the jail and community service..

It's a form of service that you will do to that individual

And this is, I would say, the kind of a comprehensive analysis of this idea of "Milku al Yamin"

Yeah, that was very comprehensive and so just to make sure that I understand it completely

If you have two warring parties, one is Muslim, the other is non-Muslim and they send their armies out in the middle to fight each other and the Muslims prevail

They can take the captives of those who didn't die as "Milku al Yamin"

But they're not allowed to invade the enemy nation that didn't fight and take their civilian populace as "Milku al Yamin"

No no, once they defeat the army, they already took the the land now

So let's assume.. we are going to fight let's say America, we defeat the American army so now we have the government of America

Now we cannot take the civilians of American population, who didn't come with the Army, this is what I'm saying

We cannot take those civilians who didn't come with the Army and take them as "Milku al Yamin", that's not the case, no

The people who came in the war to fight you

OK, that makes sense.. you explained it.. I knew it.. I knew when I come on here you're going to answer it the best way possible

No problem

That's all I had but.. like I said I very much appreciate what you've been doing I watch you guys all the time

Well.. I watch you all the time, your debates, I started off with.. Speaker's Corner

– I was like wow, this guy is really just on the ball man! – Jazak Allah khir جزاك الله خير (may God reward you [with] goodness)

MashaAllah ما شاء الله (God has willed it), you're doing a lot very good deeds for Muslims, new Muslims like me and potential Muslims as well

– I congratulate you for doing, Jazak Allah khir, and keep up the good work – May Allah accept

Ameen, ameen. May Allah accept. Jazak Allah khir Brother for coming

Barka Allah fik بارك الله فيك (may God bless you)