The slave verses in the Hebrew Bible and the Kur'an

1° The slave verses in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) :

Books of the Torah

« Then you shall take an awl and pierce his ear against the door, and he shall be your servant forever. You shall do the same for your handmaid. » (Deuteronomy 15:17)

« Then his master will lead him before God, and bring him near to the door or the post, and his master will pierce his ear with a punch, and the slave shall serve him forever. » (Exodus, 21:6)

« You will leave them as an inheritance to your children after you, as property ; you will keep them as slaves for ever. But concerning your brethren, the children of Israel, none of you shall rule hard over his brother. » (Leviticus 25:46)

Book of Proverbs

« No slave is punished by words ; even if he understands, he does not obey. » (Proverbs 29:19)

2° The slave verses in the Qur'an :

Meccan Suras

« Allah has favored some of you over others in the [distribution] of his gifts. Those who have been favored are in no way willing to give their portion to those they possess by right [slaves] to the point that they become associated with it equally. Will they deny the blessings of Allah ? » (Qur'an 16:71)

« Allah proposes in parable a slave belonging [to his master], without any power, and a man to whom we have granted from us a good attribution which he spends in secret and in public. [Are these two men] equal ? Praise be to Allah ! But most of them do not know. » (Qur'an 16:75)

"[...] if it is only with their wives or slaves that they possess, for there truly cannot be blamed. » (Qur'an 23:6)

"They said :  « Let us believe in two men like us, whose fellow men are our slaves. »" (Qur'an 23:47)

"He quoted to you a parable of yourselves : Did you associate your slaves with what we have attributed to you so that you are all equal [in property rights] and that you fear them [as much] as you fear each other ? This is how We expose our verses to people who reason." (Qur'an 30:28)

"[...] and have no relation except with their wives or the slaves they possess because in this case they are not blameworthy." (Qur'an 70:30) (a)

(a) posterior addition

Medieval Suras

"And do not marry women associates until they have faith, and certainly a believing slave is better than an associate, even if she delights you. And do not give wives to associators until they have faith, and certainly a believing slave is better than an associator even if he delights you." (Qur'an 2:221)

"It is permissible to marry two, three or four of the women whom you please, but if you fear not to be righteous with them, then only one, or slaves whom you possess". (Qur'an 4:3)

"[...] and among the women, the ladies (who have a husband), unless they are your slaves in all property. Prescription of Allah on you! (Qur'an 4:24)

We can see in this verse a reminder of an earlier text, a verse of the Torah, in Leviticus 25:46.

« And whoever among you does not have the means to marry free women (not slaves) believers, well (he may marry) a woman among those of your believing slaves. Allah knows your faith better, for you are of one another (of the same religion). And marry them with the permission of their masters (Waliy) and give them a suitable mahr ; (marry them) being virtuous and not given to debauchery nor having clandestine lovers. If, once engaged in marriage, they commit adultery, they receive half of the punishment that belongs to the free (non-slave) married women. This is permitted to one of you who fears debauchery ; but it would be better for you to be enduring. » (Qur'an, 4:25)

« The wife has no right to oppose her husband to possess female slaves and to have [sexual] intercourse with them [to rape them]. And Allah knows best. » (Qur'an 5:43)

«This (punishment), for that which your hands have done." And Allah is not unjust toward slaves. » (Qur'an 8:51)

« And tell the believers to look down, to keep their chastity, and to show their attire only as they appear, and to cast down their veil upon their breasts ; and let them show their attire only to their husbands, [...] or to the slaves whom they possess [...] » (Qur'an 24:31)

« Marry the unmarried between you and the good among your slaves, men and women. » (Qur'an 24:32)

« Those of your slaves who seek a contract of deliverance, enter into this contract with them if you recognize good in them; and give them the goods of Allah which He has bestowed upon you. And in your search for the fleeting profits of present life, do not compel your women slaves to prostitution, if they want to remain chaste. If they are compelled to do so, Allah grants them, after they have been compelled, His forgiveness and mercy. » (Qur'an 24:33)

« O you who believed ! Let the slaves you possess ask your permission before entering, as well as those of yours who have not yet reached puberty, at three times: before the Salat of dawn, at noon when you take off your clothes, as well as after the Salat of the night [...] » (Qur'an 24:58)

« O Prophet, O Prophet ! We have made lawful your wives, to whom you have given their mahr (dowry), which you have lawfully possessed among the captives [or slaves] whom Allah has destined for you, the daughters of your paternal uncle, the daughters of your paternal aunts, the daughters of your maternal uncle, and the daughters of your maternal aunts, - those who had emigrated in your company, - as well as any believing woman if she gives her person to the Prophet, provided that the Prophet consents to marry her : this is a privilege for you, to the exclusion of other believers. We certainly know what we have imposed on them concerning their wives and the slaves they possess, so that he may not have any blame against you. » (Qur'an 33:50)

« It is no longer permissible for you to take [other] women, or to change wives, even if their beauty pleases you ; - except for the slaves you possess. » (Qur'an 33:52)

« There is no complaint against them concerning their fathers, their sons, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, their wives [immediately] and the slaves they possess. » (Qur'an 33:55)

Article written by Pascal Bourdaloue