Islamic views on slavery

Various Islamic groups or thinkers have espoused views on slavery which have been radically different throughout history. Slavery was a mainstay of life in pre-Islamic Arabia and surrounding lands. The Quran and the hadith (sayings of Muhammad) address slavery extensively, assuming its existence as part of society but viewing it as an exceptional condition and restricting its scope. Islamic sources indicate that Muhammad acquired slaves through purchases, gifts, and war spoils. Although many hadiths encourage kindness toward the enslaved, critics argue that his direct ownership and involvement in the slave trade validate the institution within Islam.

Early Islam forbade enslavement of dhimmis, the free members of Islamic society, including non-Muslims and set out to regulate and improve the conditions of human bondage. Islamic law regarded as legal slaves only those non-Muslims who were imprisoned or bought beyond the borders of Islamic rule, or the sons and daughters of slaves already in captivity. In later classical Islamic law, the topic of slavery is covered at great length.

Slavery in Islamic law is not based on race or ethnicity. Caucasians and Central Asians formed the majority of imported slaves until the 10th to 13th centuries, when they were surpassed by the number of black African slaves.