Ibn Warraq - Why I Am Not a Muslim

Arab Imperialism, Islamic Colonialism 203
SLAVERY
To the Muslims—as to the people of every other civilisation known to history—
the civilised world meant themselves. They alone possessed enlightenment and
the true faith; the outside world was inhabited by infidels and barbarians. Some
of these were recognized as possessing some form of religion and a tincture
of civilisation. The remainder—polytheists and idolaters—were seen primarily
as sources of slaves. 421
The Koran accepts the institution of slavery and recognizes the essential inequality
of master and slave (suras 16.77; 30.28). Concubinage is permitted (suras 4.3;
23.6; 33.50-52; 70.30). The Koran also enjoins kindness towards slaves, and the
liberation of a slave is considered a pious act. The Prophet himself took many
prisoners during his wars against the Arab tribes; those that were not ransomed
were reduced to slavery.
Under Islam, slaves have no legal rights whatsoever, they are considered as
mere "things," the property of their master, who may dispose of them in any
way he chooses—sale, gift, etc. Slaves cannot be guardians or testamentary
executors, and what they earn belongs to their owner. A slave cannot give evidence
in a court of law. Even conversion to Islam by a non-Muslim slave does not
mean that he is automatically liberated. There is no obligation on the part of
the owner to free him.
In the early years of the Arab conquests, vast numbers of slaves were acquired
by capture; "the use of this labor enabled the Arabs to live on the conquered
land as a rentier class and to exploit some of the economic potential of the rich
Fertile Crescent," 422 But as the conquered peoples began to be given protected
status, this source of slaves began to dry up, and Arabs looked farther afield
for their supply of slaves. Certain vassal states were annually forced to supply
hundreds of male and female slaves as part of a tribute.
Arabs were deeply involved in the vast network of slavetrading—they scoured
the slave markets of China, India, and Southeast Asia. There were Turkish slaves
from Central Asia, slaves from the Byzantine Empire, white slaves from Central
and East Europe, and black slaves from West Africa and East Africa. Every
city in the Islamic world had its slave market.
From the moment of their capture to the time of their sale, hundreds of
slaves were forced to put up with degrading and inhuman conditions, and hundreds
died of exhaustion and disease. The "lucky" ones became domestic servants, while
the unlucky ones were exploited to the maximum working in the salt mines,
draining the marshes, working in the cotton and sugar plantations.
Though the practice was expressly forbidden by Islam, the female slaves were
hired out as prostitutes. Otherwise, of course, they were at the entire sexual disposal
of their master. In the words of Stanley Lane-Pool: 423