In the Koran,Muslim Men and Women,besides being Equal in Good Deeds,are also Equal in that they can be the Slaves of Another Muslim

Muslim Men and Women are Equal in the Koran

That is what you read in the Muslim literature.They cite 3 passages from the Koran.They do not cite passages which are contrary but that is another subject.Those passages say:

Muslim Women who do Good are Equal to Muslim Men who do Good and go to Paradise

Example 1:

Chapter 4:124:

“But he who does good works, be it male or female, and believes, they willl enter into Paradise, and they will not be wronged a jot.”

Example 2:

Chapter 16:97:

“And whoever does a righteous deed, be it male or female, believing, We will assuredly give him to live a goodly life; and We will recompense them their wage, according to the best of what they did.”

Example 3:

Chapter 40:40:

“Whoever does an evil deed will be recompensed only with the like of it, but whoever does a righteous deed, be it male or female, believing, those will enter Paradise, therein provided without reckoning.”

There is Another Way in which Muslim Men and Women are Equal

First,a Muslim Woman can be the Slave of a Muslim Man

Chapter 4:25:

“Any one of you who has not the affluence to be able to marry believing freewomen in wedlock, let him take believing handmaids(Note:Muslim women) that your right hands own(Note:a slave); God knows very well your faith; the one of you is as the other.

So marry them, with their people’s leave, and give them their wages honourably as women in wedlock, not as in licence or taking lovers. But when they are in wedlock, if they commit indecency, they will be liable to half the chastisement of freewomen. That provision is for those of you who fear fornication; yet it is better for you to be patient. God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.”

But that is Not All

A Muslim Man can also be the Slave of another Muslim

So besides being equal,according to the Koran,in good deeds,a Muslim man and woman are equal in the sense that they can both equally be the slave of another Muslim.

Example 1

Chapter 4:92:

“It belongs not to a believer to slay a believer, except it be by error.If any slays a believer by error, then:

1.Let him set free a believing slave(Note:a Muslim slave), and bloodwit is to be paid to his family unless they forgo it as a freewill offering.

2.If he belong to a people at enmity with you and is a believer(Note:a Muslim), let the slayer set free a believing slave(Note:a Muslim slave).

3.If he belong to a people joined with you by a compact, then bloodwit is to be paid to his family and the slayer will set free a believing slave. But if he finds not the means, let him fast two successive months,God’s turning; God is All-knowing, All-wise.”

Example 2

Chapter 2:221:

“Do not marry idolatresses(Note:like a Hindu woman), until they believe; a believing slavegirl(Note:a Muslim slave woman) is better than an idolatress, though you may admire her.

And do not marry idolaters, until they believe. A believing slave(Note:a Muslim slave man) is better than an idolater, though you may admire him. Those call to the Fire; and God calls to Paradise, and pardon, by His leave, and He makes clear His signs to the people; haply they will remember.”

The Case of the Devshirme

For some 300 years from mostly from 1330-1630 some 500,000 or even 1 million Christian children were taken from their Christian parents in the Ottoman Empire between ages 8-12 (sometimes older) and forced to become Muslim.And they were also forced to become soldiers for the Sultan and legally they were the slaves of the Sultan.…..even though they were Muslim.Read:

http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~amcdouga/Hist323/Readings/reading%20devshirme_system.htm

http://i-cias.com/e.o/devsirme.htm

http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2010/09/devshirme-muslim-scourge-on-christians.html

The Case of the Mamluks

They were male slaves,usually non-Muslim men who became Muslim because it was to their advantage,who were the soldiers of Muslim rulers.And they were slaves,having been captured and bought,most of them being white.Read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamluk

So as you can see for hundreds of years Muslim men have been the slaves of other Muslim men,it is approved in the Koran.

“You are taking it out of Context!”

That is the accusation made by Muslims and some non-Muslims.They mean to say:”There is something in the Koran that limits the slavery passages to the 23 year career of Muhammad,who died in 632.”

Not according to Muhammad’s closest Companions

In reality there is nothing that limits it to Muhammad’s life.Slavery has been part of Islamic law for some 1300 years and the first 4 caliphs of Islam were friends and even relatives of Muhammad:

1.Abu Bekr:his father-in-law (ruled 632-634)

2.Omar (ruled 634-644,assasinated)

3.Othman (ruled 644-656,assasinated)

4.Ali:cousin and son-in-law (ruled 656-661,assasinated)

They all,as far as we can tell,approved of enslaving others.

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