Human Trafficking and Islam

Recently, the U.S. State Department has criticized Muslin countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia for their lack of efforts fighting human trafficking.  Coupled with the cultural divide between Westerners and Muslims, this criticism has posed some questions about Islam and human trafficking.   Is human trafficking a bigger problem in Muslim nations? Does Islam support or condone slavery in any form?  What should a good Muslim do about human trafficking?

First, human trafficking is a problem everywhere.  Sure, some Muslim countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia are not doing enough to combat human trafficking.  But neither are countries like Burma (mostly Buddhist), Swaziland (mostly Christian), India (mostly Hindu), and North Korea (officially atheist).  Human trafficking has been found in countries with democratic governments, autocratic governments, secular governments, and religious governments of all faiths.   So, no, being a Muslim country does not necessarily mean an increase in human trafficking activity.  Additionally, some Muslim countries like Jordan, Morocco, and Oman are doing pretty well in combating trafficking, indicating Muslim countries can effectively reduce human trafficking when they choose to.

But does Islam support slavery?  I'm neither a Muslim nor a religious scholar, but from my research I've found the answer to be "no".   Religious texts throughout the ages, including the Bible, Torah, and Quran have been used and interpreted to support slavery, but modern-day Quranic scholars agree with Christian and Jewish scholars that, no, slavery is not permissible.  Habib Siddiqui of The American Muslim points out the one of the Quran's specific condemnation of slavery,

“It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given him the Scripture and wisdom and ‘Nabuwah’ (Prophethood) that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah …” [3:79]

Muslim religious tradition is also rich with promises of rewards for people who value the freedom of others on earth, including specific promises of heaven for those who “Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom).”  However, just like Christian slave-traders of the 18th and 19th centuries read support for slavery into the Bible, so also have some Muslims claimed that Islam does not prohibit slavery. 

Islam is full of religious and scriptural teachings instructing its followers to fight for justice for the oppressed and enslaved, calling Muslims to fight human trafficking as much as followers of any religion.  In that, all people of faith have the same mandate when it comes to modern-day slavery: end it.  When we see through our differences of faith to our common goals, it is easier for us to unite against the real enemies- those who abuse, rape, exploit, enslave, and degrade our brothers and sisters, whatever their faiths may be.

Image from mecca.com