Beating female slave for covering up Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA?

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐔𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐛𝐧 𝐀𝐥-𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛 𝐑𝐀?

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

The question:

Is wearing a veil really a cognizable offense worth hitting a female slave for by Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA?

Answer:

Old and modern laws offer justification for the use of force in response to some illegal violations of existing laws or to enforce certain rules, in saying that the leader of the Muslim world, the second Caliph in Islam Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA did not use any violence, despite under his supervision a Muslim Government with enforcement agencies and a Muslim army.

Yet, he was walking the streets without any guards, nor he arrested, detained, tortured, or excuse the slave girl. As a matter of fact, he did not use force as wrongly perceived, Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA alerted the woman repetitively by asking her to show her face that she was hiding hence her identity.

Even if Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA had detained the slave girl for investigation because of her violations of the rules, he would have not been making any mistakes. Any enforcement agency in any country would stop you, possibly detain you or even charge you if you ignore the rules and challenge them. Which was not the case in our situation between Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA and the slave girl.

Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA simply nudged the slave girl with his whip on her head to alerted her “after verbally asking her repetitively “in which there was compliance from her side, he had to prevent her from the continuation of the violation of an existing general rule known by everyone, and we will analyse that in detail.

Why would the slave woman hide her identity (face) despite being asked repetitively to show her face for identification purposes, her hesitation and lack of cooperation were violations of the rules implemented at the time. She was not asked to show her hair or any other part of her body, she was simply asked to show her face as stated in the conversation, she was veiled.

A well-known and established current and historical legal premise:

Use of force to prevent the commission or continuation of an offence as per old and modern laws is justified and for the use of such force:

A person may use such force not disproportionate to the objective as he believes on reasonable grounds to be necessary to prevent the commission, continuance, or completion of an indictable offence or to effect or assist in effecting the lawful arrest of a person committing or suspected of committing any offence.

Before we get into the specific details of what had happened between the Leader of the Muslim world at the time, the second caliph in Islam after Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him and the first Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq RA.

It is critical to give the reader a background about the slavery before and after Islam, clarification of meanings of some of words mentioned in the Hadith are needed to make it easy to have thorough understanding about the context in which that incident occurred.

You can skip that background and introduction by going directly to the middle of the article, to where the hadith or conversation between Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA and the Slave girl, we highly recommend that you read the whole article to understand the whole context.

Do you see any slaves owned by any Muslims around these days?

Clearly, the answer is no, if you happen to see them, please let us know and we will be more than obliged to plead with their masters to grant them freedom for the love of Allah.

Islam doesn’t permit the taking of any free human beings as slaves, regardless of what their religion is. The only time slaves can be taken by Muslims is from those who attack Muslims in a war and get captured.

This is a replacement for taking prisoners of war who are otherwise kept in camps and provided with just the necessities of life.

Furthermore, Islam makes provisions to absorb these people taken as slaves into the main body of the Muslim community almost within a single generation.

It is critical to know that the leader of the Muslim world and Second Muslim Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab knew the following hadith and many other similar Hadiths that prohibits any mistreatments of slaves and anyone.

In Sahih Muslim 1657b it says,

But he (Ibn Umar) said: You are free. He then took hold of something from the earth and said: There is no reward for me even to the weight equal to it. I heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: He who beats a slave without cognizable offence of his or slaps him (without any serious fault), then expiation for it is that he should set him free.

Before starting our article, we need to set out the definitions and meaning of some words used in this article:

We need to understand various aspects, the background story, and the meanings of the words, which we have earlier explained the background about Slavery and how it used to happen along with the terminology. Now we are going to find out more information about the historical side.

The misunderstood Hadiths and the clarification for them

6382. Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

Umar saw a slave-girl wearing a veil, so he struck her. He said: “Do not emulate free women.”

6383. Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

A female slave came to Umar ibn al-Khattab. He knew her through some of the emigrants, or the Ansar. She was wearing a Jilbab (cloak) which veiled her. He asked her: “Have you been freed?”

She said: “No.” He said: “What about the Jilbab? Pull it down off your head. The Jilbab is only for free women from among the believing women.” She hesitated. So, he came at her with a whip and struck her on the head, until she cast it off her head.

Classed sahih by al-Albani and Sa’d al-Shathri

Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah 6/236 says

Anas reported: Umar saw one of our maidservants wearing a veil and he flogged her. Umar said: Do not resemble free women

Terminology:

Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA, was the second Leader of the Muslim world and second Muslim caliph after Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, and under Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA supervision was the Muslim Government and Muslim army.

The Arabic word ضرب which originally appears in the hadith usually translated into English as struck, hit, or flog, there are additional meanings that has nothing to do with hit, struck or flog.

That is why some non-Muslims or even some Muslim brothers and sisters who due to lack of knowledge. We are going to explore some of the other meanings of the Arabic word ضرب which can enormously changes based on the context.

The Arabic word ضرب can mean set an example for something or someone as in the Glorious Quran:

“And Allah sets forth the example of a society which was safe and at ease, receiving its provision in abundance from all directions” Quran (16:112)

Also, The Arabic word ضرب can mean travelling through the land as in the Glorious Quran:

“He knows that some of you will be sick, some will be travelling throughout the land seeking Allah’s bounty” Quran (73:20)

Salve meaning for the purpose of this article is used interchangeably as servant, general hand, laborer, domestic worker, and or servant indoors or outdoors or both.

Master (owner of slaves) has the meaning of employer as understood by modern day language, Islam made it mandatory that the master provides basic food, shelter, medication, clothe, and treat his slave with kindness. If the slave is working and earning it is possibly, he pays a monthly fee to his master as well.

Struck, flogged, and hit these words can be used interchangeably when you see them in many hadith and not that hadith.Basically, means nudging her to get her attention and alert her without directly touching her, to ask her to comply with the existing rules, that she has been ignoring. Even Struck in English language can mean very different meaning such as making a business agreement and they would say ‘struck a deal’.

Nevertheless, we are not claiming that Umar ibn Al-Khattab struck a deal with her but nudged her with his whip to alert her to stop hiding her identity after repetitively asking her.

Note:

We understand that struck, or flog might have bad connotations, though they also have positive connotations, for instance two or more of a sports team members can hit each other, struck, strike, or beat each other, gym mates do it and son on. Such words might indicate a violent action to hurt someone or cause pain but not necessarily.

Word struck which appeared in the Hadith does not necessarily mean violent hit, bash, as explained earlier in meaning of word ضرب the Arabic language. On the opposite it can mean nudge, which would be completely different meaning to what is demonstrated above.

These meanings are based on authentic commentary of many Hadiths, Authentic Sunnah, and the practical Islamic history.

Whenever you read or hear word struck, in a Hadith it is usually has the meaning of nudge. Word Struck came in some of the Prophet’s authentic Hadith and in no way mean hit, bash, or any bad connotations.

English language falls short in conveying the full and complete meanings of the rich Arabic language.

Umar ibn Al-Khattab as one of the ten promised Paradise by the Prophet

Umar ibn Al-Khattab was one of the ten companions of the Prophet who was promised paradise while still alive, obviously Umar ibn Al-Khattab knew the above-mentioned hadith that instruct Muslims to be kind to slaves or employees under your supervision or your citizens since he was the caliph of all Muslims.

Hadith on Sahaba: Ten companions who were promised Paradise

Even many non-Muslims have testified that Umar ibn Al-Khattab was a role model to be followed and how fair he was.

Assessment of Umar ibn Al-Khattab aby Prophet Muhammed, companions, Western writers, and oriental writers.

For more reading about the leader of Muslim world at his time and second caliph in Islam biography Umar ibn Al-Khattab, simply do some research about the Justice and Biography of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, there are many books available for sale online.

We recommend buying books from a trusted Sunni Muslim Bookstore by the name of Darussalam Islamic bookshop Australia. Be aware deviant Shi’a and grave worshippers hates Umar ibn Al-Khattab and made too many lies about him.

Historical Background about Slavery

It is imperative to give a background to the questioner about why and what made the slave girl fall into slavery.

Islam came to find various types of slavery that ranged from tribes raiding other free people and enslave them, buy, sell, and swap them. And obviously mistreat them beside take their women.

Allah Exalted He has revealed the last and final divine universal message of Islam to our Beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, in a time where Slavery was rife in the Arabic peninsula, so Islam had to deal with an existing chronic massive Problem of Slavery.

In saying that, Islam prohibited the enslavement of anyone- the only time Islam still allows slavery is for the enemy fighters who attacked Islam and Muslims.

In other words, the enemy’s prisoners of war are to be kept as slaves and servants as DETERRENT because of their aggression, hostility and animosity against Islam and Muslims.

Islam prohibited any form of enslavement to any peaceful free people regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity.

It is a well-known fact to anyone with common sense that the victims reserve the absolute right to defend themselves when it is suitable to do so. In this case Islam and Muslims have the unreserved, unrestricted absolute rights to take all necessary measures to defend Islam, Muslims, and Muslim lands.

Therefore, if enemies of Islam fall in the hands of Muslims as prisoners of wars one of the following options under the next title would be applicable to them

How and why, there is a certain type of Slavery that is still allowed in Islam?

In Islam usually slaves are those non-Muslim enemy fighters and aggressors who started wars against Islam and Muslims. Once those non-Muslim enemy fighters and aggressors captured in become prisoners of war at the hands of the Muslim army.

The Muslim have four choices in dealing with those fighters and prisoners of war regardless of their gender.

Usually, Muslim Slaves who accepted Islam without any pressure and would have been the children of non-Muslim prisoners of war.

1. Return them without a price and peacefully to their place of origin and that is illogical and will encourage them to fight Muslims again.

2. Kill all of them and that would be harsh as Islam is mercy to mankind.

3. Enslave them to work for Muslims and emotionally humiliate them to make them regret fighting Islam and Muslims.

Yet treat them well in terms of food, shelter, cloths, and medication provision and show them the true teachings of Islam which they were opposing to due to the brainwashing Islamophobic black propaganda they grow up within.

4. Exchange the non-Muslim prisoners of war at the hands of the Muslim army with Muslim prisoners at the hands of non-Muslim army. Or exchange certain benefits, lands, equipment, or any other beneficial things to Islam and Muslims with the prisoners of war on hand.

Islam was revealed by Allah Exalted He to our Beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him the last and final Prophet and messenger of God until Judgment Day, when first started, in Mecca Islam found various existing types of Slavery that were unjustified.

Islam prohibited almost all types of slavery by eliminating the reasons, sources and causes of those types of Slavery.

The authenticity of this story is questionable:

Regarding the claim Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA that was mentioned in the musannaf of abi ibn shaybah (6/236): the authenticity of this quote, through various chains of authority is questionable.

Ibn al-Qattan commented on this narration:

This was explicitly reported from Umar, and it is not authentic. It contains nothing more than his condemnation of her for wearing attire (hid her face) to make others assume she was a free woman. [ source: Aḥkām al-Naẓar 1/230]

In other words, this report describes an incident in which Umar punished a woman for wearing a disguise to mislead people about her identity without having the consent of her guardian. It was not her modesty that upset him.

Based on the above introduction, the primary role of slaves was to perform chores, home duties such as preparing food, shopping, and outdoor duties as well etc.

One of the main requirements for being Muslim is to have a complete freedom of choice, which means you are not a non-Muslim prisoner of war or even a became Muslim child of a non-Muslim prisoner of war.

“Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood.¹ So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” Quran (2:256)

“Say, ˹O Prophet, ˺ “O humanity! The truth has surely come to you from your Lord. So, whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss. And I am not a keeper over you.” Quran (10:108)

Slavery was a religious, social, security and administrative status mandated upon the slave due to the above-mentioned scenarios lead to slavery, and the slave has the obligation to serve time working for their master ‘employer’ until earning the freedom.

And to ensure that the slave has become trustworthy and not hostile to Islam and Muslims anymore. similarly in a way to temporary residence visas in our modern immigration systems.

It is forbidden in Islam for anyone to abuse, harass, hit, or discriminate against their slaves.

If a slave chooses to be Muslim, the Glorious Quran and Authentic Sunnah on numerous occasions encourages and open the doors wide-open to Muslims to free the slaves and sometimes referred to in the Quran by freeing a neck (of a slave), which means free them and a great reward for any Muslim who free slaves are awaiting them.

Sometimes those slaves who accepted Islam, were children of one or more than one parent who were originally non-Muslim aggressors and prisoners of war who were captured by the victorious Muslim army at some stage in the past.

In saying that, the social status of being slave is like someone on temporary residence in a country where he/she does not get the full citizenship rights and freedoms unless he/she serves a certain number of years with his master ‘employer’ to earn his trust and the trust of the Muslim government.

Slavery with that meaning in Islam is a multidimensional mercy for those who otherwise supposed to be killed according to countries in our world of today, there is no way a country will allow hostile combatant enemy fighters who became prisoners of war, while in captivity to let them roam Muslim lands freely.

Ironically vast majority of non-Muslim governments would incarcerate them, perhaps torture them, and kill them.

Islam Tolerance:

Islam advised Muslims to treat slaves well, feed them, cloth them and provide them with accommodation in return for their labor and never mistreat them, and our beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him said multiple Hadith concerning that.

Islamic history testifies, that Islam is the only religion and Muslims are the only people in the whole world to allow, permit and integrate the hostile non-Muslim enemy fighters within the Muslim community itself after they were captured and became prisoners of war.

Yet Islam and Muslims did not put those hostile non-Muslim enemy fighters who were captured prisoners of war in concentration camps and exterminate them with gas, nor mass shot them or run them over with tanks.

Islam instructed Muslims to treat those hostile non-Muslim enemy fighters turned prisoners of war with kindness, check treatment of prisoners of war in Islam article at the end of this page.

In fact, salves who were captured at some stage in the Islamic history turned to be good Muslims and the end up ruling Muslim countries.

For more information about that read about Mamluks History in Egypt here

Double standards and control measures by Enemies of Islam:

Upon the military invasion of many Muslim countries led by many Western countries Anglo -Saxon Judo-Christian backgrounds along with some non- western allies as well, mass Muslim and non-Muslims casualties, and huge crisis of displaced civilians. While on en route to their desired asylum destination, they end up dying during the way or sink in a sea or get shot at.

Those noncombatant civilians peaceful asylum seekers usually flee their Muslim lands and sometimes go towards the lands of the Judo-Christian countries that invaded Muslim lands. During that process and despite they are the victims those noncombatant peaceful Muslim asylum seekers they are exposed to enormous layers of control measures

Usually that military invasions are based on lies as recent history tells us about the events that took place before, during and after Iraq invasion. And the oil and greed were the reasons behind such invasion.

What if the hadith is true about Umar ibn Al-Khattab and the Slave woman?

English language or any other language other than Arabic language will never be able to convey the full and complete meanings the Glorious Quran and Authentic Sunnah, Arabic language is the richest language in the world when it comes to the number of vocabularies, eloquence and how the sentences are very fluently structured.

That is one of the wisdoms Allah Exalted He of choosing to reveal the Glorious Quran in Arabic language. For any serious researcher in Islamic affairs, learning standard Arabic is and must be one of the pre-requisites to learn Islam.

Anyone who would like to work in any profession they need to learn certain pre-requisites first. Why those anti-Islamic individuals who usually propagate lies about Islam think that they can say what they like about Islam, without even having the minimum requirements to understand Islam or Arabic language

Nevertheless, what if the hadith is authentic, what happened between the slave girl and Umar ibn Al-Khattab occurred?

Let us review the exact wording of Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 6382, 6383

6382. Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

Umar saw a slave-girl wearing a veil, so he struck her. He said: “Do not emulate free women.”

6383. Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

Classed sahih by al-Albani and Sa’d al-Shathri

Historical perspective:

Wars between Muslims and non-Muslims, where Muslims has been happening and Muslims sometimes were victorious and sometimes no.

History testifies that wars where Muslims were victorious resulted in capturing some of the non-Muslim hostile enemy fighters who became prisoners of war as a result, hence slaves, were treated fairly. Unlike when non-Muslims were victorious, Muslim prisoners were sometimes killed or tortured. Though slavery in general terms is matter of that past.

Enemies of Islam have been running mass-murdering on large scale and they have killed hundreds of thousands of Muslims, those facts are well-documented facts, in places such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Serbia, Iraq, Syria, China, Burma, Afghanistan, and the list goes on.

While the following Noble verse has broad general comprehensive meaning in instructing with wives of the prophet, his daughters, and all women of believers to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed.

That is not an invitation in any way, shape, or form, to allow other women such as slave women to be harassed as the verse is addressing all believing women as well without distinguishing between free women or slave women in the modest and decent Islamic dress code:

[ سورة الأحزاب 59]

﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزۡوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يُدۡنِينَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ مِن جَلَٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يُعۡرَفۡنَ فَلَا يُؤۡذَيۡنَۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا

(59)

لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ وَالْمُرْجِفُونَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (60) مَلْعُونِينَ أَيْنَمَا ثُقِفُوا أُخِذُوا وَقُتِّلُوا تَقْتِيلًا (61) سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا (62)”

“O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.¹ If the hypocrites, and those with sickness in their hearts, and rumour-mongers in Medina do not desist, We will certainly incite you ˹O Prophet˺ against them, and then they will not be your neighbours there any longer. Quran (33:60)

The following Noble verse from Quran (24:60) was viewed as an exemption and waiver to the above-mentioned Islamic dress code for slave women:

﴿ وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ اللَّاتِي لَا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ ۖ وَأَن يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾

[ سورة النور: 60]

As for elderly women past the age of marriage, there is no blame on them if they take off their ˹outer˺ garments, without revealing their adornments. But it is better for them if they avoid this ˹altogether˺. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Quran (24:60)

A question maybe raised based on the above:

Why Islam give some waivers or exemptions from the full and comprehensive Islamic dress code for slave women despite women are women and the potential seduction and infatuation “fitnah”?

To answer such logical question, we need to understand that slaves and slavery existed in various types and was rife before Islam. Slaves as we stated in the start of this article under the terminology section.

Slaves were domestic workers helping with chores (e.g., cooking, cleaning, washing, shopping, cleaning for the horses etc.)

Islam gave them these waivers or exemptions from the full and comprehensive Islamic dress code, so the full Islamic dress code will not restrict them while working.

For instance, if a slave woman is collecting tree branches to start a fire, then help with slaughtering a sheep which would involve blood, skinning the sheep etc.

Islam allow them not to put full jilbab with burqa or niqab that covers the face, Islam also allowed them to roll up their sleeves and their arms to the elbow would be visible for example, or their feet would not be fully covered as they potentially would be walking in mud or bloody sand or animals dunk etc.

Or going to get water from a will and so on. Allah Exalted he is merciful and allowed them to do that, which means those slave women were treated like the elderly women in this noble verse:

However, Islam as a rule has advised all people including all men to lower their gaze and never look at anyone woman free or slave for no legitimate reason.

Moreover, if for instance one of those slave women is pretty such exemption or waiver will be revoked in the event of a potential seduction and infatuation ‘fitnah’.

That is why when Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA saw the slave woman wearing the Jilbab which included a face cover, he asked her to uncover her face and not uncovering her body, since free women and salve women have different duties, responsibilities, consequently different rulings.

Critical Note:

Word Jilbab appears in the above-mentioned statements, refer to and mean the full dress covers the woman from head to toe including the face with a veil. In this case the slave girl was hiding her face and identity which Umar ibn Al-Khattab was not able to identify her and asked her to uncover her face.

Uncovering the face and hands are allowed in Islam for women in the view of some of the scholars in Islam, Umar did not prohibited Hijab. Be careful there is difference between hijab (scarf) which is hair cover and the Jilbab that we have explained. Google search to find out the difference between jilbab and hijab.

It is an honor for anyone to be spoken to and asked by the great humble and just Umar ibn Al-Khattab the second caliph of all Muslims after Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, who was ruling over many countries, his position was like the position of the president of the United States who rules over multiple states.

This conversation itself between Umar ibn Al-Khattab the second caliph of the Muslims and that slave woman is crystal-clear evidence that Umar ibn Al-Khattab was a great humble just Muslim ruler, beside he is one of the ten companions that was promised Paradise by Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him.

Umar ibn Al-Khattab was walking down the streets by himself without secret police, nor he instructed soldiers to arrest the slave woman for hiding her identity, subsequently means she possibly evade her duties that she is tasked to do as a slave woman (worker)

Now, can you imagine if the president of United States is walking down the streets of Washington D.C and met a migrant wearing a face mask and asked him to remove his face mask to identified.

Yet the migrant is hesitant to remove the face mask, what would happen to that migrant?

We will let you answer this question, but bear in mind that such scenario almost impossible to happen and the US president will never go down the streets personally to enforce the law.

Bearing in mind what happened to Gorge Floyd the African American citizen the hands of a white American police officer, when the police officer put his knee on the George Floyd’s neck while he was putting him on his face on the ground subduing him.

Back to our story, Umar ibn Al-Khattab simply asked the slave woman to show her face to be identified and upon her compliance he let her go without any imprisonment, deportation, or serious punishment. A light nudge on the head with his whip (a slap on the wrest as we say it nowadays to remind her to respect the rules.

But why Umar ibn Al-Khattab resorted to such usage of his whip?

For a start he spoke to her and apparently, she did not appear to cooperate. Umar ibn Al-Khattab wanted to ensure that that female slave had her master and guardian full consent and is not avoiding those inherited administrative, social and security measures by trying to hide her identity (face).

Some might claim that such treatment is a discrimination, in fact as we have explained before, Umar ibn-Al-Khattab RA wanted to ensure that that slave girl had her guardian full consent and have earned her freedom (full citizenship requirements and proved complete loyalty to Islam)

Bearing in mind that as explained before Islam has tolerated hostile combatant enemy fighters who became prisoners of war and their descendants to mix with Muslims in Muslim lands and streets without concentration camps or killing.

The end goal and wisdom of Islam were never to enslave anyone but to expose those who fought Islam to the direct good treatment of Muslims and let them see by themselves how Islam is about worshipping the true only God, who instructed his final and last Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him to advise Muslims in numerous hadith to treat hostile combatant enemy fighters who became prisoners of war and their descendants well. Perhaps they at some point realize the beauty of Islam and be Muslims.

Once they become Muslims, they remain slaves for a period which they can earn their full freedom via various ways and Islam have promoted on many occasions the freeing of Slave and made rewards for that. The Glorious Quran and authentic Sunnah promoted the freeing of slaves as we all know.

Muslim governments would also need to know that those slaves are not hypocrites or they enemy within, like what almost all governments around the world imposes on anyone who seeks to have full citizenship at their country.

Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA Leniency:

Despite the leader of the Muslim world Umar ibn-Al-Khattab being the Caliph of all Muslims, he had no security guards, secret service, bow and arrow proof vehicles, all Muslims and non-Muslims had access to Umar ibn Al-Khattab.

One of the main wisdoms behind the only type of allowed slavery in Islam that resulted from capturing the non-Muslim hostile fighters (prisoners of war turn slaves), is to expose them to the true Islam versus the previous brainwashing propaganda that made them hate Islam without knowing Islam, and that is exactly what all Muslims practices including Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA.

As the leader of the Muslim world Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA, never started concentration camps, nor mass slaughtered innocents of those who were captured from the non-Muslim hostile fighters (prisoners of war turn slaves).

On the contrary many of them lived at a proximity to where the leader of the Muslim world Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA lived and the evidence is this very same hadith, which is the topic of this article, which demonstrates in practical terms how a slave woman was directly conversing with the leader of the Muslim world at the time, face to face.

Unlike regimes such as the Zionist regime or previously the south African regime, Islam never imposed any religious or racial segregation regimes on anyone including those who are supposed to be a security threat (The non-Muslim hostile fighters who had been captured as prisoners of war and turned slaves).

Evidence:

The non-Muslim hostile fighters who had been captured as prisoners of war and turned slaves, were not fully banned from accessing the streets of Madinah during the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him and they were mixing with all Muslims including the Prophet himself and his companions.

Many of those the non-Muslim hostile fighters who had been captured as prisoners of war and turned slaves, accepted Islam, and became not only good Muslims but also good companions of the Prophet himself.

When Allah Exalted, He Corroborated Umar ibn Al Khattab

Many instances are on record when Umar gave a particular opinion, and that opinion was later on corroborated by Allah and confirmation thereof was communicated to the Holy Prophet through Gabriel. That is why the Holy Prophet repeatedly said:

“God speaks through the tongue of Umar.”

Umar suggested that the station of Abraham in Mecca should be used as a place of prayer. Later an injunction to this effect was revealed to the Holy Prophet.

Umar suggested that the wives of the Holy Prophet should be veiled. Later a verse was revealed enjoining the wives of the Holy Prophet to be veiled.

Umar suggested that the use of wine should be prohibited. Thereafter God enjoined the prohibition of wine.

‘Abdullah b. Ubbay though a Muslim was insincere in his professions and was the enemy of God and the Holy Prophet. When he died the Holy Prophet led his funeral prayer. Umar suggested that the Holy Prophet should not pray at the funeral of those who were the enemies of God and the Prophet.

A verse was later revealed enjoining the Holy Prophet not to pray at the funeral of those who were the enemies of God and His Prophet.

When there was an imputation against the conduct of ‘Ayesha, Umar said that this was a grievous calumny. Later a verse was revealed declaring the episode as a calumny and establishing ‘Ayesha’s innocence.

After the battle of Badr, it was decided that the prisoners of the Quraish should be released on ransom. Umar said that the prisoners being the enemies of God should be killed. Later according to a revelation, the Holy Prophet was enjoined that the enemies of God should be killed.

When the Azan was originally proposed the contents of the call were:

“I testify that there is no god but Allah-come ye to prayers.”

Umar suggested, “The words ‘I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God’ should be added”. A revelation corroborated this suggestion.

The practice was that people went to see the Holy Prophet unannounced. Umar suggested that all visitors should seek permission before being admitted to the presence of the Holy Prophet. A verse was later revealed enjoining the asking of permission before entering the presence of the Holy Prophet.

Once two persons to a dispute referred the case to the Holy Prophet and the Holy Prophet gave his verdict. One of them appealed against the decision of the Holy Prophet. Umar slew him with his sword. A verse was revealed absolving Umar from the death of the person who did not believe in the judgment of the Holy Prophet.

Once a Jew said to Umar, “Verily Gabriel who speaks to your Master is our enemy.” Umar retorted, “Whosoever is an enemy to God, or His angels, or His Apostles, or Gabriel, or Michael, verily God is an enemy to the unbelievers.” Later a verse was revealed declaring that God was the enemy of unbelievers.

The martyrdom of Umar ibn Al-Khattab:

Despite Umar ibn-Al-Khattab is the Caliph of all Muslims, he had no guards, bullet proof vehicles and all Muslims and non-Muslims had access to Umar ibn Al-Khattab

Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA leniency with slaves saw him paying the ultimate price when one of the non-Muslim Persian slaves by the name of Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz, also known as Bābā Shujāʿ al-Dīn

pretended to be a Muslim killed Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA and many other of the Prophet’s companions while they were praying Fajr prayer early in the morning in Madinah.

There was a general rule prohibiting non-Muslim hostile male fighters, prisoners of war who turn to be slaves from entering the exclusive zones of Muslim majority areas such as Madinah and of course Mecca no non-Muslim is allowed to enter regardless a free or a slave non-Muslim person.

However, al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba, asked Umar ibn Al-Khattab to grant him a permission to bring Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz who was a craftsman worked in carpentry and had other skills. Umar ibn-Al-Khattab approved al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba request.

Despite Umar ibn-Al-Khattab is the Caliph of all Muslims, he had no guards, bullet proof vehicles and all Muslims and non-Muslims had access to Umar ibn Al-Khattab which is a demonstration of Justice, fairness, and bravery. Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz used to go to Umar ibn-Al-Khattab to unfairly complain about his master al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba.

Eventually Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz decided to assassinate Umar ibn-Al-Khattab, and he killed many other of the companions of the Prophet during morning prayers.

Even if Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz had legitimate grievances and even if he was not pleased with his master al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba, that in no way an excuse to kill the second caliph in Islam Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA. Umar ibn Al-Khattab did not do any wrong by Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz.

In fact, if Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz think that his master al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba is mistreating him, and not giving his all his rights, why did not he kill his master al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba?

Obviously in no way we would prefer that Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz have killed his master al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba instead of killing Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA, our question is a just a hypothetical question to highlight the hypocrisy, deception, apostasy, and hatred towards Islam of Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz, which was represented in assassinating Umar ibn Al-Khattab RA.

Another hypothetical question, why did not Abū Luʾluʾa Fīrūz flee Al Madinah and left to anywhere else far away from his master al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba?

𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬:

The Islamic Ruling on Shi`ites (Rawafid) by Early Muslims.

The Status of the Twelvers Shi’a Imams= Ithna ‘Ashari Shi’a

Distortion of the Qur’ân by the Shi’a Raafidis

Anyone Consider non-Prophets superior to Prophets peace be upon them is NOT Muslim- Shi’a as an Example

The hadeeth “There will appear among you twelve imams coming one after another, all of them from Quraysh.”

Why aren’t there any mediators between God and his slaves in Islam?

Sending blessings upon the Prophet and his Companions

Al-Nawawi on supplications for Prophet Muhammed

Ruling on building mosques over graves

Permissible and prohibited Tawassul=Supplication in Islam- Protect your faith from shirk (Polytheism)