Muslim Slave System in Medieval India c17.4

c17.4

Till today, black slaves are being bought and sold in countries like Sudan and Mauretania. The Islamic doctrine of slavery was closely linked with the doctrine of the inescapable struggle between believers and unbelievers and Pagans were routinely sold into slavery if they had the misfortune of being captured by Muslims.⁴ Right from the fifteenth century Muslims would go on furnishing black slaves to European slave traders. At least 80% of all the black slaves that were ever exported from Black Africa, went through Muslim hands. A large part of the slaves transported to America had also been bought from Muslim slave-catchers.⁵ Slavery, as far as established by law, was abolished in India by Act V, 1843, but the final blow was dealt on January 1, 1862, when the sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with the question came into operation.⁶ The point to note, however, is that life of slavery is lived by millions of *burqa*-clad Muslim women kept behind bolted doors and by men who still believe in slavery as a part of their religious and social life. *Burqa* remains the symbol of slavery; its enforcement is now ensured by the dictates of militants. As-Said al-Ashwamy, renowned Egyptian writer and chief justice, on a recent visit to India, said, insulating women if they dont wear the veil ensures that they wear it out of fear not faith women now accept the position of being slaves.⁷ There is no doubt that many thousands of slaves are still serving in the wealthy palaces of Arabia, and now and then one hears about the condition of girls from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India etc., married by Shaikhs and living in the Gulf countries as nothing better than slave girls.