Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

IS IT RIGHT THAT ISLAM HAS ALLOWED SLAVERY AND MADE IT LEGAL? AS PER QURAN, ONE CAN MARRY ANY NUMBER OF SLAVE LADIES ALONG WITH MAXIMUM OF FOUR WIVES. In this current civilized world, how can one say that Quran is complete and no need of any change? ARABS WERE INVOLVED IN SLAVE TRADING FOR LONG TIME, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AGAINST ISLAM? IS IT RIGHT? AND WHY?

Islam has allowed men to become Imams and leaders in religious gatherings, but not Women including reciting Azan etc. Also, there is sawab for such acts. In this case, women are left out of this sawab, why?

Can you explain the purpose of "Kaser Namaz"? Is it only to make others to know that he, she is a musafir OR there is another purpose too? Also, in this fast moving world, is it compulsory to obey the rules of Kaser Namaz, even though you are not a musafir but a permanent resident. Why Bohras follow the rule of 12 miles, while the others 48 miles. Which one has Quranic   backup? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Slavery and Qasr Prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: Slavery

We have answered a very similar question on the forum before in a lot more detail and am forwarding that answer to you.

Your comment: In this current civilized world, how can one say that Quran is complete and no need of any change?

The Glorious Quran is indeed complete and there is absolutely no change required in this Book of Allah until the end of time. Islam was instrumental in eradicating slavery and set the process in motion 1,400 years ago, while this ‘modern civilized’ world only began their eradication of slavery only in the last couple of centuries. The guidance of the Holy Quran is valid today as it was since the time of its inception, and will remain so until the Day of Judgement.

Your comment: ARABS WERE INVOLVED IN SLAVE TRADING FOR LONG TIME, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AGAINST ISLAM? IS IT RIGHT? AND WHY?
Islam neither started the concept of slavery, nor did it propagate it. But rather, what Islam did was closed almost all the doors of creating new slavery and made it a means and reward from Allah to free the existing slaves and gradually inculcate them into society. It is not that the Arabs alone were involved in the slave trade for a long time, this system of slavery was prevalent in all societies, even until the late 1800’s! One more thing we must clearly understand that the concept of slavery as practiced in the ‘modern’ West was very different from the concept of slavery in Islam. Islam warranted the slaves must be treated honorably and humanely and like members of the household, whereas the slaves in the ‘civilized’ West were treated worse than animals. If one reads the history of the Muslims, they will realize that some of the slaves in Islam rose to become some of the most respected scholars, and even rulers in Islamic lands.

Your comment: Islam has allowed men to become Imams and leaders in religious gatherings, but not Women including reciting Azan etc. Also, there is sawab for such acts. In this case, women are left out of this sawab, why?

In Islam men and women are not equal, but rather, they are balanced! Men and Women each were given different responsibilities and duties in accordance to their different physical, emotional, and psychological differences. When Islam does not allow one of the sexes to perform a certain duty, it does not mean that were left out of the means of ‘sawaab’.

It is the nature of women that she bears children, and that is a great source of ‘ajr’; her duty was to nurse the children, and that is a great source of ‘ajr’; her responsibilities were to protect the household and its honor in her husband’s absence and rear and groom the children to be responsible and pious members of the Islamic society, and that is a great source of ‘ajr’. Thus, these means of gaining huge ‘sawaab’ from Allah were not given to the men by the All Wise, All Knowing Creator. He assigned responsibilities to each sex according to their nature, so that a harmonious society can be created in Islam.

Your comment: Can you explain the purpose of "Kaser Namaz"? Is it only to make others to know that he, she is a musafir OR there is another purpose too? Also, in this fast moving world, is it compulsory to obey the rules of Kaser Namaz, even though you are not a musafir but a permanent resident. Why Bohras follow the rule of 12 miles, while the others 48 miles. Which one has Quranic backup?

The Quran does not mention a specific distance for praying the ‘qasr’ or shortened prayer. This allowance of praying the shortened prayer is a mercy and a concession from the Merciful Lord for the travelers, because when one is traveling, he is in a foreign land and away from his routine. The scholars of Islam have determined the distances of travel from the traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and how he implemented the Quranic aayah regarding shortened prayer.

We have answered the question of ‘qasr’ or shortened prayer in detail in one of our answers asked previously on the forum and we are forwarding that to you.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan