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:

Assalamualaikum,
I recently encountered a very strange incident with a friend of mine which left me quite puzzled. It so happened that I had agreed with her on doing a certain chore ( e.g. getting a text book from home) the other day. She conditioned to it, that if I didn`t do that particular chore the following day, I would become a slave girl (bandi) to her. Jokingly, I agreed. It apparently was the will of Allah (so that I might learn this lesson) that I forgot to do the chore the following day. My friend on the other hand came up to me and said "Its ok, I am setting you free, but be careful that such an agreement, even if made in humor, falls into effect." I wanted to know, whether what she said holds any meaning or not. Did I actually become her slave girl even though I jokingly agreed to it?

Secondly, what if neither one of us were joking? What if both of us were serious? Would it have fallen in effect?

Thank you very much for your time. 

(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:

Become a slave

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ….what if neither one of us were joking? What if both of us were serious? Would it have fallen in effect?

Except in extremely specific cases, where in a state of war, some prisoners are captured and they cannot be exchanged, or set free on ransom, and they have absolutely no place to return to …..then and only then, can a person be taken as a ‘slave’ by the ruling authority or Islamic State.

Under absolutely no other circumstances can a free-person be made into a ‘slave’ in the Sight of Shariah Law; thus sister, whatever transpired between you and your friend was a mere statement of falsehood uttered in ignorance from your mouths…and rest absolutely assured that regardless of whether said in seriousness or in jest, such statements under absolutely no circumstances make a person a ‘slave’ of another!

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan