Islams's Black Slaves by Ronald Segal

21/04/2006
Islam was trading in African slaves as early as the seventh century and it
was not a picnic compared to chattel enslavement, as some would like to
believe. Black men had their genitalia removed and black women were used as
concubines...

Islam spread across Africa and along with it trading in slaves


The way the majority of people in the West approach the subject of Islam and
its followers is usually from a position of ignorance and suspicion. Yet to
attempt to engage in a critical dialogue with Islam many westerners are not
sufficiently knowledgeable or care to be enlightened with the tenants of the
religion let alone its development and subsequent growth and spread across
many continents across the world, especially in Africa.

Turmoil in Africa does not begin with the advent of the Atlantic slave trade
in the late 15th century, it begins with Islam's trading of Black Africans
eight centuries earlier. Many studies have been written on the various
facets of the history and development of Islam but Ronald Segal's *Islam's
Black Slaves*, is an adventurous and courageous addition to the annals of
orientalism, which may not sit well amongst zealots and fundamentalists
alike. Nevertheless Segal's study lays bare a history of Islam that is full
of contradictions and hypocrisies just as, or similar to, Christianity, and
yet still leaves room for compassion.

*Islam's Black Slaves*, first published in 2001, is a timely addition to the
many critiques and evaluations of the worth of Islam in today's secular
society. Interestingly the late historian, Joel A Rogers, had researched
areas of Islam and slavery as part of his Sex and Race series, to discern
African origins of Arab dignitaries and slavers. The same sources and more
are used by Segal to enable him to dig deeper and to take into account
current issues, policies and examples of the today's slave trade. The author
traces the origins of Islam, from the Prophet, Mohammad, whom he sees as
having political motives, beginning in the mid-seventh century of the
present era. Islam's Bible entitled the, Quran, made provision for easing
the lot of slaves. *Islam quickly swept across much of Africa and
consolidated its position, also trading in slaves, gold and salt amongst
other commodities.*

Black men had their genitalia removed and black women became Concubines

According to the author, *Black African slaves were highly sought after and
interestingly more women than men were taken, opposite to that operating
under the Atlantic slave trade.* Slaves were worked on large-scale
construction schemes or on estate agriculture. Some were nurses, housemaids,
cooks and others soldiered and became generals and even rulers. *Highly
sought after were black eunuchs men who had their genitalia completely
removed. Black females where also prized as concubines forming part of
harems.* These loyal eunuchs now had the privilege of guarding these harems.
And those concubines who produced children for their masters were taken to
be their wives. This was not the norm in the Atlantic slave trade. As a
result a few of these women rose to high and important positions within
Islam.

*There were, however, major slave revolts involving Black slaves during the
early period of imperial Islam and one of these were instigated by the Zanj
a people from East Africa.* And yet the Fatimid dynasty owed its real power
in part to Sudanese, Black African military slaves. Furthermore, *Islam's
imperial designs took its influence into China, India and Spain and with it
the Black military, domestic slaves and concubines.* There is clear evidence
that many of these slaves won their freedom, and a few rose to prestigious
positions effecting the positive development of these countries that the
religion grew in.

*After abolition, slavery under Islam continued*, the British policed the
East African coastline in an attempt to halt the trade. *However during this
period the worst excesses of the slave trade took place.* Zanzibar, an
island of the East Coast of Africa, became the principal slave port.
Meanwhile on the mainland complete villages, towns and local areas numbering
hundreds and thousands of people were decimated due to slavery.

Segal's book paints an all too vivid portrait of a vile crime to humanity, a
Black African humanity that to this day has not fully recovered from such
misery. Even during the closing of the Ottoman Empire slaves had rights
under Islamic law and would become free and able to rise to prominent
positions. Evidence is produced to substantiate such cases.
Nevertheless, *slavery
under Islam was harsh. Segal points out the contradiction of an
African-American acceptance of Islam, especially under the guise of The
Nation of Islam*, who champions the rights of its people, whilst keeping
silent on current Islamic practises of slavery. Segal concludes with
harrowing facts about African governments today whom sanction slavery under
Islam. This book is a scholarly guide and for those seriously embarking on
Islamic studies, it is highly recommended.

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