Podcast
Bismillah Rahmani Raheem
According to United Nation yearly report, human trafficking comes in many shapes and sizes, no matter it’s rich countries or poor countries, human trafficking does exist. And many of the victims are female and children. In total, this issue—also known as modern slavery—affects an estimated 40.3 million people globally and earns traffickers at least $150 billion annually, making it one of the world’s most profitable crimes.
In this episode, we will discuss about Islam prohibited prostitution, produce and watch pornography and adult movies, because all these activities largely related to human trafficking.
The definition of human trafficking is through the means of threat, or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, in order to control them.
In order to reach the goal of exploitation, sometimes they will give little money for temptation, so they can force them to comply that they can gain the control to get the benefits of using them. The majority of the victims are usually compelled by different level of force and they usually in the vulnerable position. They usually used this victims for prostitution, or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.
Many people think prostitution is the oldest career as it existed since ancient time, it’s part of every society. Instead, the oldest career should be human trafficking. In any time, anywhere, more or less, there are orphans, or abandoned children, or widows with young children, or single parent family or poor families. However, people who offered help to these people were rare. Instead, many are taking advantage of these unfortunate situations. Force and temptation, to force those people to give up their own rights, and to accept the unfair treatment and unfair deal.
These kinds of incidents are repeating throughout history. Victims are usually being pushed to the edge, many people choose not to see them, not to hear them, the worst is some will scold these victims and put all the blame on them for the problems.
Nowadays, many people described those who choose to do prostitution, taking pornography or acting on adult video are those who do it willingness, or because of their greed, being lazy, want to be famous, or willingly to choose this down path, etc. In the back scene, actually there are many trying to lure these victims by using different kind of dirty tactics, for example, give them drug and make them addict; or rape and videotape, so they can keep on threatening them; or take away their identity documents; or when they are in the most desperate moment, through lies and lure them to make a wrong choice; or use little amount to trade, so that to make the whole exploitation process seems legitimate. The most important part is to destroy their lives, to make them feel there is no way back, so they continue the wrongs.
As early as 5000 years ago, slavery already were very common. The example was Prophet Joseph, he was thrown into the well by his brothers, then he was rescued by people. These people didn’t try to help him find his family, instead they sold him as slaves.
So, in 1400 years ago, the Arab society was same, continued the already existed slavery system. They took those loss in the war as slaves. Or those children lost and separated from family, or orphans to become slaves.
Another typical example were the story of Zayd, this happened before Muhammad (pbuh) became prophet. Zayd born in a middle class family, got lost while travelling with family. People found him and sold him to Khadijah’s family as slave. Later the family gave Khadijah as gift, and she gave him to Muhammad (pbuh) as gift during their marriage. Then, he found his family after some time. Muhammad (pbuh) set him free and let him go home with family. But he refused and wanted to stay with Muhammad (pbuh). So Prophet adopted him as son.
No matter male or female, all slaves belonged to their masters. These masters can decide their life and death, their children will continue to live as slaves. These masters can sell them anytime, give them away to others, to satisfy their needs, to force them into prostitution to earn money, to force them to work or to force them to give their lives away, etc.
Therefore, slavery systems had been there over thousands of year, deep into people heart, it’s the necessities for those who were in power, and middle class families. Since Quran came down, many places described to release the slaves as good deeds or sins compensation. Actively encourage to treat slaves kindly in order to release the slaves as the ultimate goal.
Quran (24:33) And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess – then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allah is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.
In this Aaya clearly stated that how to treat if the slaves requested emancipation. Also, here can see that forced slaves into prostitution was so common place, so Allah reminded them not to force them, if these slaves were forced, wrong was not on them, and they would be forgiven. In other words, it means the wrongs are on those who sell them and who buy them.
Quran (23:1-6) Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive And they who turn away from ill speech And they who are observant of zakah And they who guard their private parts Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed…
Many people, hearing to this, will be very upset about this verse, why besides wives, also slaves? But as mentioned before, the slavery system had a very long history and was part of the culture. And at that time, those female slaves, if lucky enough, can become concubines similar to the Chinese concubine.
In Quran (24:32) And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty,
(2:221) A believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission.
In these two Aaya, it encouraged the believers to marry their slaves, so they did not need to continue their slaves identity. In Islam, the marriage etiquette was the groom has to give dowry to the bride. But there was no dowry for any slave girl because everything of the slaves belonged to the master. Therefore, the believers had to be very determined to give up their long-owned rights, share their wealth and to give them their never-existed rights. Meanwhile, the believing females also have to give up their high status, to accept their husbands used to be slaves. No matter these believing people were free or slaves, once they believed in Allah, they all are brothers and sisters in Islam. Therefore, it’s never easy to give up long owned rights, and to share wealth, except those who really want to please Allah, hope to earn His forgiveness and paradise.
However, many people are more interested in this Aaya (4:3) And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].
At that time, if the orphans have no other families to take care, many times they could be sold as slaves, especially female, and can be forced into prostitution. Therefore, in the Quran reminded, if do not want to be injustice to orphans, then one can marry them, but if one cannot fairly treat them, so marry only one. Otherwise, one can be satisfied by those slaves they owned before believing in Allah. In other words, it means, do not make these orphans become slaves, treat the orphans fairly and justly. Not when they need the help, then one take advantage of them, and owned them unjustly.
Quran (16:90) Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
At the same time, Allah reminded (24:30-31) Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head covers over their chests and not expose their adornment. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment.
In this Aaya clearly pointed out to lower the gaze, needless to say much, no matter others are Muslims or not, this is the basic self-discipline and self-control of being a believing person. Therefore, no matter others were wearing exposed clothing or even naked, this Aaya is to require self-discipline, self-control, first do your own part, not to blame their own lost control mistakes to others.
It’s like the story of Prophet Adam, unlike Bible, Quran no where to blame Eve that she made Adam ate the forbidden fruit. Instead, Quran described the incidents and always called “both of you”. Because Allah has given everyone individual free mind, and He gave clear instructions, so everyone has to be responsible for their own choice and decision.
Therefore, human trafficking, prostitution, pornography and adult movies are directly or indirectly exploiting others. In the current society, it seems no more slavery system, but in fact, different people in different level, and in different environment have become hidden slaves, only people do not know or people do not want to face it.
In Quran (7:33) My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.
The Prophet (pbuh) Dawah for 23 years. In his last hajj sermon, he ordered, “Everything pertaining to the Days of Ignorance is under my feet completely abolished.”
During the Quran revelation, successfully stopped people to turn others to become slaves, sell others as slaves, stopped forcing slaves to become prostitution to earn money, released slaves as compensation and good deeds. Therefore, the above Aaya, for example like one can satisfy with slaves are no more valid in the current time, because during last sermon, Prophet (pbuh) had abolished them clearly.
These Aaya will be similar like those alcohol Aaya mentioned in the previous episode. These Aaya will be similar like those ancient perished people stories. These Aaya were historic records to remind and to give lessons. But if there are any Muslims using these Aaya as an excuse to enslave others in order to meet these Aaya, they are all twisting the meaning. Because the majority theme in Quran is about fairness, justice, especially for the weak group, not oppressed others and also not enslaving Allah’s slaves to become their own slaves.
In summary, Let’s say the example of America, they abandoned the slavery system was only around 200 years history. But 1400 years ago, Islam already abandoned slavery system, and also how to stop human selling. And still many places in the world, it seems like no more slavery system, but actually, many people still live like slaves. They just re-package the wording, in order to achieve delusion that pretends injustice doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile, all creation are slaves of Allah, so, people should not enslaves others. If one has to be a slave, then one should be exclusively only for Allah.
Those who constantly oppressing others, then occupy them as their slaves, who are more unjust and wrong than them? Therefore, prostitution, pornography and adult video are prohibited. The sins was not only to fulfill their own desire, but to allow oppression of others, take away others’ God given freedom. Just because to fulfill all these desires and wants, these oppression will not stop, and new victims will keep on coming.
(24:21) O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan – indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
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