Introduction Throughout history, various societies practiced slavery including the Muslim society. Prior to civilisation, slave trade was legal. Slaves were in the form of prisoners of war, individuals who were unable to pay their debts, women, and children. After the abolishment of the Atlantic slave trade, the Eastern slave trade increased. The end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade did not bring freedom to slaves. On the contrary, it changed their destination to the Eastern parts. Even in the contemporary times when slavery has been banned entirely by other religions, Islam still practices it in the form of ‘bonded workers’ who cannot change their jobs due to debts that they owe their employers. This paper will look at the position of slavery in the Islamic society prior to civilisation and after civilisation. Slavery before Islamic civilisation Slavery in the Islamic society was a legal practice. Slaves were acquired through successful conquests (Jihads). As the Islam community expanded through conquests, thus extending its territories through the South-East Asia, Central Asia, and Africa among other regions, the number of the enslaved people kept on increasing (Mason 135). However, Muslims living in the Islamic states were protected from enslavement (Watkins 81). Therefore, the necessity of having more slaves pushed Muslims rulers to subdue more non-Islamic territories. Prophet Muhammad participated in the selling, capturing, and owning of slaves (Goldenberg 447). After conquering a Jewish tribe, the Prophet executed all men and captured the women and children whom he divided amongst his people as their slaves (Goldenberg 448). Those captured during wars would become slaves by default. A Muslim could also obtain slaves through gifting (Hammond 111). Prophet Muhammad received a Christian slave by the name Mary Copt as a gift from an Egyptian ruler (Hammond 114). These practices by Muhammad made it hard to abolish the slave trade in the Islamic society. The Quran, which is the Holy book of the Islamic religion, played a key role in the grounding of the slave trade in the Muslim community. The book portrays the capturing of slaves in war as a right given by God. These slaves were to be considered as the spoils of war while women slaves were taken as concubines of the successful warriors (Ali 81). According to Clarence-Smith, Quran 23:1-6 grants “Muslim men sexual rights over their wives and those whom they possess” (293). Other verses of the Quran also state that slave owners can use their slaves as their mode of payments for any penalties or debts that they incur. The Quran is ambivalent on the issue of slavery. However, looking closely it appears that the book encourages the practice as it clarifies that masters should treat their slaves appropriately. The hidden message here is that it is appropriate for Muslims to have slaves. Slavery after Islamic civilisation After the evolution of human rights and civilisation of the Muslim community, the slave trade was abolished. However, according to the Islamic laws, in some instances, slavery was allowed. With the civilisation of Muslims, the practice of slavery declined perhaps due to the enlightenmen