This is Part 7 of the chapter "Islamic Slavery" from M. A. Khan's book, "Islamic Jihad: A Legacy of Forced Conversion, Imperialism and Slavery". The Ottoman Dewshirme or slave culling that has been widely discussed or condemned, but it was neither an Ottoman invention nor the worst of Islamic slave harvesting. (Part 1, Part 6, Part 8)
THE OTTOMAN DEWSHIRME
One severely condemned practice of Islamic slavery is the institution of Dewshirme, introduced by Ottoman Sultan Orkhan in 1330. This scheme consisted of collecting a part of the boys of the age-group of seven to twenty years from Christian and other non-Muslim families of the Ottoman Empire. About the introduction of this policy, Bernard Lewis quotes sixteenth-century Ottoman historian Sadeddin (aka Hoca Efendi) as thus:
‘The renowned king… entering into consultation with his ministers of State, the result hereof was, that for the time to come, there should be choice made, of valiant and industrious youths, out of the children of the unbelievers, fit for the service, whom they should likewise innoblize, by the faith of Islam; which being a means to make them rich and religious, might be also a way to subdue the strongholds of the unbelievers.’[1]
Under the scheme, non-Muslim children, mainly Christian, were "culled" from Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia and Albania that had come under the Ottoman rule. On a fixed date, non-Muslim fathers (mostly Christian) were to bring their children to a designated public square. The Muslim recruiting agents used to choose the healthy, strong and handsome ones of them. After Sultan Mehmet II conquered Constantinople in 1453, Dewshirme received a boost as notes Stephen O’Shea: ‘…following the conquest, Fatih (the Conqueror) expanded the heartless devshirme or ‘gathering’ system, whereby young Christians were abducted and moved to the capital... Once every few years roving Ottoman talent scouts, accompanied by soldiers, descended on the villages… and culled the most promising peasant boys from their playmates and siblings.’[2] The number of children collected as part of Dewshirme varies: ‘Some scholars place it as high as 12,000 a year, others at 8,000…’[3]
These lots of the best of Christian, Jewish and Gypsy children were circumcised and converted to Islam, and were indoctrinated with the ideology of Jihad from this impressionable early age. They were meticulously trained solely for Jihadi warfare and served in a special unit of the Ottoman army, the Janissary Regiment. Barred from marriage and confined to their barracks, the Janissary soldiers single-mindedly focused on becoming deadly soldiers for waging Jihad against the infidels, their coreligionists of the yesteryear.
The policy proved a boon for the Ottomans. Muslim rulers had remained frustrated in their repeated failures to capture Constantinople—the greatest centre of Christianity, since the time of Caliph Mu'awiyah (d. 680). In their many early attempts to capture Constantinople, they often suffered disastrous reverses. Finally, the Janissaries launched a devastating assault on Constantinople in 1453 and overran it, winning the greatest prize for Islam. The reigning Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet II, allowed the Janissaries to pillage the city and slaughter their erstwhile coreligionists, mainly Christians, for three days. Those who survived were enslaved. Later on, soldiers were recruited into the Janissary Regiment indiscriminately, including Muslims and many Sufis alongside those collected as part of Dewshirme. Discipline and resolve gradually declined in the Regiment, which, incidentally, also marked the decline of Ottoman power.
The institution of Dewshirme obviates the fact as to how the Islamic world expanded by exploiting the muscles of the infidels for conquering infidel territories further. Following the Ottoman institution of Dewshirme, Sultan Firoz Tughlaq in India (r. 1351–88) instituted the recruitment of Hindu children in similar fashion. He commanded his provincial officers and generals to capture slaves and pick out the young and best ones for sending to the services of his court. In this fashion, he accumulated 180,000 young boys as slaves.[4]
Criticism of Dewshirme: The Ottoman scheme of Dewshirme, abolished in 1656, has been severely criticized because of the way slaves were culled. However, the orthodox Ottomans, who were codifying their laws in accordance with the Sunni Sharia law, had their justification for the Dewshirme in the Quran and Islamic laws. The Quran 8:42 says, ‘And know that whatever thing you gain (spoils of war), a fifth of it is for Allah and for the Messenger…’
The one-fifth of the plunder obtained from the infidels in wars, allotted to Allah and his messenger, initially went to Prophet Muhammad, the head and treasury of the nascent Islamic state. After his death, this share was acquired by the caliphal treasury. A minimum one-fifth of all produce from Dhimmi subjects was collected as kharaj under a taxation policy promulgated by Caliph Omar, although this share was often raised higher under special circumstances or by whimsical Muslim rulers. Since, newly born children of the infidels were also a kind of produce of the state, the institution of Dewshirme became justified in Islamic holy laws. The Prophet himself had set an example of acquiring Christian children when he forbade the tribe of Taghlib not to baptize their children. Later on, Caliph Omar ordered another Taghlib tribe ‘not to mark their children (with cross on their arm or wrist) and not to force their religion on them (i.e., not to baptize them).’[5] As a result, those children entered the house of Islam. The only difference is that the Prophet and Caliph Omar had acquired all the children of the Taghlib tribes, while the Ottomans acquired only a part of them through Dewshirme.
With such Quranic sanction and prophetic example, the Rightly Guided Caliph Othman had enacted a Dewshirme-like scheme by forcing the Nubian Christians to send a yearly tribute of slaves to Cairo (652–1276). Similar agreements were enacted by the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs as already cited. The Dewshirme policy was, therefore, not an Ottoman invention. Moreover, this policy was obviously much more humane than Prophet Muhammad’s protocol of capturing slaves as applied to the Jews of Banu Qurayza and Khaybar etc., whereby he slew all the grown-up men and enslaved the women and children: a divine protocol approved by Allah [Quran 33:26–27]. During the centuries of Islamic conquest and rule, Prophet Muhammad’s protocol of enslavement, much more cruel and barbaric than the Dewshirme, was commonly applied.
[1]. Lewis B (2000) The Middle East, Phoenix, London, p. 109
[2]. O'Shea S (2006) Sea of Faith: Islam and Christianity in the Medieval Mediterranean World, Walker & Company, New York, p. 279
[3]. Ibn Warraq, p. 231
[4]. Lal (1994), p. 57–58
[5]. Al-Biladhuri AY (1865) Kitab Futuh al-Buldan, Ed. MJ De Geoje, Leiden, p. 181
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written by vbv , October 05, 2011
written by Yibel , October 05, 2011
Spun out from the venomous lie at the center are the main strands of the web: Terrorism, Supremism, Repression (especially sexual repression), Totalitarianism, Deception, and Criminality.
Supported by, and crosslinking the main radial strands, are such Muslim social pathologies as Victimhood, Parasitism, Arrogant Sense of Unearned Entitlement, Intimidation and Domination of non-Muslims, Domination of Public Space, Amorality towards non-Muslims, Destruction of Other Religions and Cultures, Pedophile Abduction of non-Muslim Children, Homophobia, Misogyny, Razzia - Raids of Rape and Pillage - Suicide Bombings Inspired by 72 Virgins in Paradise Lie, Barbaric Shariah and the Savage Blasphemy and Apostasy Laws, Endemic Violence towards non-Muslims including Street Jihad, Stealth Jihad and Indoctrination, and Extortion Rackets, Racism and Arab Supermacy.
written by aakii , October 06, 2011
written by duh_swami , October 06, 2011
There you go posting your hate again...You offer no proof that any of these people or sites has said anything false...I challenged you once to prove Spencer wrong about anything or find one hateful quote from him about Muslims, and you couldn't do it, but you continue your seething irrational hate just the same...
You just can't take criticism, especially about your evil oozing religion called Islam...You can't compete in the world of ideas,and your short on the knowledge level, so you protect evil the only way you know, the Yorkshirian way of smearing people you can't intellectually compete with...Pathetic...
written by fineliving56 , October 06, 2011
On the other hand I read lies in posts of Quran and hadeeth's worshipers, every day …they do not, only, lie here, they lie to them selves too.
it is so clear.
written by Reed Wilson , October 07, 2011
Before the Quranic revelation, slavery prevailed all over the world. In those days it seemed perfectly normal for people to have slaves whom they had captured in war or purchased in the markets.
But the Quran proclaimed the equality of all men in the sight of God. It struck at the root of slavery by recognizing the moral worth of a human being as a human being. However there were at the time of the Quranic revelation numerous slaves that pre existed in that society as well as other parts of the world.
The Quran in every conceivable way discouraged slavery and improved the lot of slaves. The Believers were urged to be kind and considerate to slaves, they were told that to emancipate a slave was a meritorious act. They could atone for some of their offenses by setting a slave free.
Thus the number of slaves was gradually reduced and the society was made less dependent on slave labor.
The Arabic words "Maa malakat aimanukum" as occurred in the Quran which mean "Those whom your right hands possessed" are in the past tense and refer to those who had already been enslaved. When they were emancipated through a gradual process, slavery died a natural death.
contd.
written by Reed Wilson , October 07, 2011
1."…ye…may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands posses….wed them with the leave of their owners, and give them their dower…"[4:25]
This conferred upon the slave girls all the rights and privileges of a wife. Verse 36 of Sura 4 brought another big change in the status of slaves by enforcing the obligation to do good to one’s parents and in the same breath, also to the slaves:
2."…do ‘Ihsan’ (goodness) to parents …and (to) what your right hands posses."[4:36]
verse 60 of Sura 9 exhorts Believers to give monetary help to those in bondage in order to alleviate their economic status:
3."Zakat is only for the poor, the destitute, the tax collectors, for consolation , the slaves, those who cannot pay their debts, for the cause of God, and for those who have become needy on a journey. Paying zakat is an obligation that God has decreed. [9:60]
Verses 2:177,4:29,5:89 etc make another quantum change in this matter by urging the believers to free those in the shackles of slavery:
4."…But it is righteousness…to spend of your substance out of love for Him…for the ransom of slaves.."[2:177]
5."And whoever kills a believer by mistake, it is ordained that he should free a believing slave.."[4:92]
6."He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation…give a slave his freedom.."[5:89]
contd.
written by Reed Wilson , October 07, 2011
The Qur'an unambiguously states that no man no matter how high a status he may occupy, be that status of a direct recipient of Divine messages even an apostle,no human being has the right to enslave any other human or group of humans, says the Qur’an:
"It is not meet for a mortal that Allah should give him the Book and the wisdom and 'Nabuwah' (apostlehood), then he should say to men: Be my slaves rather than Allah's; but rather (he would say): Be sustenance providers (Rabaniyoon) because of your teaching the Book and your studying (it yourselves)."[3:79]
The above clarifies the basic teaching of the Qur'an in stating that obedience is not due to any human or group of humans’ man made laws but according to the Quran, obedience and subservience is due to Allah alone, which is implemented in human affairs by following his Book (see 6:114) and instances where man subjects man, are described in the Quran as a great injustice. (Ref: Narration of enslavement of Children of Israel by Pharoah and his forces.)
From above and many other verses it is very clear that the Qur'an has abolished slavery, and not upheld it. If their remain certain verses were slaves are mentioned then these are those which were already existing in society from days of ignorance and about whom the Qur’an enjoined a gradual elevation in status leading to their freedom and abolishment of any future enslavement.
Furthermore it is the Quran which is the only and final authority for all matter of Islam and its verdict is final and absolute.
written by Reed Wilson , October 07, 2011
written by Reed Wilson , October 07, 2011
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
www.spencerwatch.com
that will give you all the info you need.
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
What if your son in law was a Muslim? think think duh. Let it go round and round in your head.
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
written by Reed Wilson , October 07, 2011
According to the Quran, obedience and subservience is due to Allah alone, which is implemented in human affairs by following his Book. Obedience is not due to any human or group of humans man made sharia laws. See 6:114 below:
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّـهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
Say, "Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?" And those to whom I previously gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.
Say, "Should I seek any judge other than God? It is He Who has revealed this Book to you with all its intricate details." Those to whom I have given the Book know that the Quran has been revealed to you from your Lord in all Truth. Thus, you must have no doubts about it.
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
On top of that it is just a hate Spencer site...Aaki is a hater...please do not take his advice...
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
Whats all that punk, threats? You really are a freak...You must be a freak, you certainly are no man...You can take your evil little mind and put it where the sun don't shine coward...
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
written by dead or alive , October 07, 2011
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
written by dead or alive , October 07, 2011
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
You are right on the money Dead or...The C church was so powerful and rich it once offered to give someone the entire country of France as a bribe...The term 'raking it in' came from the Church, because the priest would address the masses from the church porch, and the masses threw so much money that other priests had to use rakes and shovels to rake it all in...Many popes were corrupt and morally bankrupt...a few did their own murders...One of the worst things that could happen in those days, was to be put under the 'permanent protection of the Church', it meant you got to live in a dungeon and tortured every day...
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
No wonder people Muslims and non Muslims were willing to give up their children for dewishrme! Education, job, wealth, status, rights etc etc were given!
Remind me what was bad about the dewishrme?
written by dead or alive , October 07, 2011
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
Not the west as we known it, but primarily Europe in the mid ages...As soon as Christianity was declared the official religion of Rome and it's extensions, the dark ages set in...Chaos was conducted by 'The Church' for more than 500 years...Stupidity of the masses was the result...all kinds of superstitious beliefs were formed...For some religious reason people thought it was sinful to bathe...It was said that a French Kings feet smelled so bad they could be smelled across the room...The French developed perfume to cover body odor...No wonder certain diseases were prevalent...
Of course no ancient people knew much about cleanliness, clean food, the glories of hand washing, or underground sewage...Because of that and constant wars and persecutions, the average life expectancy was in the mid twenties...
Things improved significantly after the reformation and the breaking up of Christianity into many sects...Today, Christianity is not a threat to anyone...having grown out of it's jihad phase...Don't you think it's time for Islam to grow out of its jihad phase?
written by aaki , October 07, 2011
written by dead or alive , October 07, 2011
written by duh_swami , October 07, 2011
Yeah right...how shortly is shortly?...Islam already has had 1300 years to grow up...How much more time is needed?
written by dead or alive , October 07, 2011
written by dead or alive , October 07, 2011
written by Buzz , October 07, 2011
written by Deedee , October 08, 2011
It is amusing to watch muslims post quran verses and blabber on with made up excuses to deny documented facts.
Even funnier is a muslim screaming racism.They have no race.They reproduced with and raped every culture,race and sex they got near.They keep trying to claim an individualistic culture off stolen histories,genetics and ethnicities .
Islam won wars off other peoples courage ,they earned money by invading,looting and stealing,gained history by rewriting other's history,built on stolen land with stolen buildings and created a imperialistic dictatorship they call religion stolen from other religions and governments .
A large percent of todays muslims are of Jewish,Indian,Greek and African heritage and genetics.People descended from slaves,forced conversion,raped great grandmothers and stolen children forced to murder to survive.
written by aaki , October 09, 2011
as a descendant of all of that I thank muhammed bin quasim everyday for bringing islam into my life! the guy is a hero in my eyes!
written by fineliving56 , October 09, 2011
So... Robbing,child raping,slave owning,polygamying,mass killing,women hating and every thing a decent humen being, will not do, are the acts that you like to emulate just like your hero….
good for you…
written by duh_swami , October 09, 2011
33:21 is a lie...
What did Mohammad ever do that was 'heroic'?
No wonder Yorkshire is in such terrible shape with hero worshippers like you running around blaspheming Allah...Allah is the only hero...To call a mere man your hero is blasphemy...
But haha, that is your problem, I don't have to answer to Allah, but you do.
written by Yibel , October 09, 2011
The Qur'an proclaims the superiority of the Arab tribe, the superiority of the Arabic language, the superiority of the Arab god of the Ka'aba, the superiority of his messenger, and the superiority of the Qur'an. The Qur'an proclaims that it is the ONE AND ONLY BOOK!!
There is no equality between men and women, no equality between Muslims and non-believers, and no equality between Arab Muslims and non-Arab Muslims. The Arab Muslims of Saudi Arabia despise the Persian Muslims of Iran and the Turk Muslims of Turkey. And all three look down on the black and Hindu Muslims. Abd means slave and it also means black. The Arabs were the greates slavers of all time. Hundreds of millions of Africans and Hindus were enslaved by their Arab conquerors. And are being enslaved, if not murdered, by Muslims worldwide even today.
The Qur'an is all about the superior ethnicity of the Arab and his tribal law. Equality is not in the mix when one group of people think theiy are superior to all others.
written by Reed Wilson , October 10, 2011
Yes because it is neither here nor there in Quran.
"The Qur'an proclaims the superiority of the Arab tribe, the superiority of the Arabic language, the superiority of the Arab god of the Ka'aba, the superiority of his messenger, and the superiority of the Qur'an."
It is also unfounded. Which Quran you consult Yibel?
"There is no equality between men and women."
Quran demonstrates women’s equality in contrast to Biblical tradition. In the Quran it is clear that Adam and Eve are equally guilty for listening to Satan. The fall of mankind from the Garden of Eden is not blamed on Eve. This is shown more than once in the Quran (2:34-36, 7:19-22, 7:27). I give just one example:
"The Satan swore to them, "I am giving you good advice." He thus duped them with lies. As soon as they tasted the tree, their bodies became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Their Lord called upon them: "Did I not enjoin you from that tree, and warn you that the devil is your most ardent enemy?" (7:20-22)
written by Reed Wilson , October 10, 2011
[33:35] The submitting men, the submitting women, the believing men, the believing women, the obedient men, the obedient women, the truthful men, the truthful women, the steadfast men, the steadfast women, the reverent men, the reverent women, the charitable men, the charitable women, the fasting men, the fasting women, the chaste men, the chaste women, and the men who commemorate GOD frequently, and the commemorating women; GOD has prepared for them forgiveness and a great recompense.
[40:40] Whoever commits a sin is requited for just that, and whoever works righteousness - male or female - while believing, these will enter Paradise wherein they receive provisions without any limits.
The Only Criterion For Distinguishing Among People.
[49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.
Yibel you do you know any other scripture, in its present disposition, which so discretely defines equality? Which you suggest me to follow if not Quran?
written by Reed Wilson , October 10, 2011
written by fineliving56 , October 10, 2011
you are being dishonest and every one is on to you
You know about the Ayes that contradicts the Ayas you brought…that only mean …Allah can not make its own mind in ITS Quran…
does Allah love women or he hates women.
I do not care about the ayes you brought it does not change my life and all moslimah's lives …I care about the rights that Muslim women should have and Islam took them away from them.
Tear your pathetic Ayes and through them some where …
What do expect from a muslim man…I do not know?
You call black, white and you call your self a good humen being.
arase the word Idrubohonah from 4/34, first and then come back and talk about your stinky Quranic equality…
Your post just literally made me sick to my stomach.
written by Machmoed , October 11, 2011
"Fight those of the People of the Book who do not [truly] believe in God and the Last Day, who do not forbid what God and His Messenger have forbidden, who do not obey the rule of justice, until they pay the tax and agree to submit."
It's clear about superiority. Who made them the authority in the first place.......they say Allah did. Don't you see the backwardness and even the evil in this?
written by Archpagan , October 16, 2011
Hi Aki, if so, you should ask the Iraqis and Afghans to worship George Bush as a Hero and stop fighting America. Are you ashamed being descendant of a nincompoop who was forced to accept Islam? If yes, revert to your ancestral faith.
