And this is what creating the current problems, isn't it? Not telling people that this things are downright wrong and you should keep away from them. People were not told keeping a slave is wrong, but freeing a slave is good thing. Two have a big difference.
The Quran clearly says there is no compulsion in religion...It is a chosen way of life not a forced cult!
2ndly, they were told every single thing to abolish it...
1) Every human is equal and killing every form of discrimination by saying everyone came from 1 and a single source so none is more special than the other EXCEPT in terms of deeds
"AND MANKIND IS NAUGHT BUT A SINGLE NATION." Holy Quran 2:213
"O Mankind: We created you from a male and a female; and made you into tribes and nations that you may get to know each other. and verily, most honored before God is the most virtuous." – Qur’an English Translation [49:13]
No ranks based on religion, race, colour, creed, birth right or whatever....
2) Helping poor and being nothing but just to them:
To only bow to truth and nothing else not even falsehood from your kin or parents or your own whims! Be just! Even for the poor!
“O Muslims! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity without partiality, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of ALLAH, even though it is against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned is rich or poor, ALLAH's claim takes precedence over both the cases. Do not follow personal inclination, lest you not be just. And if you will try to distort or refuse to testify, indeed ALLAH is aware of all that you do!”
And also asked to spend for them....charity....when you go out to give charity you will see the poor and as a normal human feel their pain....You will also raise the standard by giving regular charity and ensure circulation of wealth...equality to even the poor..
"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing." – Qur’an English Translation [2:177]
3) giving them rights:
Marriage to a slave (something that wasnt even imagined in some parts of the world in the early 19th century and we are talking about a practice and the mentality of 14th century people....)
4) Promoting freeing a slave: something many wouldnt even think of as having a slave was a symbol of status and culturally it was right!
Like @
Oscar said
when today entire organizations are not changed overnight and people pay millions for change consultants who do the EXACT gradual change that Islam did.. you might say that is brilliant.. but here because its a demonized religion.. we have a bandwagon of people finding whatever they can at fault.
You are talking about the mindset and cultures of century old!
A religion, no matter which, is based on certain mindset of certain period. Unless it can evolve with time and changing moralities, it is wrong. And if it can be changed/inferred differently with time, it is imperfect.
I already quoted A FEW of the verses giving rights to slave....and then there are verses stating to ponder now if man read the quran as a single book linking and pondering these verses is no rocket science!
As for forcing nothing is forcible in Quran!
Depends. From my point of view a religion should declare what is right and what is wrong straightaway. But that's just me.
Then people declare it extremist and control freak...its best man comes to religion himself and learns it over it ordering one to do something or another and then getting rejected, right?
I mean Islam already has conditions and laws which we who have declared are willing to follow are following and everyday you will see threads questioning why we follow...
Even something as simple as dietary stuff, clothes we wear, how we behave, neighbour right, spouse rights, marriage.....even about slavery is in the Quran if only one read...But it is our choice for us to follow each!