How is one to respond to the claim that Islam has some laws that go against the principles of justice and equality? For example, the majority of Muslim scholars maintain the view that if a free man murders a slave, the free man is not sentenced to death. They quote the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to support this view. How is one to respond to someone’s claim that this is not justice since all humans are equal in their right to life? There should be no difference between free people and slaves or males and females. Where is equality in this example?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The free man is not sentenced to death in retribution for killing a slave, as has been stated by the majority of Muslim scholars. Islam is nevertheless the religion of justice and equality. Islam regulates the various aspects of human life; it sets laws that regulate business transactions, penalties, and others. We should keep in mind that this life is a test rather than a pleasure. The slave will receive multiple rewards if he fully keeps up with his duties.

Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “The slave will receive a double-reward if he keeps sincere to his master and exerts himself in the worship of Allah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Justice and equality do not necessarily mean that people are equal in everything. Humans must have differences. While some people rule, others are ruled; some are noble and others ignoble; some are rich and others poor; and there are males and females. These are differences that must exist in every human setting.

Even though it makes logical sense that if a freeman kills a slave, the freeman is not sentenced to death and the perpetrator only pays blood money, we cannot measure Allah’s laws against human logic. There are many things that our minds are not able to grasp. Rather, the Muslim submits to Allah’s laws as they are. Allah, the Almighty, says (what means): {But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you [O Muhammad] judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.} [Quran 4: 65]

Allah is the Lord of Justice. Allah knows what works best for humans. If someone disbelieves in Allah’s justice, then there will be many other people who believe in it. We advise you not to pay heed to the claims of the atheists. Atheists are disbelievers; their only mission is to alter Allah’s religion and replace it with manmade ideologies.    

Allah knows best