Slavery is approved by Quran and was practiced during Prophet’s time and later.
Do you think it would bring us closer to Islam’s early era if we re-start slavery today?
In my opinion slavery was kept in Islam only because it was difficult to get rid of it right away, because it was ingrained in society in those times. Islam encouraged freedom of slaves as much as possible, thus gradually getting rid of all slaves and the concept of slavery.
So I think it would be wrong to start slavery in present day.
Re: Restarting the institution of slavery in Islam
You are 100% right about the reason why it was kept and how Prophet SAW taught us to deal with the slaves. He himself made the best example.
Islam brought slaves to present day domestic servants/maids level where they were respected, had rights that were never thought of before and were very well taken care of. Also a big point is that it was highly encouraged to free slaves and the reward from Allah was so much that from some other higher degree deeds were measured against it.
All the history of pre-Islamic slavery and the one during Prophet SAW's life guides us that Allah likes those who free slaves from bondage and in some cases companions let their captive slaves (taken during wars) earn their freedom by doing jobs at farms and other jobs. So eventually it was meant to be eradicated from the society. The need of having domestic servant will always going to be naturally fulfilled by poor people needing labor jobs. Thats the way worlds' ecomony runs.
Re: Restarting the institution of slavery in Islam
This is the best explanation that I have found regarding the justification of continuing the practice of slavery in early Islam. And personally I agree with it too.
But the point of this thread is that, I think, if this interpretation of Quranic verses is accepted then it can have far-reaching implications on many other verses.