This is an old question and Muslim theologians have debated it for
centuries and non-Musllim philosophers have also debated it for millenia;
my understanding is that what is or is not a commendable or a condemnable
action is dependent upon the Will of God at any particular time/place. So,
at some point in time, owning slaves or having multiple wives was not
condemnable. Now, they are.
Things didn't magically change in 1844, nor in 610, nor in year 30. Think
continuum.
Iskandar
On Mon, 8 May 2006, Gilberto Simpson wrote:
> The value of human freedom and autonomy didn't magically change in
> 1844 (or whatever year Bahais say this particular rule changed). If
> slavery is definitely and clearly wrong now in any meaningful sense,
> then it was also wrong when Muhammad permitted it (audhibillah). And
> if slavery was actually okay back then, then it is possible to justify
> some form of it even today.
>
> What rubs me the wrong way is a kind of "Simon Says" approach to
> morality where there are no underlying principles besides "whatever
> the manifestation says goes".
>
> Even before the Bab and Bahaullah, people in the West were questioning
> the morality of slavery. And even in the prophet's time there were
> certain standards and principles to encourage good treatment and to
> encourage the emancipation of slaves.
>
> -Gilberto
>
> On 5/8/06, Iskandar Hai, M.D. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > On Sun, 7 May 2006, Gilberto Simpson wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > > cannot
> > > > practice bigamy, have a clear cut prohibition against slavery,
> > >
> > > Except the Bab and Bahaullah both owned slaves.
> > >
> > > -G
> > >
> >
> > The Bab and Baha'u'llah had slaves because They bought them under Islamic
> > Dispensation shari`ah law before the onset of the Baha'i Dispensation when
> > slavery was not forbidden by Islam.
> >
> > Iskandar
> >
> >
> >
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