Slavery
King Abdulaziz was distinguished by mercy and humanity. Before the unification of the Arabian Peninsula, the trade of enslaved people was socially accepted and had been practiced for centuries, due to the ease with which traders transported captured Africans across the Red Sea and sold them throughout the Peninsula.
In 1355 AH / 1936 CE, King Abdulaziz ordered the prohibition of this trade, although it was not completely eliminated due to his preoccupation with building the state.
After his death—may Allah have mercy on him—and with his son King Saud assuming power, and in light of global social changes and the Kingdom’s desire to keep pace with them, King Saud saw the importance of abolishing the system of slavery and issuing an explicit law to that effect.
He ordered the formation of a committee to study the matter in 1380 AH / 1960 CE, chaired by the Minister of Interior at the time, Prince Abdulmohsin bin Abdulaziz, assisted by Sheikh Muhammad Al‑Harkan, Secretary‑General of the Muslim World League, along with other advisors.
In the presence of King Saud, on 9 Jumada II 1382 AH / 6 November 1962 CE, the Decree of Emancipation was issued. Prince Faisal affirmed:
“This is among the measures that the Government of His Majesty the King wishes to implement.”
The decree also included financial compensation from the government for anyone who freed enslaved individuals, in order to encourage citizens to do so as quickly as possible.
**Under the Direction of King Saud:
Prince Faisal’s Ministerial Statement on the New Domestic Policy of the State**
The Ministerial Statement
Delivered by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the first meeting of the newly formed Saudi Cabinet on 9 Jumada II 1382 AH / 6 November 1962 CE.
After Their Royal Highnesses and Their Excellencies the Ministers took the constitutional oath before His Majesty the King in the Royal Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday morning, they proceeded to the headquarters of the Council of Ministers, where the Council held its first session under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal.
He began the session in the name of Allah, welcomed all members, and prayed that Allah grant success to their efforts. He then said:
“There is no doubt that we all seek the public good, and we ask Allah Almighty to guide us toward achieving these goals, which are for the benefit of our country and our nation, God willing.”
He then read the following address:
The Address
“Since the dawn of its establishment, the Saudi state has been determined to engage with full seriousness and strength in a purposeful process of nation‑building. Many long years of toil and struggle passed, during which the late King Abdulaziz—may Allah have mercy on him—walked a difficult path and fought fierce battles, after which he succeeded in establishing the foundations of this great and lofty structure.
Then came the phase of laying the groundwork for our renaissance. Although the importance of such foundational work is not always visible to the naked eye, and although the flow of oil revenues began only recently in historical terms, the Government of His Majesty King Saud—thanks to his wise guidance—was able to benefit from this vital resource and to make its effects visible quickly, despite the vast distances of the Kingdom, the harshness of its desert environment, and the scarcity of qualified personnel.
The Government of His Majesty is pleased to announce that, as a result of this continuous and strenuous effort, the time has come for the citizens of this noble nation to begin reaping the fruits of their labor, and to prepare to continue harvesting the fruits of future efforts.
The Government of His Majesty will redouble its efforts to develop and strengthen the structure of this young state, and to elevate its citizens to the position befitting a people who, since the dawn of Arab history, have been the launching point of true Arab identity and a source of radiance for the eternal Islamic civilization.”
In order to reap the fruits of progress and to intensify efforts toward developing the state structure, the Government of His Majesty has established a comprehensive reform program, the most important elements of which may be summarized as follows:
First:
Since the system of governance in any state must reflect the true level of development reached by its society, the Government of His Majesty has been keen to advance Saudi society—scientifically, culturally, and socially—so that its progress may be reflected in an elevated system of governance that embodies the eternal and noble objectives of our blessed Sharia.
Over time, several practical developments have occurred in the structure of Saudi governance, reflecting the evolution of our society and simultaneously guiding it toward a higher level.
The Government of His Majesty believes that the time has now come to issue a Basic Law of Governance, derived from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger, and the example of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. This law will clearly outline the fundamental principles of governance, the relationship between ruler and ruled, the organization of state authorities, and the rights of citizens—including the right to express opinions within the bounds of Islamic belief and public order.
The previous government had already begun developing the Shura Council so that it may fulfill its role as a legislative authority. This study, along with forthcoming additions and amendments, will form part of the Basic Law of Governance, which will be issued soon, God willing. It will faithfully reflect the honorable level our nation has reached and will serve as a distinguished model of Islamic governance derived from the texts and spirit of Sharia.
What facilitates the achievement of this lofty goal is that the principles of our tolerant Sharia are flexible, adaptable, and suitable for all circumstances, capable of application in every time and place according to the needs of each.
Second:
The Government of His Majesty has not limited its efforts to establishing a central system of governance; it has also conducted various studies to establish a Provincial System that clarifies the method of local governance in the different regions of the Kingdom. These studies have matured to the point that the system will soon be ready for implementation, and once issued, it will play an effective role in advancing administrative, political, and social development in our young nation.
Third:
The Government of His Majesty is committed to upholding the sanctity and status of the judiciary, for it is the foundation of justice and the symbol of fairness. The stronger and more independent the judiciary becomes, the closer we come to fulfilling a fundamental pillar of our noble Islamic faith.
We have resolved to intensify efforts toward this goal by issuing a system guaranteeing judicial independence, overseen by a Supreme Judicial Council.
We have also decided to establish a Ministry of Justice to supervise the administrative affairs of the judiciary, along with a Public Prosecution Office to safeguard citizens’ rights, defend the oppressed, and restrain wrongdoers in cooperation with the courts.
Fourth:
Since the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah are finite, while the events and developments of life are infinite, and since our young state bases its governance—praise be to Allah—on the Qur’an and Sunnah in both letter and spirit, it has become necessary to grant greater attention to fatwa, and to ensure that our scholars play an active role in addressing emerging issues and providing solutions derived from Sharia and serving the interests of Muslims.
For this purpose, the Government of His Majesty has decided to establish a Council of Fatwa, consisting of twenty of the finest scholars, to examine matters referred to it by the state and to respond to questions and consultations from Muslims. This council will serve as a powerful instrument for enlightening minds and removing obstacles to sound progress.
Fifth:
The Government of His Majesty fully recognizes its duty to work diligently to spread the call of Islam, strengthen its foundations, and defend it in word and deed. It has taken—and will continue to take—all necessary measures to fulfill this noble obligation.
Sixth:
Since the foremost characteristic of this great Islamic nation is that it is “the best nation brought forth for mankind,” enjoining good and forbidding evil, and since Islam places great emphasis on this noble function, the Sharia has clarified its virtue and the virtue of those who uphold it. It obligates them to call to Allah with wisdom and good counsel, striving to fill hearts with truth, goodness, and love.
Therefore, the Government of His Majesty has decided to immediately reform the Committees for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, ensuring that their work aligns with the lofty objectives for which they were established, and that they help remove the causes of wrongdoing from people’s hearts to the best of our ability.
Seventh:
The Government of His Majesty believes that one of its most important duties is to elevate the social standard of the nation. The state has played major and effective roles in this field:
- providing free medical treatment inside and outside the Kingdom,
- offering free education at all levels,
- granting generous stipends to many students,
- sponsoring thousands of students abroad in various fields of knowledge,
- exempting many food items from customs duties,
- and providing large subsidies to reduce prices for consumers.
The recently established Social Security System now makes the state fully responsible for the livelihood of every elderly person, disabled individual, orphan, and woman entitled to support. It will not be long before every needy person receives what ensures a dignified life.
When the state provides workers with a system protecting them from unemployment, we will have reached a social level that remains a dream for many advanced nations, achieving true social justice without infringing on individual freedoms or confiscating people’s wealth and rights.
The Government of His Majesty will not limit itself to ensuring basic needs and employment opportunities; it also seeks to introduce important changes to social life and to provide means of recreation for all citizens.
Eighth:
The Government of His Majesty believes that the economic, commercial, and social development witnessed in recent years still lacks sufficient organization. Therefore, a large number of important regulations will soon be issued, enabling the state to build a comprehensive regulatory framework that promotes activity, accelerates progress, and attracts investment.
Independent agencies will be established to implement these regulations, all in accordance with the eternal Sharia and in service of the nation’s highest interests.
Ninth:
Financial stability and economic development are among the government’s foremost concerns. In addition to maintaining the Kingdom’s strong financial position internationally, the Government of His Majesty has taken—and will continue to take—decisive measures to implement tangible reform programs that will ensure lasting economic vitality and a high standard of living for all citizens.
Among the most significant upcoming projects is a major national road network connecting all regions and cities of the Kingdom. Tens of millions of riyals will be allocated to study water sources and provide water for agriculture and drinking. The government will also build dams to store rainwater and provide grazing lands.
Light and heavy industries will receive strong support to protect them and attract investment. With Allah’s help, the Kingdom will soon become an industrial nation with agricultural self‑sufficiency and diversified sources of income, enabling it to fulfill its duties toward its noble people.
In addition to the funds allocated in the state budget for development projects, the Government of His Majesty has decided to allocate all additional amounts received from ARAMCO—related to past dues—to a special productive budget dedicated entirely to development projects such as roads, dams, and public facilities. This will provide a strong boost to the Kingdom’s economy and accelerate many reconstruction projects.
Final steps are underway to establish an Industrial Bank and an Agricultural Bank, and the General Petroleum and Minerals Organization will soon come into existence. These institutions, along with others, will help reveal the nation’s resources and develop its mineral wealth.
Tenth:
It is well known that Islamic law encourages the freeing of slaves, and that the conditions required by Sharia for lawful enslavement are no longer present in modern times. Since its establishment, the Saudi state has faced the issue of slavery and has worked gradually to eliminate it—first by banning its importation and imposing penalties, then by prohibiting its sale and purchase.
The government now finds the opportunity appropriate to declare the complete abolition of slavery and the emancipation of all enslaved persons, with compensation provided to those who are legally entitled to it.
These are some of the fundamental measures that the Government of His Majesty has resolved to implement. There are, without doubt, many other matters of concern to the government, and each will be announced in due time. We ask Allah to guide our steps and grant us success in what pleases Him.
**From Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz,
in his book “Images from the Life of Abdulaziz”**
“My father—may Allah have mercy on him—liberated the Arabian Peninsula from corrupt beliefs, various forms of injustice and bondage, and the exploitation of man by his fellow man.
He freed both nomads and townspeople from fear and from the khawa—a payment imposed on travelers for protection by those controlling the regions they passed through.
He freed the Bedouins from raids, plunder, and the domination of tribal chiefs.
A man who fought all forms of oppression and enslavement could not possibly harbor a love of ownership in his heart.
When Islam appeared, the Arabian Peninsula—like other ancient lands—was filled with the trade of slaves. Although Islam did not immediately prohibit slave ownership, it took a clear humanitarian stance for that era, encouraging the freeing of slaves and promising great reward for doing so.
My father, who lived by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, applied this in word and deed. He encouraged the freeing of slaves, even though they were not slaves in the old sense; they were free people, not forced into labor or coerced. My father welcomed them and their families into his home, and most of their children were our friends and companions.
My family—known as Al‑Talal in the royal household—were among the first to free all those in our service in the late 1360s and early 1370s AH, with my father’s knowledge and approval. I never saw them as anything but brothers and sisters.
As for the abolition of slavery throughout Saudi Arabia, it began in 1380 AH / 1960 CE during the reign of King Saud—may Allah have mercy on him—when I was a member of his government. A committee was formed by royal order, chaired by Prince Abdulmohsin bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, with Sheikh Muhammad Al‑Harkan, then Chief Judge of Jeddah, and others as members.
The matter was delayed due to the resignation of the cabinet and the illness of King Saud, after which authority was transferred to King Faisal—may Allah have mercy on him—who was then Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
King Faisal completed what King Saud had begun, and slavery was abolished throughout the Kingdom.
I narrated this account for the historical record in an interview published in Al‑Madinah newspaper in Dhul‑Qa‘dah 1401 AH / 1981 CE, during the lifetime of both Prince Abdulmohsin bin Abdulaziz—later Governor of Madinah, who passed away in 1405 AH / 1985 CE—and Sheikh Muhammad Al‑Harkan—later Secretary‑General of the Muslim World League, who passed away in 1402 AH / 1983 CE.”