Are prisoners of war enslaved according to Islam?

Answer

If in Jihad captives of war are taken, the Islamic State has three options:

(a) Execute them (b) Set them free (c) Assign them to slavery. This was the law of Islam since the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), and it remains valid until the Day of Qiyaamah. Islam has introduced numerous measures of kindness to the slaves, and these measures led to the eventual dying out of slavery. But, the Law has not been abrogated. If the need arises, the Islamic State has the right to re-introduce it.

This Islamic Law should not be confused with the atrocities committed against the Yazidis and the Christians by ISIS. In fact, according to ISIS the followers of the Math-habs too are kaafir and may be killed and enslaved.