According to Sharia, only a prisoner of war captured in the lands of Christians or Jews could be a slave in the Great Horde. A slave’s child is also a slave. If a Muslim recognized him as his son, he became a free man.
The Crimean Khanate (Tartaria Przecopensis Rus. «Perekop Tartary») on the map of 1644.
Muslim prisoners of war were freed from slavery. Even if it’s from a Christian country. The treatment of slaves ranged from cruel to merciful:
In one of the stories, we are talking about a Ghulam named Rizwan bin Abdullah, who refused to perform his household duties, despite the fact that he was actually a slave. His owner, Server, along with her husband, Allahverdi, went to court (!) to influence Rizvan with the help of a judicial decision. However, Rizvan objected to all the claims of his masters that they did not call him anything else than their son. There were witnesses who confirmed his testimony. As a result, the Sharia court recognized Rizwan bin Abdullah as free — Oleg Dilyaverovich Rustemov’s article ON THE RIGHTS OF SLAVES AND THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR RELEASE IN THE CRIMEAN KHANATE
At the same time, slaves were considered animate creatures. Therefore, Sharia recognized their right to go to court. What they and their masters did if the slave did not obey.
Bakhchisarai in Kustodiev’s painting
The official status of slaves in the Crimean Khanate: mutekavvım mal is a thing, a property that is allowed to be used.
From the standard inventory of property:
«… from the price of 2 horses, Siyavush aga has 40 khasene (gold coin); from the cost of a khan’s ceremonial dress (raht): 25 khasene; a slave named Lalezar (?) khasene; a Cossack named Sabanji: 30 khasene; a Cossack named Nesukhi: 30 khasene; a shepherd Chora 35 khasene; a slave 30 hasene; brown bull: 5 hasene; red-brown bull 5 hasene; mottled bull 5 hasene; gray bull 5 hasene; other red-brown bull: 5 hasene; gray bull 3½ hasene; other red-brown bull 5 hasene; red-brown bull 3 hasene; brown bull with white spots 3 hasene; the other red-brown bull 3 hasene…»
The children of slaves cost twice as much as livestock, and adult slaves were three times more expensive than pets.
Slaves in the Great Horde of Desht-i-Kipchak had more rights than serfs in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.:
-It was possible to convert to Islam. Muslim slaves were exempt from hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) and zekyat (annual tax) because they did not own personal property. Friday or holiday prayer in a Muslim gathering was also not obligatory for them, as was participation in jihad or payment of taxes in connection with its conduct.
-They had the right to marry, and Jariye slaves had the right to marry free Muslims. She could marry him with the permission of the owner. Also, with the permission of the master, a slave could marry a slave. At the same time, weaning a child under the age of eight from his mother was considered illegal. Slaves were not allowed to separate their wives from their husbands
-with the permission of the master, and they were allowed to trade with his money. Such slaves had the status of abd-i mesun
Circassian slaves had a special status. Since they did not convert to Islam until the end of the 17th century, they were captured and made into a privileged palace guard, the kapy kulu. Many were sent to the Ottoman Empire for military service.
The Kapy-kulu obeyed only the khans of the Great Horde. They were getting paid. The Capa Kulu commanders participated in divans (councils). The total number of kapa-kulu is 3,000 soldiers.
Ordinary slaves had a lifetime of service in slavery. After seven years, they were eligible for release.
Upon the accession of the new khan to the throne, all slave owners were charged a Tamga tax of five silver kurush per head. Sometimes the Khans tried to reintroduce it. But it usually ended in a riot, as the sum of five kurushis was significant.
Coins of the Crimean Khanate
I can also redeem myself under kitabet, an agreement on my own redemption. Of course, his relatives who remained in his homeland could help him with this.
Slaves were often released in honor of a Muslim holiday or commemoration of deceased relatives. To do this, the master brought the slave to court, where he declared them free in the name of Allah’s mercy. The clerk of the court gave the slave a document with his data and distinguishing features stating that he was free.