Neither Judaism or Christianity viewed the institution of slavery as wicked or unjust, and although there were prohibitions on cruel behaviour towards slaves, the idea of treating human beings as objects to be owned is nowhere condemned. The same applies to the other great monotheistic religion of Islam. The Qur’an and the Hadith, a collection of stories about Mohammed which also details some of his teachings, both set strict limitations upon the practice, but there is no condemnation of slavery qua slavery. It is treated as just another unremarkable part of everyday life.
