The meaning of enslavement in Islam

Can you please clarify the subject of Slaves in Islam. In TheKoran,
there are many mentions of this term in particular the instance where
man is the slave to his Master Allah, which I fully understand and
agree. But in many instances the Koran cites where one man/woman is
the slave of another man/woman. In what context has Allah made this
permissible, if it is permissible. Your clarification onthis subject
would be most grateful.
Praise be to Allaah.
The enslavement of the Muslim to Allaah, may He be glorified, is what
He had commanded in His Book and is the Message with which He sent the
Messengers, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a
Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep
away from) Taaghoot (all false deities, i.e. do not worship Taaghoot
besides Allaah)" [al-Nahl 16:36].
The word 'Uboodiyyah (enslavement) in Arabic comes from the word
Ta'beed (enthrallment, subjugation). The phrase 'abbadtu'l-tareeq
means "I made the way smooth and easy to walk on." The enslavement of
the slave to Allaah has two meanings, one general and one specific. If
by "slave" I mean al-mu'abbad, i.e., one who is subjugated, this is
the general meaning which includes every created thing in the both the
higher and the lower realms, sentient and otherwise, animate and
inanimate, moving and stationary, kaafir and mu'min, righteous and
immoral, for every creature is subjugated by Allaah and is subject to
His control, and for each of them there is a limit at which it stops.
If by "slave" I mean al-'aabid, one who worships Allaah and obeys His
commands, this meaning applies specifically to the believers to the
exclusion of the kaafireen, because the believers are the true slaves
of Allaah who attribute Lordship and Divinity to Him Alone and
recognize Him by His Names andAttributes, and do not associate
anything with Him. As Allaah says in the story of Iblees
(interpretation of the meaning):
"[Iblees (Satan)] said: 'O my Lord! Because You misled me, I shall
indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on theearth, and I
shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided)slaves among
them.' (Allaah) said: 'This is the Way which will lead straight to Me.
Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those
who follow you of the Ghaawoon (Mushrikoon and those who go astray,
criminals, polytheists, and evildoers).'" [al-Hijr 15:39-42]
With regard to the 'ibaadah (worship) which Allaah enjoins upon us,
this is a word which includes everything that Allaah loves and is
pleased with of words and deeds, both open and hidden, and excludes
anything that may cancel that out. This definition includes the
Shahaadatayn, Salaah, Hajj, fasting, jihaad for the sake of Allaah,
enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and believing in
Allaah, the angels, the Messengers and the Last Day. The basis for
this worship is purity of intention, so that theaim of the worshipper
is to seekthe Face of Allaah, may He be glorified, and the Home of the
Hereafter. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) will be far removed from it (Hell). He
who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification, And who has
(in mind) no favour from anyone to be paid back, Except to seek the
Countenance of his Lord, the Most High. He surely, will be pleased
(when he will enter Paradise)." [al-Layl 92:17-21]
So purity of intention is essential, as is sincerity, so that the
believer strives to follow what Allaah has commanded and to avoid what
He has forbidden, prepares himself for the Meeting with Allaah (may He
be exalted), gives up feeling helpless and lazy, and refrains from
following his own desires, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are
true (in words and deeds)." [al-Tawbah 9:119]
It is also essential to follow the Messenger (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him), so the worshipper should worship Allaah in
accordance with what He has prescribed and not in accordance with what
created beings desire or innovate. This is the aim of following the
Prophet who was sent from Allaah, Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him). Purity of intention, sincerity and following the
Messenger are all essential. Oncethese matters are understood, then it
will be clear to us that everything that goes against these essentials
is in fact enslavement to people. So showing off is a form of
enslavement to people; Shirk is aform of enslavement to people;
neglecting Allaah's commands and angering the Lord in order to earn
people's approval is a form of enslavement to people. ...

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