Diallo’s story: Koran around the neck, slave with a bitter smile on his face

The life, struggle and faith of Ayub Suleiman Diallo is here before us as a rare picture.

Diallo was born in Senegal in 1701 and had a remarkable memory. He had memorized the Quran at a young age. Also, his family was known and respected for its piety.

The year 1731 was a turning point in Diallo’s life when he was captured by slave traders on a voyage and put on a ship bound for America.

Some Western sources state that Diallo’s father was also a slave trader and that he went on the trip to make some deals on his father’s behalf.

It is most likely that the traders who captured and enslaved Diallo were also Muslims.

Diallo, who managed to survive the long journey, was sold to an American family and forced to work in a tobacco field.

During this period Diallo, who suffered from all kinds of discrimination and abuse, tried to fulfill his religious duties. But the owners were extremely cruel.

Finally they made a decision and preferred to escape rather than remain as slaves in this land. Then they were caught. They were beaten, tortured and eventually imprisoned.

In prison, Diallo met Thomas Blutt, one of God’s faithful servants.

Blut treated Diallo as sympathetically as he could and tried to deliver a letter to his father to his master.

This letter fell into the hands of James Edward Oglethorpe.

James Oglethorpe, one of the region’s wealthy colonial owners, wondered what a slave might have written. This letter was translated into Arabic by Oxford University.

James was deeply moved by what was written in the letter. They immediately ransomed Diallo, freed him and took him to Britain.

This opened a whole new page in Diallo’s life. English aristocrats and clergy began to visit Diallo. The fact that a black slave was so intelligent and loyal influenced the view of slavery in England.

Diallo was a figure who changed all ideologies.

He used to provide surprising answers to the most controversial religious issues from Islam. Despite all the odds, his genius earned him great respect in England.

Instead of using this opportunity for personal gain and immediately returning to his hometown, Diallo dedicated himself to protecting the rights of black slaves in England and around the world until 1934.

The fact that William Hoyer’s portrait as ‘Lucky Slave’ depicts Diallo in an English aristocratic environment is actually a result of Hoyer’s appreciative attitude. However, they are depicted with turbans and local clothes, which are said to be respectful of their culture and beliefs.

With this frame, Hoyer conveyed the message that black slaves had the same rights as whites and that the white man was not inferior.

The Holy Quran around the neck of ‘Lucky Slave’ also shows Diallo’s determination to demonstrate his faith.

This unique painting is kept in Qatar Museum.

Diallo returned to his country in 1734 and led a quiet life until his death in 1773.

Although the British were sympathetic to Diallo, they continued the slave trade until 1833.

It is estimated that about 40 percent of the slaves smuggled from Africa to America were Muslim.

For example, when an Ottoman ship accidentally landed on the coast of Brazil in 1865, most of its slaves were Muslims.

Abdul Rahman of Baghdad used to help the Muslim slaves here as much as he could.

We know from historical documents that from the 15th century there was a series of slave abductions and trade from Africa to the Americas.

Most of the black slaves were abducted from Muslim-populated areas such as Ghana, Mali, Socotro, Kanem Borno, Songe and Sudan.

The first problem addressed in the discipline of slaves brought to the continent was undoubtedly their religious beliefs. Black slaves were once again forced to hide their religion through coercion and violence.

In 1733, William Hoyer of Bath painted this portrait of Diallo wearing traditional West African dress.

The painting was previously purchased by the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) at Christie’s in November 2009.

This article was previously published on Independent Turkey.

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