How many African slaves were taken to the Islamic world?

The approximate number of African slaves taken to the Islamic world during the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean slave trades is estimated to be around 7 million. This figure reflects the scale of the slave trade that occurred over several centuries, which involved the forced transportation of millions of Africans, primarily from regions south of the Sahara to various parts of the Islamic world, including North Africa and the Middle East.

This context is significant as it highlights the historical and cultural impacts of these migrations, shaping societies and economies across the regions involved. The movements of these individuals were not just about the labor they provided, but also about the cultural exchanges and transformations that occurred as a result of their forced displacement. Understanding this figure helps grasp the complexity and ramifications of historical slavery within the Islamic context, differentiating it from other types of enslavement, such as that which occurred in the Atlantic slave trade.