Copyright © 2009, S. E. Jihad Levine, All Rights Reserved"And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice."
3 comments:
As Salamu Alaikum,
What do you think of Surah An-Nisa's mentioning of captives and slaves as 'right hand possessions'. I know that a lot of non-Muslims love to attack Islam on this.
Wa Alaikum As Salaam Ikram:
Not to give tafseer, but that's the way it was back in the Prophet's (saw) time. My understanding is that the prisoners of war (captives) were given the opportunity to accept Islam. If they did, they "freed" them. If not, they were taken as slaves.
Some people say that the men were permitted to have sex with the female slaves - even if it was against her will.
Only Allah (swt) knows the "wisdom" behind this.
Many people forget slavery existed and was permitted in Islam (a slave was property of another person).
Such a notion is not to be entertained today, but it doesn't mean Islam is outdated. Islam permitted travelling on a camel but no one does that nowadays, yet Islam isn't attacked on that point!
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