Ma malakat aymanukum
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Ma malakat aymanukum ("what your right hands possess" ما ملكت أيمانهن) is a scriptural reference in the Qur'an to female slaves.
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[edit] Overview
The term itself is normally considered to refer to prisoners of war, or more broadly to slaves in general, according to the classic tafsirs (e.g., Ibn Kathir); however, some (e.g., Muhammad Asad) have proposed alternative explanations, whereby it would mean "one's rightful spouse" [1] Bernard Lewis proposes the translation "those whom you own."[2]
The general term maa malakat aymanukum (literally "what your right hands possess" or "anything owned blessed to you") appears fourteen times in the Qur'an, in the following Arabic variations:
| Arabic | Literal translation |
|---|---|
| ما ملكت أيمانكم | what your (masculine plural) right hands possess |
| ما ملكت أيمانهم | what their (masculine plural) right hands possess |
| ما ملكت أيمانهن | what their (feminine plural) right hands possess |
| ما ملكت يمينك | what your right hands possess |
| الذين ملكت أيمانكم | Those whom your (masculine plural) right hands possess |
[edit] "Ma malakat aymanukum" in the Qur'an
The main points about "those whom one's right hands possess" in the Qur'an are:
[edit] Sexual Intercourse
In Islamic Divine Law (Arabic: Sharia), Ma malakat aymanukum is the term for slaves or captives of war.
It is lawful to have sexual intercourse with those "that your right hand possess" (i.e. female slaves owned by the master) according to the translations of the Quran by Yusufali, Pickthal, and Shakir.[2]
[edit] Dress codes
An-Nur 30–33, in the course of laying down the familiar dress code of Islam, explains that women "should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty" except to various familiar people, including those "whom their right hands possess". Al-Ahzab 55 makes it explicit that the same liberty is given to the Prophet's wives.
An-Nur 58 says that "those whom your right hands possess" and underage children should ask a believer's permission (before they come to their presence) at the three times of day when one is likely to be undressed.
[edit] They cannot be forced into prostitution if they desire chastity
An-Nur 24:44 states, "But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them),"
[edit] Being good to them
An-Nisa 36 reminds us that a believer should do good to a variety of people, including "what your right hands possess".
an-Nahl 71 and ar-Rum 28 both use the same metaphor: just as the fortunate among people do not share their wealth with "those whom their right hands possess" to the point of making them equals, nor fear them as they fear each other, so does God with people, bestowing more on some than others, but never making them equals, let alone fearing them.
[edit] Traditional Sunni and Shi'a viewpoints
According to all four Sunni madhhabs and Shi'a Islam, the rights and duties of those "right hand possessions" are as follows:[citation needed]
- Juridically they were considered as property or at least the responsibility of their master.
- They could not marry or divorce without their master's permission.
- Her master had the right to dissolve her marriage if he did not approve it.
- Her master was allowed to have sex with her if she was unmarried.
As soon as she was impregnated by her master, her status changed to "mudabbar", which entitled her to additional rights:[3]
- She was entitled to the same treatment as the master's regular wives.
- Her offspring were considered as legitimate children of her master, i.e. they were not slaves anymore.
- She could not be sold to others.
- After his death she was manumitted and enjoyed the same treatment as other wives; e.g., she got an equal share in the inheritance. For the Shia, this manumission was dependent on the condition that her child still be alive.[3]
[edit] List
A list of Ma malakat aymanukum include:
- Rayhana bint Zayd
- Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfah
- Safiyya bint Huyayy who was briefly a Ma malakat aymanukum until she was set free and married Muhammad.
- Maria al-Qibtiyya — initially a concubine of Muhammad, some state that they married later on.
- Abu Suhail an-Nafi[citation needed] — she became a famous medieval Muslim scholar.
- The father of Hasan al-Basri[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- Nikah Mut'ah ("temporary marriage" in Shia Islam)
- Nikah Misyar
- Mamluk
- Pilegesh
[edit] References
- ^ [1].
- ^ Bernard Lewis, Race and Slavery in the Middle East, page 146.
- ^ a b "Abd". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Ed. P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.
[edit] External links
[edit] Traditional Sunni viewpoints
- IslamOnline fatwa
- Fatwa: Intercourse with female prisoners of war
- Fatwa: What is a right hand servant? Do you have to be married to have one? How can you finalize it and get one and state this person as your right hand servant?
