| Site index |

Modern-day muslims are fond of saying...

by CroMagnon & Tinero Timanfaya

Modern-day muslims are very fond of saying & repeating ad nauseum the following (amongst many other things):

#. Islam abandoned slavery
#. Islam liberated women
#. Islam forbids child-marriages
#. Islam forbids female circumcision

However, when we do a little research on these issues a very different picture appears:

Based on Quranic verses (point 1 below) and/or authentic Hadiths (points1, 2 and 3 below), according to various islamic scholars:

1. Slavery is not explicitly forbidden & sex with slave-girls is permitted

2. Marrying-off child-virgins is permitted

3. Female circumcission is allowed/not specifically forbidden

(click the (green) links for full context)

see also:

4. Changing habits in South East Asia

1. Slavery is not explicitly forbidden & sex with slave-girls is permitted

# Quran on sex with slaves (translation Yusuf Ali): Quran 4:24
Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess

Quran 23:1-6
01: The believers must (eventually) win through,-
02: Those who humble themselves in their prayers;
03: Who avoid vain talk;
04: Who are active in deeds of charity;
05: Who abstain from sex,
06: Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame

Quran 33:50
O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee

Quran 33:52
It is not lawful for thee (to marry more) women after this, nor to change them for (other) wives, even though their beauty attract thee, except any thy right hand should possess (as handmaidens)

Quran 70:23-30
23:Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;
24: And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.
25: For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking);
26: And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;
27: And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,-
28: For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;-
29: And those who guard their chastity,
30: Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed,

_________________________
# Some Sahih Hadiths on sex with slaves:
(please note the comments of prophet Mohammed. He didn't forbid it.) . Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 137:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
We got female captives in the war booty and we used to do coitus interruptus with them. So we asked Allah's Apostle about it and he said, "Do you really do that?" repeating the question thrice, "There is no soul that is destined to exist but will come into existence, till the Day of Resurrection."

. Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 637:
Narrated Buraida:
The Prophet sent 'Ali to Khalid to bring the Khumus (of the booty) and I hated Ali, and 'Ali had taken a bath (after a sexual act with a slave-girl from the Khumus). I said to Khalid, "Don't you see this (i.e. Ali)?" When we reached the Prophet I mentioned that to him. He said, "O Buraida! Do you hate Ali?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do you hate him, for he deserves more than that from the Khumlus."

. Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Number 2166:
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
A man said: Apostle of Allah, I have a slave-girl and I withdraw the penis from her (while having intercourse), and I dislike that she becomes pregnant. I intend (by intercourse) what the men intend by it.

The Jews say that withdrawing the penis (azl) is burying the living girls on a small scale. He (the Prophet) said: The Jews told a lie. If Allah intends to create it, you cannot turn it away.

_________________________
# Modern-day islamic scholars on sex with slaves - 1: FATAAWA OF SHAYKH AL-ALBAANEE [RAHIMAHULLAAH]
Author: Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee
Source: Al-Manhaj
Published: 28th May 2002
MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS AND THEIR RULINGS
http://www.theclearpath.com/sunnah/fataawa_al_albaanee/13.php

[56] Question: What is the ruling concerning masturbation?

Answer: We have no doubts regarding the forbiddance of such a practice. And this is due to two reasons, the first of which is the saying of Allaah, the Most High, concerning the description of the believers:

"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayer with full submissiveness. And those who turn away from false and vain talk. And those who pay the Zakaah. And those who guard their chastity – Except with their wives or (slaves) that their right hands possess, for (in that) they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors." [Surah Al-Mu’minoon: 1-8]

Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee used this ayah as proof for the forbiddance of masturbating. This is since, in this ayah, Allaah has placed two ways for the true Believers to fullfill their desires - either by marrying free women or by enjoying the slave women and female war captives.

Then He says: "But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors" meaning: Whosoever desires a way by which to transmit his desires, apart from these two ways of marriage and taking female war captives, then he is a transgressor and a wrongdoer.

_________________________
# Modern-day islamic scholars on sex with slaves - 2: Right Hand Possessions
http://www.binoria.org/q&a/miscellaneous.html#possessions

Question:
What is the meaning of right hand possession and what was the purpose of having them. Some brothers in America think it is okay to have right hand possessions now in the USA.

Answer:
Right hand possessions (Malak-ul-Yameen) means slaves and maids, those came in possession of Muslims through war or purchase.

After having the possession of slave maid it is lawful and correct to have sexual relations with them.

Even today if Muslims get possession over infidel country, this condition is possible, lawful and correct.

_________________________
# Modern-day islamic scholars on sex with slaves - 3:

This is from the most popular and most referred-to islamic Question & Answer site on the web: www.islam-qa-com: Question #5707: The difference between slaves and prostitutes
http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=5707&dgn=3

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
..... Slavery in Islam was originally prescribed because of Kufr. If there is jihaad between the Muslims and the kuffaar, and a number of kuffaar are taken prisoner, the commander is given the choice of sharing them out, doing them a favour (by releasing them) or paying their ransom.

If they are shared out as part of the booty, they become slaves, subject to the laws governing products which may be sold. .......

..... If a woman is enslaved according to sharee'ah, it is permissible for her master to have intercourse with her .....

_________________________
# See also: . Ask the Imam
http://www.ukim.org/imam.asp?CatID=18
(Question 2.)
..........
The common method of contraception at the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, was coitus interruptus (withdrawal of the penis from the vagina just before ejaculation) thus preventing semen from entering the vagina. The Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, engaged in this practice during the period of the Qur’anic revelation. Narrated Jabir, “We practiced coitus interruptus during the time of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, while the Qur’an was being revealed.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Another version of this Hadith, narrated by Muslim, reads, We practiced coitus interruptus during the time of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him. He came to know about it, but he did not prohibit it.”
A man came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, saying, I have a slave girl, to whom I desire what men desire, but I do not want her to become pregnant, so I practice coitus interruptus with her. But the Jews describe that as a minor form of burying children alive.” The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, ‘The Jews are wrong. If Allah wishes to create a child, you cannot prevent it.; (Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, An-Nasa’i, and Al-Tirmidhi) This means that despite the practice of coitus interruptus, there is still a possibility of conception through a drop of semen into the vagina.

_________________________
. Question #10382: Ruling on having intercourse with a slave woman when one has a wife
http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=10382&dgn=3
....
The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is permissible. ....

The wife has no right to object to her husband owning female slaves or to his having intercourse with them.

_________________________
. Slave Girls and Their Rights in Islam:
http://main.faithfreedom.org/Articles/SStephan/slavegirls.htm
. MUHAMMAD AND THE FEMALE CAPTIVES:
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/femalecaptives.htm

2. Marrying-off child-virgins is permitted:

# Modern-day islamic scholars on child-virgins - 1: Q & A site of:
Muslim Students Organization of the University of Houston:
http://www.uh.edu/campus/msa/articles/fatawawom/marriage.html#age

(scroll down to:)
Question:
Is it allowed for a father to force his daughter to marry a specific man that she does not want to marry?

Answer:
...... If she is married without her permission, by threat or coercion, then the marriage is not valid. The only exeption is in the case of the father and his daughter who is less than nine years of age. There is no harm if he gets her married while she is less than nine years old, according to the correct opinion. This is based on the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) marrying Aisha without her consent when she wass less than nine years old, as is stated in authentic Hadith. ....

_________________________
# Modern-day islamic scholars on child-virgins - 2: Marriage at an early age
http://www.islamicvoice.com/august.98/marriage.htm#EAR

Question:
I have a nine year-old girl who is married to a person at the age of 20.....

Answer: ..... Scholars have discussed at length the marriage of a young girl who has not attained puberty and whether her father may marry her away without her permission. If such a marriage takes place it is valid. However, it is perhaps best if the marriage is not allowed to be consummated until the girl attains puberty .....

_________________________
# Reliance of the Traveller - Islamic Sacred Law according to Shafi'i School: BOOK M: MARRIAGE
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/NHMK_RT/book_m.htm#m3.13
(unfortunately this link isn't freely viewable anymore...)

m3.13 Guardians are of two types, those who may compel their female charges to marry someone, and those who may not.

..... The only guardians who may compel their charge to marry are a virgin bride's father or father's father, compel meaning to marry her to a suitable match (def: m4) without her consent .........

...... Those who may not compel her are not entitled to marry her to someone unless she accepts and gives her permission ........

........ Whenever the bride is a virgin, the father or father's father may marry her to someone without her permission, though it is recommended to ask her permission if she has reached puberty. A virgin's silence is considered as permission.

_________________________
# Some hadiths on young virgins: . Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 17:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
When I got married, Allah's Apostle said to me, "What type of lady have you married?" I replied, "I have married a matron' He said, "Why, don't you have a liking for the virgins and for fondling them?" Jabir also said: Allah's Apostle said, "Why didn't you marry a young girl so that you might play with her and she with you?'

. Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 236 :
Narrated Hisham's father:
Khadija died three years before the Prophet departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married 'Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed that marriage when she was nine years old.

. Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 151 :
Narrated 'Aisha:
I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Apostle used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for 'Aisha at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) (Fateh-al-Bari page 143, Vol.13)

. Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 41, Number 4915:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) married me when I was seven or six. When we came to Medina, some women came. according to Bishr's version: Umm Ruman came to me when I was swinging. They took me, made me prepared and decorated me. I was then brought to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), and he took up cohabitation with me when I was nine. She halted me at the door, and I burst into laughter.

. Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 41, Number 4917:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
When we came to Medina, the women came to me when I was playing on the swing, and my hair were up to my ears. They brought me, prepared me, and decorated me. Then they brought me to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and he took up cohabitation with me, when I was nine.

3. Female circumcision is allowed/not specifically forbidden:

# Modern-day islamic scholars on female circumcision - 1: Question #1188: Ruling on female circumcision
http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=1188&dgn=3

Praise be to Allaah.
Circumcising females is sunnah; it is neither a bad practice or harmful, if it is done within moderation. When extreme forms of female circumcision are carried out, harm may result. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 5/120 ) ......

_________________________
# Modern-day islamic scholars on female circumcision - 2: Topic: Female Circumcision
http://islamicity.com/qa/Advanced_Search.shtml

Question#: 2403.0 (fill in this number in the Search window)

..... Female circumcision is allowed only in hot countries and when it is necessary. . Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said that 'it (circumcision) is a sunnah for men and a Makroumah for women'. Makroumah is an act that is a degree below sunnah. Therefore, it is recommended for men and allowed for women....

_________________________
# Modern-day islamic scholars on female circumcision - 3: Question #9412: Circumcision: how it is done and the rulings on it
http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=9412&dgn=3

In the case of women, it serves a useful purpose which is to reduce desire. This is seeking perfection, not removing something harmful.

The Messenger of Allaah (S) said to the woman who did circumcisions: Leave something sticking out and do not go to extremes in cutting. That makes her face look brighter and is more pleasing to her husband.”

_________________________
# Fiqh as Sunnah (islamic lawbase) by Sayyid Saabiq: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/law/fiqhussunnah/
From: the Introduction:
Sabiq's most famous book was the three-volume Fiqh As-Sunnah, which in the first writing of its kind brought the four major madhahib together, in a comprehensive treatment of Fiqh matters. The book has since been translated into dozens of languages and is used by Muslims throughout the world........

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 1: Purification
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/law/fiqhussunnah/fus1_01.html
(scroll down to:)
Volume 1, Page 21a: Circumcision
This prevents dirt from getting on one's penis, and also makes it easy to keep it clean. For women, it involves cutting the outer portion of the clitoris. Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, "Ibrahim circumcised himself after he was eighty years old." (Related by al-Bukhari.) Many scholars say that it is obligatory.'ø The Shaf'iyyah maintain that it should be done on the seventh day. Says ash-Shaukani, "There is nothing that states explicitly its time or indicates that it is obligatory."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 1: Ghusl, the complete ablution
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/law/fiqhussunnah/fus1_03.html
(scroll down to:)
Volume 1, Page 51a:
Touching the two circumcised parts
This refers to the penis and the vagina.
.........

4. Changing habits in South East Asia:

Among indigenous/non-muslim cultures of South East Asia there is little or no evidence to be found that in historic times any form of female genital mutilation has ever been practiced.
This changes when Islam enters the scene:

# Symbolic female circumcision embraced by most of Singapore's Muslims
Canadian Press - Friday, November 08, 2002
http://www.canada.com/stcatharines/story.asp?id=%7B27449F93-3F92-41D0-B5CF-AA5D4A797F1F%7D
(in case the article is not accesible on the web, a copy of the text can be found HERE )

# Forced conversion & circumcision in Indonesia:
Google search on " indonesia " + " forced " + " female " + " circumcision "

See also:
. Women in Islam:
http://main.faithfreedom.org/articles.htm#women

Back to Top

| Site index |

Modern-day muslims are fond of saying...

1. Slavery is not explicitly forbidden & sex with slave-girls is permitted

2. Marrying-off child-virgins is permitted:

3. Female circumcision is allowed/not specifically forbidden:

4. Changing habits in South East Asia:

Back to Top

Last update: Dec 1 - 2002: Added: link to "MUHAMMAD AND THE FEMALE CAPTIVES" LycosHit()

Last update: Dec 1 - 2002:
Added: link to "MUHAMMAD AND THE FEMALE CAPTIVES"