I'm not asking you Atlas.
@Khemikal, I found this old post I once read many years ago:
Allow me to provide my two cents. The issue of "malakakat aymanukum" has been a very controvercial one. There are several views:
1- Traditional view : They are female captives of war , and the Muslim men may have sex with them without any conditions, and even outside wedlock.
2- Moderate view (some Ahmadi and independant scholars): They are female captives, but Muslim men may only have sex with them under wedlock.
3-Progressive scholars view: They are not necessarily female captives at all.
As you can see, there is no agreement on the issue.
I have researched all 3 views, and favor the progressive one, because I am a firm believer in two things:
1- The Quran is for ALL TIMES, and not just 7th Century Arabia.
2- The age of slavery is over, and sex slavery is a crime, as agreed upon by all progressive civilizations.
[b]Before I give you this third opinion, I would like to point out that only those who speak/understand Arabic will be able to understand it, because it relies on a different translation of the word "aymanukum".[/b]
The traditional scholars and translators interpret the word "aymanukum" , in dealing with sex issues , as meaning "right hand". However, this is not necessarily acurate. The word is a plural of "yameen" , which also means [b]"oath".[/b]
Here are a couple of verses in which the word "yameen" or "aymanukum" appear. [b]Arabic speakers, please pay close attention to them.[/b]
[b]{And do not make God the subject of your casual oaths. Be pious and righteous and reconcile among the people; and God is Listener, Knower.[/b]
God will not call you to account for your casual oaths, but He will call you to account for what has entered your hearts. God is Forgiving, Compassionate.}.......................[2:224-225]
These verses are talking about those who sometimes use God's name in vain, or are not serious with their [b]oaths[/b] (aymanukum).
[b]{ The ones that purchase with God's pledge and their oaths a small price, those will have no portion in the Hereafter, and God will not speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them, and they will have a painful retribution.}[/b].....[3:77]
Again here, it is very clear from the context that the word ""aymanuhum" actually means [b]their oaths.[/b]
[b]{ And they swore by God using their strongest oaths; that if a sign came to them they would believe in it. Say: "The signs are from God; and how do you know that once it comes, that they would not disbelieve?"}[/b]......[6:109]
There are many other such verses also..
As you can see, it is very clear, to those who understand Arabic, that the word "aymanukum" or "aymanuhum" actually means "oaths".
For example, when we say in court: "aqsamtul yameen" , it means "I am under oath". Arabic speakers can verify this.
[b]Therefore, the progressive interpretation is that "ma malakt aymanukum" actually means "what your oaths possess".[/b]
From a social perspective, they are basically young people (can be males or females by the way), whom the Muslim man has sworn an oath to take them under his custody and take care of them (provide sustenance for them). [b]Hence, they depend on us for support.[/b]
Either because:
1- Their parents are dead (in which case they fit under the laws of orphans as well)
2- Their parents are alive but are poor and cannot provide for them.
3- They embraced Islam , but their husbands (in the case they are females), remained Kafir (rejecters). In this case, they flee their husbands who become prohibitted to them, and seek refuge in a Muslim man's family. So the man takes her under his wing, and holds her by his oath (swears an oath to sustain her).
However, if a Muslim man wants to marry one of them (the female),and she has parents, he must ask permission from her parents. Therefore , no sex allowed outside wedlock!! Please read the following verse very carefully:
[b]{And whoever of you cannot afford to marry the believing independent women, then from those committed to you by oath of the believing young women. God is more aware of your faith, some of you to each other. You shall marry them with the permission of their parents and give them their dowries in kindness; to be protected, not for illicit sex or taking lovers. If they become protected, then any of them who comes with lewdness shall have half the punishment of what is for the independent women of the retribution. This is for those who fear hardship from among you. But if you are patient it is better for you, and God is Forgiver, Merciful.}[/b]
As you can see, the conditions are clear:
If a Muslim man wants to marry one of those women (malakat aymanukum), he must:
1- Ask permition from her parents.
2- Pay her her dowry.
Does this sound like "sleep with them whenever you wish, for they are just sex slaves" to you??
If you want further proof that they are not slaves or war captives, then read the following verse:
[b]{O you who believe, permission must be requested by those 'whom your oaths posses' (Malakat Aymanukum) and the children who have not attained puberty. This is to be done in three instances-before the Dawn Prayer, at noon when you change your clothes to rest, and after the Night Prayer. These are three private times for you. At other times, it is not wrong for you or them to mingle with one another. GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise."}[/b] ...................(24:58)
This verse, 24:58, is giving us the proper etiquette of how our young children (who have not reached puberty) as well as those whom our oaths possess (if they are not in wedlock), should behave. There are certain times during the day when they have to ask permission
( yastaáthinukum) from the master of the house before entering his provate bedchamber. THis means that they can be living with us in our very homes!!
War captives do not usually live with us in our very homes. Please use logic..
Finally, and this may sound surprising to you, but "those whom our oaths possess" actually constitute an exception to marrying an already married woman, [b]if - and only if - her husband remained a kafir, and she embraced Islam and ran away from him[/b]:
[b]{ Forbidden for you are (in marriage) your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your fathers' sisters, and your mothers' sisters, and the daughters of your brother, and the daughters of your sister, and your foster mothers who suckled you, and your sisters from suckling, and the mothers of your wives, and your step-daughters residing in your homes from your wives which you have already consummated the marriage with; if you have not consummated the marriage then there is no sin upon you; and the wives of your sons that are from your seed, and that you join between two sisters except what has already been done. God is Forgiving, Merciful.[/b]
And the independent from the women, except those committed to you by oath; God's scripture is over you; and permitted for you is what is beyond this, if you are seeking with your money to be protected and not for illicit sex. As for those whom you have already had joy with, then you shall give them their dowries as an obligation. There is no sin upon you for what you agree to after the obligation. God is Knowledgeable, Wise. }................[4:23,24]
Read carefully the parts outlined in color.
[b]{O you who believe, if the believing women come emigrating to you, then you shall test them. God is fully aware of their belief. Thus, if you establish that they are believers, then you shall not return them to the disbelievers. They are no longer lawful for them, nor are the disbelievers lawful for them. And return the dowries that were paid. And there is no sin upon you to marry them, if you have paid their dowries to them. And do not keep disbelieving wives, and ask back what dowries you paid. And let them ask back what dowries they had paid. Such is God's judgment; He judges between you. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.}[/b]....[60:10]
In fact this senario was very common back then. A married woman embraces Islam, but her husband remains a rejecting kafir. She can no longer bear to live with him, so she leaves him, and seeks refuge in an Islamic community. A Muslim man can take her under his wing, into his household, and marry her if he wishes, and he must return the dowry payed by her kafir husband, as the verse is clearly telling us.
As you can see, I have given you a progressive view about thw true meaning of "malakat aymanukum" and who they really are. You are free to accept it or reject it, but please remember that the door of "ijtihad is open to all" , and as Muslims, we must always use our God-given brain to reach the truth, and never take any pre-conceived notions or traditions for granted.
Also, remember that the age of slavery is over. Now is the age of freedom and human rights.
It is my opinion that those who interpret "malakat aymanukum" as female sex slaves were probably scholars who were under the influence of the corrupt Ummayad Sultans (Muáwiya and Co..), who wanted to "conquer" other lands and capture their virgin girls to play around with at their will... Since no-one dared to speak against such tyrants, no one dared to question their rule and their interpretation of the Quran.
But now, in the 21st Century, we have the means, the freedom and the brains to prove that they were wrong, and that the Quran is for ALL times, and not just 7th Century Arabia.
__________
P.S: THe reason I asked for Arabic speakers to verify it is not becasue I'm a racist or anything, but because I wanted them to take a look at the verses in Aabic, before comparing them with their translations...
Salams and best wishes to all..
@Khemikal, I found this old post I once read many years ago:
Allow me to provide my two cents. The issue of "malakakat aymanukum" has been a very controvercial one. There are several views:
1- Traditional view : They are female captives of war , and the Muslim men may have sex with them without any conditions, and even outside wedlock.
2- Moderate view (some Ahmadi and independant scholars): They are female captives, but Muslim men may only have sex with them under wedlock.
3-Progressive scholars view: They are not necessarily female captives at all.
As you can see, there is no agreement on the issue.
I have researched all 3 views, and favor the progressive one, because I am a firm believer in two things:
1- The Quran is for ALL TIMES, and not just 7th Century Arabia.
2- The age of slavery is over, and sex slavery is a crime, as agreed upon by all progressive civilizations.
[b]Before I give you this third opinion, I would like to point out that only those who speak/understand Arabic will be able to understand it, because it relies on a different translation of the word "aymanukum".[/b]
The traditional scholars and translators interpret the word "aymanukum" , in dealing with sex issues , as meaning "right hand". However, this is not necessarily acurate. The word is a plural of "yameen" , which also means [b]"oath".[/b]
Here are a couple of verses in which the word "yameen" or "aymanukum" appear. [b]Arabic speakers, please pay close attention to them.[/b]
[b]* æáÇ ÊÌÚáæÇ Çááå ÚÑÖÉ áÃíãäßã Ãä ÊÈÑæÇ æÊÊÞæÇ æÊÕáÍæÇ Èíä ÇáäÇÓ æÇááå ÓãíÚ Úáíã[/b]
áÇ íÄÇÎÐßã Çááå ÈÇááÛæ Ýí Ãíãäßã æáßä íÄÇÎÐßã ÈãÇ ßÓÈÊ ÞáæÈßã æÇááå ÛÝæÑ Íáíã
áÇ íÄÇÎÐßã Çááå ÈÇááÛæ Ýí Ãíãäßã æáßä íÄÇÎÐßã ÈãÇ ßÓÈÊ ÞáæÈßã æÇááå ÛÝæÑ Íáíã
[b]{And do not make God the subject of your casual oaths. Be pious and righteous and reconcile among the people; and God is Listener, Knower.[/b]
God will not call you to account for your casual oaths, but He will call you to account for what has entered your hearts. God is Forgiving, Compassionate.}.......................[2:224-225]
These verses are talking about those who sometimes use God's name in vain, or are not serious with their [b]oaths[/b] (aymanukum).
[b]Åä ÇáÐíä íÔÊÑæä ÈÚåÏ Çááå æÃíãäåã ËãäÇ ÞáíáÇ ÃæáÆß áÇ ÎáÞ áåã Ýí ÇáÇÁÎÑÉ æáÇ íßáãåã Çááå æáÇ íäÙÑ Åáíåã íæã ÇáÞíãÉ æáÇ íÒßíåã æáåã ÚÐÇÈ Ãáíã[/b]
[b]{ The ones that purchase with God's pledge and their oaths a small price, those will have no portion in the Hereafter, and God will not speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them, and they will have a painful retribution.}[/b].....[3:77]
Again here, it is very clear from the context that the word ""aymanuhum" actually means [b]their oaths.[/b]
[b]æÃÞÓãæÇ ÈÇááå ÌåÏ Ãíãäåã áÆä ÌÇÁÊåã ÁÇíÉ áíÄãää ÈåÇ Þá ÅäãÇ ÇáÁÇíÊ ÚäÏ Çááå æãÇ íÔÚÑßã ÃäåÇ ÅÐÇ ÌÇÁÊ áÇ íÄãäæä[/b]
[b]{ And they swore by God using their strongest oaths; that if a sign came to them they would believe in it. Say: "The signs are from God; and how do you know that once it comes, that they would not disbelieve?"}[/b]......[6:109]
There are many other such verses also..
As you can see, it is very clear, to those who understand Arabic, that the word "aymanukum" or "aymanuhum" actually means "oaths".
For example, when we say in court: "aqsamtul yameen" , it means "I am under oath". Arabic speakers can verify this.
[b]Therefore, the progressive interpretation is that "ma malakt aymanukum" actually means "what your oaths possess".[/b]
From a social perspective, they are basically young people (can be males or females by the way), whom the Muslim man has sworn an oath to take them under his custody and take care of them (provide sustenance for them). [b]Hence, they depend on us for support.[/b]
Either because:
1- Their parents are dead (in which case they fit under the laws of orphans as well)
2- Their parents are alive but are poor and cannot provide for them.
3- They embraced Islam , but their husbands (in the case they are females), remained Kafir (rejecters). In this case, they flee their husbands who become prohibitted to them, and seek refuge in a Muslim man's family. So the man takes her under his wing, and holds her by his oath (swears an oath to sustain her).
However, if a Muslim man wants to marry one of them (the female),and she has parents, he must ask permission from her parents. Therefore , no sex allowed outside wedlock!! Please read the following verse very carefully:
[b]æãä áã íÓÊØÚ ãäßã ØæáÇ Ãä íäßÍ ÇáãÍÕäÊ ÇáãÄãäÊ Ýãä ãÇ ãáßÊ Ãíãäßã ãä ÝÊíÊßã ÇáãÄãäÊ æÇááå ÃÚáã ÈÅíãäßã ÈÚÖßã ãä ÈÚÖ ÝÇäßÍæåä ÈÅÐä Ãåáåä æÁÇÊæåä ÃÌæÑåä ÈÇáãÚÑæÝ ãÍÕäÊ ÛíÑ ãÓÝÍÊ æáÇ ãÊÎÐÊ ÃÎÏÇä ÝÅÐÇ ÃÍÕä ÝÅä ÃÊíä ÈÝÍÔÉ ÝÚáíåä äÕÝ ãÇ Úáì ÇáãÍÕäÊ ãä ÇáÚÐÇÈ Ðáß áãä ÎÔí ÇáÚäÊ ãäßã æÃä ÊÕÈÑæÇ ÎíÑ áßã æÇááå ÛÝæÑ ÑÍíã[/b]
[b]{And whoever of you cannot afford to marry the believing independent women, then from those committed to you by oath of the believing young women. God is more aware of your faith, some of you to each other. You shall marry them with the permission of their parents and give them their dowries in kindness; to be protected, not for illicit sex or taking lovers. If they become protected, then any of them who comes with lewdness shall have half the punishment of what is for the independent women of the retribution. This is for those who fear hardship from among you. But if you are patient it is better for you, and God is Forgiver, Merciful.}[/b]
As you can see, the conditions are clear:
If a Muslim man wants to marry one of those women (malakat aymanukum), he must:
1- Ask permition from her parents.
2- Pay her her dowry.
Does this sound like "sleep with them whenever you wish, for they are just sex slaves" to you??
If you want further proof that they are not slaves or war captives, then read the following verse:
[b]íÃíåÇ ÇáÐíä ÁÇãäæÇ áíÓÊÁÐäßã ÇáÐíä ãáßÊ Ãíãäßã æÇáÐíä áã íÈáÛæÇ ÇáÍáã ãäßã ËáË ãÑÊ ãä ÞÈá ÕáæÉ ÇáÝÌÑ æÍíä ÊÖÚæä ËíÇÈßã ãä ÇáÙåíÑÉ æãä ÈÚÏ ÕáæÉ ÇáÚÔÇÁ ËáË ÚæÑÊ áßã áíÓ Úáíßã æáÇ Úáíåã ÌäÇÍ ÈÚÏåä ØæÝæä Úáíßã ÈÚÖßã Úáì ÈÚÖ ßÐáß íÈíä Çááå áßã ÇáÁÇíÊ æÇááå Úáíã Íßíã[/b]
[b]{O you who believe, permission must be requested by those 'whom your oaths posses' (Malakat Aymanukum) and the children who have not attained puberty. This is to be done in three instances-before the Dawn Prayer, at noon when you change your clothes to rest, and after the Night Prayer. These are three private times for you. At other times, it is not wrong for you or them to mingle with one another. GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise."}[/b] ...................(24:58)
This verse, 24:58, is giving us the proper etiquette of how our young children (who have not reached puberty) as well as those whom our oaths possess (if they are not in wedlock), should behave. There are certain times during the day when they have to ask permission
( yastaáthinukum) from the master of the house before entering his provate bedchamber. THis means that they can be living with us in our very homes!!
War captives do not usually live with us in our very homes. Please use logic..
Finally, and this may sound surprising to you, but "those whom our oaths possess" actually constitute an exception to marrying an already married woman, [b]if - and only if - her husband remained a kafir, and she embraced Islam and ran away from him[/b]:
[b]ÍÑãÊ Úáíßã ÃãåÊßã æÈäÇÊßã æÃÎæÊßã æÚãÊßã æÎáÊßã æÈäÇÊ ÇáÃÎ æÈäÇÊ ÇáÃÎÊ æÃãåÊßã ÇáÊí ÃÑÖÚäßã æÃÎæÊßã ãä ÇáÑÖÚÉ æÃãåÊ äÓÇÆßã æÑÈÆÈßã ÇáÊí Ýí ÍÌæÑßã ãä äÓÇÆßã ÇáÊí ÏÎáÊã Èåä ÝÅä áã ÊßæäæÇ ÏÎáÊã Èåä ÝáÇ ÌäÇÍ Úáíßã æÍáÆá ÃÈäÇÆßã ÇáÐíä ãä ÃÕáÈßã æÃä ÊÌãÚæÇ Èíä ÇáÃÎÊíä ÅáÇ ãÇ ÞÏ ÓáÝ Åä Çááå ßÇä ÛÝæÑÇ ÑÍíãÇ[/b]
æÇáãÍÕäÊ ãä ÇáäÓÇÁ ÅáÇ ãÇ ãáßÊ Ãíãäßã ßÊÈ Çááå Úáíßã æÃÍá áßã ãÇ æÑÇÁ Ðáßã Ãä ÊÈÊÛæÇ ÈÃãæáßã ãÍÕäíä ÛíÑ ãÓÝÍíä ÝãÇ ÇÓÊãÊÚÊã Èå ãäåä ÝÁÇÊæåä ÃÌæÑåä ÝÑíÖÉ æáÇ ÌäÇÍ Úáíßã ÝíãÇ ÊÑÖíÊã Èå ãä ÈÚÏ ÇáÝÑíÖÉ Åä Çááå ßÇä ÚáíãÇ ÍßíãÇ
æÇáãÍÕäÊ ãä ÇáäÓÇÁ ÅáÇ ãÇ ãáßÊ Ãíãäßã ßÊÈ Çááå Úáíßã æÃÍá áßã ãÇ æÑÇÁ Ðáßã Ãä ÊÈÊÛæÇ ÈÃãæáßã ãÍÕäíä ÛíÑ ãÓÝÍíä ÝãÇ ÇÓÊãÊÚÊã Èå ãäåä ÝÁÇÊæåä ÃÌæÑåä ÝÑíÖÉ æáÇ ÌäÇÍ Úáíßã ÝíãÇ ÊÑÖíÊã Èå ãä ÈÚÏ ÇáÝÑíÖÉ Åä Çááå ßÇä ÚáíãÇ ÍßíãÇ
[b]{ Forbidden for you are (in marriage) your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your fathers' sisters, and your mothers' sisters, and the daughters of your brother, and the daughters of your sister, and your foster mothers who suckled you, and your sisters from suckling, and the mothers of your wives, and your step-daughters residing in your homes from your wives which you have already consummated the marriage with; if you have not consummated the marriage then there is no sin upon you; and the wives of your sons that are from your seed, and that you join between two sisters except what has already been done. God is Forgiving, Merciful.[/b]
And the independent from the women, except those committed to you by oath; God's scripture is over you; and permitted for you is what is beyond this, if you are seeking with your money to be protected and not for illicit sex. As for those whom you have already had joy with, then you shall give them their dowries as an obligation. There is no sin upon you for what you agree to after the obligation. God is Knowledgeable, Wise. }................[4:23,24]
Read carefully the parts outlined in color.
[b]{O you who believe, if the believing women come emigrating to you, then you shall test them. God is fully aware of their belief. Thus, if you establish that they are believers, then you shall not return them to the disbelievers. They are no longer lawful for them, nor are the disbelievers lawful for them. And return the dowries that were paid. And there is no sin upon you to marry them, if you have paid their dowries to them. And do not keep disbelieving wives, and ask back what dowries you paid. And let them ask back what dowries they had paid. Such is God's judgment; He judges between you. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.}[/b]....[60:10]
In fact this senario was very common back then. A married woman embraces Islam, but her husband remains a rejecting kafir. She can no longer bear to live with him, so she leaves him, and seeks refuge in an Islamic community. A Muslim man can take her under his wing, into his household, and marry her if he wishes, and he must return the dowry payed by her kafir husband, as the verse is clearly telling us.
As you can see, I have given you a progressive view about thw true meaning of "malakat aymanukum" and who they really are. You are free to accept it or reject it, but please remember that the door of "ijtihad is open to all" , and as Muslims, we must always use our God-given brain to reach the truth, and never take any pre-conceived notions or traditions for granted.
Also, remember that the age of slavery is over. Now is the age of freedom and human rights.
It is my opinion that those who interpret "malakat aymanukum" as female sex slaves were probably scholars who were under the influence of the corrupt Ummayad Sultans (Muáwiya and Co..), who wanted to "conquer" other lands and capture their virgin girls to play around with at their will... Since no-one dared to speak against such tyrants, no one dared to question their rule and their interpretation of the Quran.
But now, in the 21st Century, we have the means, the freedom and the brains to prove that they were wrong, and that the Quran is for ALL times, and not just 7th Century Arabia.
__________
P.S: THe reason I asked for Arabic speakers to verify it is not becasue I'm a racist or anything, but because I wanted them to take a look at the verses in Aabic, before comparing them with their translations...
Salams and best wishes to all..
