Fatwa #59127 August 2000Pakistan
What does Islam say about keeping concubines(which your right hand possesses)? Is it permissible still? If not, then why? And if yes, how do we justify it in todays world?
Question
It seems that Quran has allowed it and I could not find any hadith prohibiting it. Then why do majority of Muslims around the world believe that it is not allowed to have concubines? surely there must have been a ruling on it by scholars. what are those rulings? Pls. advise.
Answer
In Islam, Christianity and Judaism according to their original scriptures,%0D%0Acaptives of war may be enslaved. Besides, this, no other person can be taken%0D%0Aas a slave.%0D%0A%0D%0AAllah is our creator and ultimate Master. We, as his creations and slaves%0D%0Aare obliged to express our servitude to Him Alone. If one does not submit%0D%0Ahis slavery to Allah, which of course is far more heinous and unjust to%0D%0AAllah in comparison to the 'injustices' of slavery and sexual relationship,%0D%0Aetc. by a human master.%0D%0A%0D%0ASince the human being did not willingly submit to the ultimate Master,%0D%0AAllah, He condemns them to the unwilling slavery of his sincere slaves. And%0D%0Aby understanding the powers of a man master, they may understand the Powers%0D%0Aof the True Master, Allah. In fact, the concept of slavery should be%0D%0Aregarded as a concept of mercy, as the heinous crime of rejecting Allah as%0D%0Aour Master demands immediate terminating of life. Allah, our kind Master,%0D%0Ahas granted an opportunity to his very negators to enjoy a second chance of%0D%0Alife and redirect it to the right avenue by submitting to Him as the%0D%0Aultimate Master.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0A%0D%0A