Islamic Sexual Jurisprudence - Concubines

Concubines

Ma malakat aymanukum is the term for captives of war. A male master can have sexual intercourse with his female captive, he has no obligation to marry her even if she produces a child. However, once the female captive produces a child she must be freed. Qur'an (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" and Qur'an (23:5-6) - "..who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess..." and Qur'an (4:24) - "And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess." and "O Allah's Apostle! We get female captives' booties as our share of booty, and we are interested in their prices, what is your opinion about coitus interruptus?" The Prophet said, "Do you really do that? It is better for you not to do it. No soul that which Allah has destined to exist, but will surely come into existence." —Hadith from Sahih Bukhari It was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad for men to impregnate their female captives since the female then must be freed. The Qur'an also prohibits forcing a captive into prostitution so that only one man was allowed sexual relations with her. The female captive was adopted as part of the household and had to be treated well, like how the husband is required to treat his wife. Once a child came from the female captive, she was entitled to her freedom and to financial maintenance by the father of the child.