Time to study different words regarding Slaves
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I almost went hopeless when I saw the differences of opinion regarding slaves and slavery in the Muslim community, and now I have given it a final shot. Ok, so let me see what I can come up with
First let's finalize wheter its 'Right hands' or 'Oaths'. 'Ma' means 'What', 'Malakat''s meaning revolves around 'Possession', 'Ayman' is what needs to be studied. According to Google Translate, it means 'Oaths', however, that isn't enough proof, or at least not in a sensitive case like this, so we need the bets dictionary we can find, and according to me, it is the Quran itself. We need to see where else Allah has used the term 'Aymaan'
2224 and 225 589 1692 and 94 662
5108 6109 1638 2453 3542
All above refferences contain the word 'Aymanikum' and 'Aymanihim'
While for 'Right hand' Allah uses the word 'Maimanah' and 'Yamin' e.g. 568 9018 and 1771 2017 respectively
Thus I too agree that Aymanukum should be 'Oaths'
Although both word 'Oath' and 'Right' have the same root (Which I was able to find out by looking up the word 'Yamin' in a dictionary, cause it meant both 'Oath' and 'Right' and both refer to a positive meaning (If interpretted with a brain, and not taken the other way around, even if we translate it as 'Right hands', we can see that Allah has used this phrase in a very Godly and positive manner, and translating it as 'Right hands' would STILL give a sensible meaning, it can mean 'What you rightfully possess' as in for 'Legally' posses, and if we take it in a good way, it would still give the same meaning as 'What you posssess by oaths' I hope you got what I mean), there is a minor difference, which is further strengthened after reading Lughat Ul Quran by GA Parvez, he in it says the following
Yeh, miim, nuun (Ya Mim Nun)
Al-yumn barkat (profusion not physically but in effect) al-maimanah barkat towards
the right side al-yaman on the right side al-yameen right hand on the right side it also
means strength yameen the plural is aimaan promise a swear the Arabs used to
strike their right hand over the other when they sworeSo according to me, it means 'What you possess by your oaths' although this is my understanding at the current moment, maybe by the end of this analysis my views will change, but whatever views you and I may have, I pray that 'God, let our views be the views of truth'
I have to sleep, so I'll continue 'My' anaylysis tomorrow, till then peace, and anyone may share their views and without hesitation try to refute me.
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Salam,
I'm not sure the title slaves would be appropriate to discussing MMA's.
but i think i'd agree about the MMA tending towards the oath thing you mentioned.i'd like to see a FAQ section on this topic..is there any such section in this site?
btw if you insist on the title inclusion of slave..i'd suggest that you'd also cover you research on the concept of afaa'a, and it's kins..
another point is what about the idea of generalization and specialization of concepts such as how you reconciled the 3350 usage of MMA in relation to the term "Mimmaa afaa'a", is there any principles you use to differentiate this usage of MMA to that of the other that you classified as "What you possess by your oaths"? as it seems to collide with the translation "and those whom your right hand possesses out of those whom Allah has given to you as prisoners of war".
So in other words, does it always has to be in the context of prisoners of war that you may establish MMA? or may be even to question the term "prisoners of war" itself?please go on with your research,
i'm a passer by just commenting
keep up the good workpeace,
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Salam,
I'm not sure the title slaves would be appropriate to discussing MMA's.
but i think i'd agree about the MMA tending towards the oath thing you mentioned.i'd like to see a FAQ section on this topic..is there any such section in this site?
btw if you insist on the title inclusion of slave..i'd suggest that you'd also cover you research on the concept of afaa'a, and it's kins..
another point is what about the idea of generalization and specialization of concepts such as how you reconciled the 3350 usage of MMA in relation to the term "Mimmaa afaa'a", is there any principles you use to differentiate this usage of MMA to that of the other that you classified as "What you possess by your oaths"? as it seems to collide with the translation "and those whom your right hand possesses out of those whom Allah has given to you as prisoners of war".
So in other words, does it always has to be in the context of prisoners of war that you may establish MMA? or may be even to question the term "prisoners of war" itself?please go on with your research,
i'm a passer by just commenting )
keep up the good workpeace,
Peace
Well that is what I'm going to do, I'll start with MMA, then move on to ABD, then to RFQ, then Fatayatikum, then Asraa and so on. Concerning your second point, I view MMA to be a general and very broad term, if we view it to mean anyone taken in custody of a person, it can go from adopted relationships, to captives to even more things. So in 3350, Allah certainly is saying that those who are taken under protection from among the captives, simple as that, it is just one of the several types of people who can be taken under custody. Now here is something which might come as a shock, Muhammad Asad makes a good point in his commentry, that is, that MMA does not always refer to those taken under guardianship, but it can be used as a phrase to stress on the relationship of a person's spouse. For example in 7029-30, Allah says 'Those who guard their private parts except for from their spouses AW MMA. Muhammad Asad claims that AW does not only mean 'Or', which is correct, as it also has the meaning of 'That is -', and he claims that Allah is saying 'Those who guard their private parts except from their spouses, who are who they rightfully possess'. As again, it is not necessary that it means only 'Oath', we can't forget that the word 'Yamin', which is the singular form of Ayman, has been used in the Quran as both 'Right hand' and 'Oath', so it can also mean 'What your right hands possess' and 'What you possess by means of an oath', both meaning will lead to 'What you rightfully/legally possess'. Also, I personally feel that it doesn't really make a difference as long as we interpret 'Right hand' with a clean non perverted mind. Other places where Muhammad Asad makes this point are
424, where he says that Allah says 'All Muhsanat (Protected, in this context protected by means of marriage) women are prohibited except for those who you rightfully possess', Muhammad Asad says that this to mean that all married women are forbidden except for women married by you
235-6
3352
and a few more places I think
He uses the same rule to interpret 243
243
the adulterer couples with none other than an adulteress - that is, a
woman who accords a place side by side with God;4 and with the adulteress
couples none other than an adulterer - that is, a man who accords (to his own lust] a place side
www.islamicbulletin.org 730
by side with God and this is forbidden unto the believers.54 The term mushrik (fem. mushrikah), which normally signifies a person who associates in his or
her
mind all manner of imaginary deities or forces with God, or who believes that any created being
has a share in His qualities or powers, is here evidently used in the widest metaphorical sense
of this term, denoting one who accords to his or her desires a supremacy which is due to God
alone,
and thus blasphemes against the principles of ethics and morality enjoined by Him. The particle
aw (lit., "or" which connects the word mushrikah with the preceding word zanjyah ("adulteress"
has in this context - as well as in the next clause, where both these terms appear in their
masculine form - an amplifying, explanatory value equivalent to the expression "in other words"
or "that is", similar to the use of this particle in 236. For a further elucidation of the
above passage, see next note.
5 Some of the commentators understand this passage in the sense of an injunction "The adulterer
shall
not marry any but an adulteress or a mushrikah; and as for the adulteress; none shall marry her but
an adulterer or a mushrik." This interpretation is objectionable on several counts firstly, the
Qur'an does not ever countenance the marriage of a believer, however great a sin he or she may
have
committed, with an unbeliever (in the most pejorative sense of this term); secondly, it is a
fundamental principle of Islamic Law that once a crime has been expiated by the transgressor's
undergoing the ordained legal punishment (in this case, a hundred stripes), it must be regarded,
insofar as the society is concerned, as atoned for and done with; and, lastly, the construction
of the above passage is clearly that of a statement of fact (Razi), and cannot be interpreted as
an injunction. On the other hand, since adultery is an illicit sexual union, the verb yankihu,
which appears twice in this passage, cannot have the customary, specific meaning of "he marries"
but must, rather, be understood in its general sense - applicable to both lawful and unlawful sexual
intercourse - namely, "he couples with". It is in this sense that the great commentator Abu-Muslim
(as quoted by Razi) explains the above verse, which stresses the fact that both partners are equally
guilty inasmuch as they commit their sin consciously - implying that neither of them can excuse
himself or herself on the ground of having been merely "seduced". -
Side Note I studied the word 'Afaa', it turns out that it means war booty in general, MMA from war booty refers to captives taken under custody
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Side Note I studied the word 'Afaa', it turns out that it means war booty in general, MMA from war booty refers to captives taken under custody
Actually I liked your previous approach laying out all the verses and then summing it up, seems more holistic..
peace -
Okay so after studying nonstop, regarding the word Yamin, and all the times it has been used in the Quran, along with Ayman, Maimanah etc. also by reading classical Arab dictionaries, I have come to the following conclusions
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Ma Malakat Aymanukum/hum/hun etc. is a general phrase, which is not to be taken as a 'Phrase', as it has multiple interpretations depending on context
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In general, Ma Malakat Ayamanukum refers to a respectable legal bond between two people, at some places it is another variant for a person's spouse, as pointed out by Muhammad Asad, and at other places it refers to a bond where one is dependent upon the other
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Ma Malakat Aymanukum does not refer to slave relationships, as the words used in it do not agree with this interpretation. The word 'Malakat' means Possessor, however, it does not only mean possessor, along with possessor it refers to a guardian, and care taker as well, as this is a royal word which is used for kings, and kings are not only possessors, but they are also obliged to take good care and guide the ones who are under him, and that 'Possession' is also not to be taken in a bad way because it is more like a 'Legal' possession, thus making it a respectable relationship, this interpretation is further strengthened by the following word 'Ayman', which has meanings along the lines of 'Oaths', which is the classic meaning of it. If we take it to be the literal plural of 'Yamin', then we must read what 'Yamin' means
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Piety
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Blessings
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Correct
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Strength
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Literal Right hand
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Symbolic Right hand (Which means that anything done with a 'Yamin' is rightful/legal, the reason for focusing on it being 'Rightful' is that this word itself is used in positive context, and all meanings of this word are 'Good', unlike it's antonym 'Shimal', which means 'Wrong, Incorrect, Opposite of blessings, left hand/side etc.)
Thus regardless of translating it as 'Oaths' or 'Right hands', we get the following meaning What they rightfully/legally possess
Keeping the above in mind, here are my interpretations of the verses dealing with this phrase
-Quran Surah 4 Verse 3 And if you fear that you will not be able to deal within the orphans, marry from the women, who seem good according to you, two and three and four; if you fear that ye cannot do justice so one or (I stated the 'Aw' in Arabic can mean 'That is -', and it certainly does in a few verses, however here I take it to mean it's basic meaning 'Or' those whom you rightfully possess .
Interpretation The reason why I have added 'Marry', is that usually where conjunctions appear, such as 'Wa' and 'Aw', (And/Or) they makes the noun that follows it subject to the order being given. For example, take a look at Surah Saba Verse 10, where Allah literally says O mountains echo praises with him and birds.
This verse is actually saying 'O mountains and birds, echo praises with him ' (There are many other examples but due to time I can't give any more)
Similarly, here Allah is saying 'If you fear that you cannot deal within orphans, marry from the women or from who you rightfully possess, those who seem good according to you, so if you fear that you cannot do justice between them, then only one woman is ok'-Quran Surah 4 Verse 24 And are all Muhsanah women except those who YOU rightfully possess
Interpretation Here this phrase is used to stress upon the permissibiblity of coupling with only those who are protected by the man himself. As the phrase 'Prohibited are all Muhsanah women' makes literally all married women forbidden, and the next phrase 'Those who you rightfully possess' excludes the ones who are married by the man
-Quran Surah 4 Verse 25 And whoever among does not have the means to marry Muhsanah women so from those who you rightfully possess from among your Fatayatikum ; and Allah knows best your faith some of you are from some others; so marry them with the permission of their guardians , and give them their dowries justly, they being chaste, not fornicating, nor receiving paramours
I have to sleep, and for the rest of the verses, I will post my interpretations tomorrow, till then Peace, looking forward to what you think Johan
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Ok here are the rest of the verses
-Quran Surah 16 Verse 71 And serve Allah and do not associate any thing with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those who you rightfully possess; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful
Interpretation Here this phrase refers to it's general meaning
- Quran Surah 23 Verse 5-6 And who to their private parts are guards, except in the case of their spouses - that is, who they rightfully possess
Interpretation Here I take 'Aw's second meaning, which is 'That is', and this is to stress upon the relationship of a person's spouse, it cann also be interpretted to mean, 'Their spouses or who they rightfully possess', that Allah is giving an alternate name, I mean, He is saying, that you may call them 'Their spouse' or 'Those who they rightfully possess'.
-Quran Surah 24 Verse 31 And don?t revealtheir beauty/adornment except for what is apparent of it. And draw/pull/put forth their coverings over their neck openings/bosoms. And don?t reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or sons of their brothers, or sons of their sisters, or their women, or who they rightfully possess, or their attendants not owners of physical desire from the men, or children who haven?t attained knowledge of a woman?s shameful parts (In other words, her privacy). And don?t strike their feet as to make known what they conceal from their beauty/adornment
Interpretaion Here it also refers to it's general meaning
-Quran Surah 24 Verse 33 And let those who do not find the means to marry keep chaste until Allah makes them free from His grace. And (as for) those who ask for a writing from among those who you rightfully possess, give them the writing if you know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of Allah which He has given you
Interpretation Here I take it mean in it's general meaning, and here what's happening is that if someone who is taken under custody, wants to be free, he/she is to be set free given that he/she is OK to be set free. As the way Allah has discussed them, for example in verse 425, He says that they will recieve half punishment, and it'll be better if you don't punish them at all, this is probably since these are low class people, they probably had/will have a tough lifestlye, which affected their minds. So if it is ok for them to be independant, only then it is allowed to free them, and while freeing them, for their benifit, the guardians are told to give them money as well, so they can easily have a new fresh start.
-Quran Surah 24 Verse 58 O you who believe! let those who you rightfully possess and those of you who have not attained to puberty ask permission of you three times; before the morning prayer, and when you put off your clothes at midday in summer, and after the prayer of the nightfall; these are three times of privacy for you; neither is it a sin for you nor for them besides these, some of you must go round about (waiting) upon others; thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, and Allah is Knowing, Wise.
Interpretation Here it has it's general meaning
Rest of the verses later
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-Quran Surah 30 Verse 28 He sets forth to you a parable relating to yourselves Have you among those who you rightfully possess partners in what We have given you for sustenance, so that with respect to it you are alike; you fear them as you fear each other?
Interpretation Here it has its general meaning, and this also shows that these people were looked down upon and were not given an equal status probably due to them being of the lower class and weak and dependant
-Quran Surah 33 Verse 50 O Prophet! surely We have made lawful to you your wives whom you have given their dowries, and those who you rightfully possess from the AfaaUllah, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who fled with you; and a believing woman if she gave herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet desired to marry her-- specially for you, not for the (rest of) believers; We know what We have ordained for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess in order that no blame may attach to you; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Interpretation Here it has been used with AfaaUllah, which needs to be interpreted by me, just like Fatayatikum, so till then I have nothing much to say, however, one thing is for sure that here it is to be taken in its general sense
-Quran Surah 33 Verse 52 Not is permissible for you women from after this time, And nor that you should exchange them (New women) with from your wives, though might be pleasing to you their (The womens) beauty, except those who you rightfully possess and Allah is Watchful over all things.
Interpretation First of all let me clear up that I think this verse was revealed later than the passages of 3350-51, the reason being that first it is presented in a way that makes it look like a new beginning of a passage, and two, this verse prohibits the Prophet from making any more marriages or divorces from the time this has been revealed, while 3350 on the other hand seems to be a verse where Allah is mentioning who he can marry, so it is quite odd for Allah to list all possible women he can marry and then immediately say that he cant marry anyone. Second, here I take MMA to mean wives, as I think that Allah is saying that any women from here onwards is impermissible for him except for those who HE rightfully possesses. Again, it is to stress upon his relationships with his wives.
-Quran 3355 There is no blame on them in respect of their fathers, nor their brothers, nor their brothers' sons, nor their sisters' sons nor their own women, nor of what their right hands possess; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is a witness of all things.
Interpretation Here it has its general meaning, that is, those who are under their guardianship
-Quran Surah 70 Verse 29-30 is the same as Quran Surah 23 Verse 5-6There you have it, my interpretation of every verse dealing with this phrase, these are 12 verses in total, in my earlier post I realized that accidentely added a few verses which contained 'Ma Malakat' but had something else after that, I searched again, and saw that there are 12 verses, the ones I have mentioned. If I have missed any verse, do tell me. Ill wait for feedback for a day, then Ill start my research on Fatayatikum, then for AfaUllah and give my interpretations of verses 3350, 425, and complete translation of 2433 with interpretation
Peace
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peace,
You may find this handy
"Thanks for bringing up 867, as this seems to imply ASR (~prisoners of war) are officially/properly bound/kept captives. Since they can only be taken after subdued/overcome in the land as per 867, and the same word is used in 474 and here the sequence is when the bind is strengthened it is only then can they be ransomed or released/grace (implying in this case they go from RQB to ASR when the bind is strengthened). Thus, by default, RQB are not bound firmly in this manner. This is further proven by AQ cross-reference (e.g. 870 refers to ASR in one's hands/power/control) and Lane's Lexicon."
From http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9599954.20
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Peace,
Thanks
