Right hand possesses in Quran

[Maha]

Freeing prioners is a state function that is why the Quran ordered the prophet concerning them. We are told to feed the priosoners as at that time the believers had to manage things themselves. But prisoners of war is a state function. Feeing slaves is an individual act since the owner can be aproached and its his private property.

There has been some interpretation that says its freeing debt or covering someone's debt. It really makes no difference since its all charity however freeing a slave is more urgent.

I Agree with you about freeing slaves and Raqabah can be slaves but the term is not limited to slaves. Raqabah can also be someone who isnt a slave. We dont have slaves anymore but we still have RAQABAH, therefore the verse is still applicable for today.

[Bigmo]

I Agree with you about freeing slaves and Raqabah can be slaves but the term is not limited to slaves. Raqabah can also be someone who isnt a slave. We dont have slaves anymore but we still have RAQABAH, therefore the verse is still applicable for today.

Good point. Ibn Khatir also claimed that raqaba can mean debt. Releving someone's debt. But you are right, its all about charity and helping another human in need. Its very much relevant as long as we are breathing on Earth. Very good point.

[aabdul]

So Allah is saying that I do not have to guard my private parts from my spouse and from someone who WAS in my possession before ?

Salam,

Whatever laws the Quran contains about slaves, are intended for these slaves who were already present in society. "Ma Malakat Aimanukum" means those who are already in your possession. This is stated in the past tense, meaning something that has been done before.

At the advent of Islam, like in the rest of the world, slavery was prevalent among Arabs, too. Prisoners of war were turned into slaves by them. When they embraced Islam, they already had such slaves and concubines in their homes. If Islam had ordered them all out, then there would have been chaos in the society. Hence such laws were established, like freeing the slaves as expiation for many types of sins, providing the slave with his freedom in exchange of ransom value, marrying them and thus making them legal husband and wife, etc., whereby they were given freedom gradually.

For the future, The Quran completely closed the door on slavery. This was how it was done. For prisoners of war, the order was quite clear. The Quran says that after over powering them either be gracious to them and let them go, or else take ransom and let them free (474). The door for future slavery was thus closed by the Quran forever.

Here is how Allama parwez beautifully explained the verses 9011-13

?On the contrary, the other way requires a lot of hard work and patience. It amounts to climbing uphill, whereupon at every step one runs short of breath. However every such step elevates him further. And what is this steep uphill ascent? Who else can tell you better than the Almighty. So listen The uphill ascent is that a man should not only look after himself. Wherever he sees a human neck caught in any kind of subjugation or bondage, he should free it. That is to say, the first and foremost thing to do is to establish a system where no one is subdued by or subjugated to another. Everyone walks with his chin up, with total physical and mental freedom...... (9011-13)

http//www.tolueislam.org/Parwez/expo/expo_090.htm

[Fusion]

Hi there folks,

I have had many doubts and questions in my mind and since I have joined this forum, i believe that those doubts are being answered to my satisfaction by the people who others called Quranists. I also read the free minds version of Quran which helps a lot.

During Turkey visit by some of my friends, they came back talking about historical buildings and concubines and how they were captured from different parts of the world and were brought for Sultans. I have been in arabia since my childhood and now in my professional life met with some of the people who are educated but still are Bedouins. The concept of MMA is the same for them as explained by Rameez and some of the thoughts about women and the behavior led me to belief that what Aabdul posted as the last post of this thread makes more sense to me.

Basically what am trying to say is that Quran has set a very high standard of morality such that I would be totally dishearten if indeed Quran meant exactly as Rameez has said or what ISIS is doing in the name of MMA. However when i see the reality on the ground I see people around me in majority having the same traditional beliefs about everything that we normally see or hear from say 99.99% of the muslims of present and even past.

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_bin_Qasim
The military strategy had been outlined by Hajjaj in a letter sent to Muhammad bin Qasim

My ruling is given Kill anyone belonging to the ahl-i-harb ; arrest their sons and daughters for hostages and imprison them. Whoever does not fight against us...grant them aman and settle their tribute as dhimmah ...

I think that all islamic history or on a broader scale human history is filled with wars and during wars violence involving injustices to the oppressed nation (raping of women, imprisoning the children and converting them by force and training them to fight for the king etc).
I also believe that Allah knows all this and that he would also know that we as humans would never reach to the high standards set in Quran for example, yet that does not mean Quran will allow slavery. For sure when Maha talks about raping the other person wife etc... I would feel the same.. I would never wanted such things to happen to my family by the other party on the name of MMA. It is NOT RIGHT. God would not approve that. As a principle I like to think like that.

BUT the reality from historical events prove otherwise. There were slaves, they were, killed and God knows what other cruel things happened. As Aabdul explained that Quran recognizes the ills of the arab society and encourages muslims then to free slaves and other good things gradually.

In the end, I can say I am happy I know there are folks out there who think with an honest and pure heart, yet the reality on the ground of past and present is totally against what was asked by God through his messengers and books.

Cheers

for rameez, maha and aabdul