Dr. Subhi Mansour on the term "muhsanat" in the Koran

Bigmo

And he calls himself a free thinker?

LOl! To be fair its not easy understanding every verse and term in Koran.

However I believe that Ma Malakat Aymanukum means concubine as understood in semitic tradition. Concubines are like Hagar and Queen Sheeba in the Bible. A marriage without dowry.

In the BibleAmong the Israelites, men commonly acknowledged their concubines, and such women enjoyed the same rights in the house as legitimate wives. The principal difference in the Bible between a wife and a concubine is that wives had dowries, while concubines did not.

The concubine commanded the same respect and inviolability as the wife. The man to whom she belonged was dishonoured if other men lay hands on her. For instance, David is portrayed as having been dishonoured when his concubines had a sexual relationship with his son Absalom. However, this instance is as likely dishonoring to David because it involves a form of incest. Although the word used in the Levitical ban is commonly translated "wife," on at least one other occasion it is used to refer a woman who is not a wife - specifically, the handmaid of Jacob's wife.

Since it was regarded as the highest blessing to have many children, legitimate wives often gave their maids to their husbands to atone, at least in part, if they were barren, as in the cases of Sarah and Hagar, Rachel and Bilhah. The children of the concubine had equal rights with those of the legitimate wife; for example, King Abimelech was the son of Gideon and his concubine. Later biblical figures such as Gideon, David, and Solomon had concubines in addition to many childbearing wives. For example, the Books of Kings says that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

In JudaismIn Judaism, concubines are referred to by the Hebrew term pilegesh. The term is a non-Hebrew, non-Semitic loanword deriving from the Greek word pallakis, Greek , meaning a mistress staying in house. Or the Aramaic phrase palga isha, meaning half-wife.

According to the Babylonian Talmud, the difference between a concubine and a full wife was that the latter received a marriage contract (Hebrewketubah) and her marriage (nissu'in) was preceded by a formal betrothal (erusin), neither being the case for a concubine. But, one opinion in the Jerusalem Talmud argues that the concubine should also receive a marriage contract, but without including a clause specifying a divorce settlement.

Certain Jewish thinkers, such as Maimonides, believed that concubines are strictly reserved for kings, and thus that a commoner may not have a concubine; indeed, such thinkers argued that commoners may not engage in any type of sexual relations outside of a marriage. Before Maimonides concluded this, Sunni Muslims officially prohibited mutah (i.e. temporary marriage) relationships; some commentators' suggest that Maimonides changed his view in response to this development, similar to Gershom ben Judah's ban on polygamy being made after Christians had prohibited it.

Maimonides was not the first Jewish thinker to criticise concubinage; for example, it is severely condemned in Leviticus Rabbah. Other Jewish thinkers, such as Nahmanides, Samuel ben Uri Shraga Phoebus, and Jacob Emden, strongly object to the idea that concubines should be forbidden.

In the Hebrew of the contemporary State of Israel, the word pilegesh is often used as the equivalent of the English word mistress - i.e. the female partner in extramarital relations, even when these relations have no legal recognition. There are attempts to popularise pilegesh as a form of premarital, non-marital and extramarital relationships which (in their view) would be permitted by Jewish religious law.

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concubinage

Nothing to do with slavery. Slavery is banned in the Koran anyways.

WhereIsTheTruth

bigmo okay so men according to you can fuck around as they want and have their penis everywhete they want and commit adultery and furnication and you jusify it with the bible stories of Solomon?????? First of all Solomon got huge problems because of all his sex friends whom you call concubines. So you say that ma malakat aymanakom means sex friends which is the same as concubines. And of course you think that its only men who can have sex friends while women shall remain 'chaste' with no male concubine? Well my question is if ma malakat aymanakom is female sex friend then why does god not call them concubines or sex friends ?why does he say MMA and not concubines/sex friends if that what it means ?

Bigmo

bigmo okay so men according to you can fuck around as they want and have their penis everywhete they want and commit adultery and furnication and you jusify it with the bible stories of Solomon?????? First of all Solomon got huge problems because of all his sex friends whom you call concubines. So you say that ma malakat aymanakom means sex friends which is the same as concubines. And of course you think that its only men who can have sex friends while women shall remain 'chaste' with no male concubine? Well my question is if ma malakat aymanakom is female sex friend then why does god not call them concubines or sex friends ?why does he say MMA and not concubines/sex friends if that what it means ?

MMA means a wife. There is nothing called sex friend. AS far as whether women can have MMA. That depends on whether women can have more than one husbands. Anyways MMA works both ways.

MMA to me means a marriage established by oath only without dowry and formalities. Usually this is done not only due to low status such as Hagar and Abraham but also high status such as Solomon and Queen Sheeba.

As far as why the Koran choses to be vague sometimes, maybe its to see what the later generations of Muslims will do. A trial and a test. The Koran however gives us enough information for us to deduce based on taking the Koran as a whole.

Why would the Koran repeatedly encourage emanicipating slaves and yet allow it at the same time? And why would the Koran quote Moses when he said

22.18. (Pharaoh) said "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life?

"And thou didst a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an ungrateful (wretch)!"
Moses said "I did it then, when I was in error.
"So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the apostles.
"And this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me,- that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel!"

The Koran says we should feed the poor. Would the Koran then tell us to starve people at the same time? So how can the Koran tell us to emanicpate sales and yet tell us its OK to own slaves?

It just don't get. confused

WhereIsTheTruth

bigmo okay so you mean that MMA is marriage. I thought you ment 'friends' or slaves so I misunderstood you, I am sorry for that. Listen slavery in it self is a disgusting crime and shirk on the highest level since its only God who can own people and no one else. So of course Slavery is totally banned in the quran since God says himself that he never forgives Shirk.
And sex with women throughout their enslavement is sex slavery and that is RAPE and Abbuse OF POWER and every Man who does that shall just have his penis cut off whether he does it in the name of Mohammed or in the name of quran or in the name of his penis voodoo voodoo

But can you please explain why there should be some wives without dowry and some with dowry? And hagar was the WIFE of Abraham. They were married. But do you really rely on the bible? Are bible not just a hadith fabrication ? And bigmo finally can you see anywhere on the quran where women are prohibited to marry more then one ? Because it can decide whether women can have MMA (husbands)also as you said. However, I personally cannot see any difference between a male having wives and a female having husbands. Isnt that basically the same?

Peace )

Bigmo

bigmo okay so you mean that MMA is marriage. I thought you ment 'friends' or slaves so I misunderstood you, I am sorry for that. Listen slavery in it self is a disgusting crime and shirk on the highest level since its only God who can own people and no one else. So of course Slavery is totally banned in the quran since God says himself that he never forgives Shirk.
And sex with women throughout their enslavement is sex slavery and that is RAPE and Abbuse OF POWER and every Man who does that shall just have his penis cut off whether he does it in the name of Mohammed or in the name of quran or in the name of his penis voodoo voodoo

But can you please explain why there should be some wives without dowry and some with dowry? And hagar was the WIFE of Abraham. They were married. But do you really rely on the bible? Are bible not just a hadith fabrication ? And bigmo finally can you see anywhere on the quran where women are prohibited to marry more then one ? Because it can decide whether women can have MMA (husbands)also as you said. However, I personally cannot see any difference between a male having wives and a female having husbands. Isnt that basically the same?

Peace

I don't think that a women having more than one husband is the same as a man having more than one wives because of the problem of identifying who the father of the child is. Thats kind of hard to do if a woman is with more than one man. You see?

However theoretically speaking there is no Quranic reason to prohibit a women from having more than one husband.

As far as slavery, I agree with you. As far as Bible is concerned, the OT is a collection of words and chapters written by men. So it is not the "word of God" but its the "Book of God". As far as Gospel, Jesus is the word of God. Jesus was the Koran. Moses of course communicated with God through the bush. But no Koran like scriptures came to anyone than Muhammad and Jesus did not need a Koranic like scripture because he was given the holy spirit.

Every scripture has its uniqueness and every prophet has his own biography. But the religion is one.

Yes Hagar was his wife. Concubines was a practice that eastern societies practiced. But its wrong to associate it with slavery. There is no real difference between a concubine and a regular wife. Eastern societies have many formalities for weddings. But the essence is two partners commiting to one another to be a family.

Anyways if any verse in the Koran is somewhat hard to interpret, we simply leave it as it is and deal with the verses that are more easier to interpret. Sunnis and Shias follow speculation and spin.

'He it is who has sent down to thee the Book in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the book others are allegorical, that is those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say "We believe in the book; the whole of it is from our Lord;" and none will grasp the message except men of understanding' (Al-Qur'an 3 7).

So there is a Divine plan here.

5.48. To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;

At least thats how I see it but of course I could be wrong. Nobody in the world will figure everything in the Koran, Gospel and OT. Not even the prophets or angels. The Books of God and the Words of God are not any literature.

I rely on the previous scriptures heavily when I want to understand the Koran or any religious issue. But I do not read each scriptures the same. But they all lead to the same tree.

WhereIsTheTruth

I don't think that a women having more than one husband is the same as a man having more than one wives because of the problem of identifying who the father of the child is. Thats kind of hard to do if a woman is with more than one man. You see?

However theoretically speaking there is no Quranic reason to prohibit a women from having more than one husband.

As far as slavery, I agree with you. As far as Bible is concerned, the OT is a collection of words and chapters written by men. So it is not the "word of God" but its the "Book of God". As far as Gospel, Jesus is the word of God. Jesus was the Koran. Moses of course communicated with God through the bush. But no Koran like scriptures came to anyone than Muhammad and Jesus did not need a Koranic like scripture because he was given the holy spirit.

Every scripture has its uniqueness and every prophet has his own biography. But the religion is one.

Yes Hagar was his wife. Concubines was a practice that eastern societies practiced. But its wrong to associate it with slavery. There is no real difference between a concubine and a regular wife. Eastern societies have many formalities for weddings. But the essence is two partners commiting to one another to be a family.

Anyways if any verse in the Koran is somewhat hard to interpret, we simply leave it as it is and deal with the verses that are more easier to interpret. Sunnis and Shias follow speculation and spin.

'He it is who has sent down to thee the Book in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the book others are allegorical, that is those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say "We believe in the book; the whole of it is from our Lord;" and none will grasp the message except men of understanding' (Al-Qur'an 3 7).

So there is a Divine plan here.

5.48. To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;

At least thats how I see it but of course I could be wrong. Nobody in the world will figure everything in the Koran, Gospel and OT. Not even the prophets or angels. The Books of God and the Words of God are not any literature.

I rely on the previous scriptures heavily when I want to understand the Koran or any religious issue. But I do not read each scriptures the same. But they all lead to the same tree.

You seems to be a much more reasonable muslim than most muslims who I met. You obviously dont take anything for granted and try to discover some of the secrets of the Quran unlike the sunni sect who consider the Quran as being a dead book only hold artificially alive by their hateful traditions.
I study History in the University so I know that the eastern people had some different kinds of marriage as you mention. I like the way that you consider the bible in understanding some elements in islam, its basically also what Quran also tells us to do many times And if you Dont know or have any doubt about it then ask the ones who received the book before you. But of course that requires that you are aware of the inconsistencies in the bible and you are appearently very aware of them.

Regarding a woman having more than one husband, I can still not see why she cannot. You mentions the problem with knowing the father of the children? Well, if you read the history you will know that in some parts of Africa it was quiete normal that a woman married several husbands at once, but they still knew the paternity of the children(the resemblence of the children, how to be sexual activs with the husbands in ways that can make her know the father in cases of pregnancy etc.) but today in 2011 we have - Thank God - DNA test. A deity is all-knowing as described in the Quran - it knows the past, present and future which means that God could never forbid a woman to have several husbands based on paternity matters since God already knew that there would come a time where the father of the child would be identified even if the mother had 700 husbands as Solomon. And Quran is for all times right? So whether a man is married to more than one wife or a woman is married to more than one husband, thats basically the same thing since both parents can be identified in both cases.

However, my humble understanding is that its best for people - whether they are females or males - to be satisfied with one spouse. God created Adam and Eve to each other, he did not created Adam with several wives or Eve with several husbands. So it means that from the beginning the intention was to make us satisfied with one spouse which is the best way to build a healthy relationship. I dont think that any spouse deserves to be cheated on even if its in a 'legal' way. As its written in the bible 'And therefore a man leaves his father and mother in order to become one flesh with his wife'. So a marriage is basically a union between TWO people who becomes one.

Peace

Bigmo

You seems to be a much more reasonable muslim than most muslims who I met. You obviously dont take anything for granted and try to discover some of the secrets of the Quran unlike the sunni sect who consider the Quran as being a dead book only hold artificially alive by their hateful traditions.
I study History in the University so I know that the eastern people had some different kinds of marriage as you mention. I like the way that you consider the bible in understanding some elements in islam, its basically also what Quran also tells us to do many times And if you Dont know or have any doubt about it then ask the ones who received the book before you. But of course that requires that you are aware of the inconsistencies in the bible and you are appearently very aware of them.

Regarding a woman having more than one husband, I can still not see why she cannot. You mentions the problem with knowing the father of the children? Well, if you read the history you will know that in some parts of Africa it was quiete normal that a woman married several husbands at once, but they still knew the paternity of the children(the resemblence of the children, how to be sexual activs with the husbands in ways that can make her know the father in cases of pregnancy etc.) but today in 2011 we have - Thank God - DNA test. A deity is all-knowing as described in the Quran - it knows the past, present and future which means that God could never forbid a woman to have several husbands based on paternity matters since God already knew that there would come a time where the father of the child would be identified even if the mother had 700 husbands as Solomon. And Quran is for all times right? So whether a man is married to more than one wife or a woman is married to more than one husband, thats basically the same thing since both parents can be identified in both cases.

However, my humble understanding is that its best for people - whether they are females or males - to be satisfied with one spouse. God created Adam and Eve to each other, he did not created Adam with several wives or Eve with several husbands. So it means that from the beginning the intention was to make us satisfied with one spouse which is the best way to build a healthy relationship. I dont think that any spouse deserves to be cheated on even if its in a 'legal' way. As its written in the bible 'And therefore a man leaves his father and mother in order to become one flesh with his wife'. So a marriage is basically a union between TWO people who becomes one.

Peace

Good point.

huruf

See 24.31

And tell the believing females to lower their gaze and keep covered their private parts, and that they should not reveal their beauty except what is apparent, and let them put forth their shawls over their cleavage. And let them not reveal their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their women, or those maintained by their oaths, or the male servants who are without need, or the child who has not yet understood the composition of women. And let them not strike with their feet in a manner that reveals what they are keeping hidden of their beauty. And repent to God, all of you believers, that you may succeed.

Women do have MMA see text highlighted en red it refers to women's MMA

Salaam

WhereIsTheTruth

See 24.31

And tell the believing females to lower their gaze and keep covered their private parts, and that they should not reveal their beauty except what is apparent, and let them put forth their shawls over their cleavage. And let them not reveal their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their women, or those maintained by their oaths, or the male servants who are without need, or the child who has not yet understood the composition of women. And let them not strike with their feet in a manner that reveals what they are keeping hidden of their beauty. And repent to God, all of you believers, that you may succeed.

Women do have MMA see text highlighted en red it refers to women's MMA

Salaam

Excately. So now its proven that women also actually have Ma malakat aymanahon. And if ma malakat aymanahona are actually slaves (as some horney muslim men insist upon) then Quran tells us that women also own slaves. And if sex with slaves are permitted in islam (as horney muslim men insist upon) then it means that muslim women can have sex with their slave boys as well

now this one is of course hard for muslim men to swallow because they have been used to have monopoly on sex eat But alhamdulillah Gods word tell us something else. Otherwise MMA does not means slaves at all anywhere.

The_Dreamer

Excately. So now its proven that women also actually have Ma malakat aymanahon. And if ma malakat aymanahona are actually slaves (as some horney muslim men insist upon) then Quran tells us that women also own slaves. And if sex with slaves are permitted in islam (as horney muslim men insist upon) then it means that muslim women can have sex with their slave boys as well )

It is not "horney Muslim men" who "insist" that they can have intercourse with ma malakat aymanahona. The Qur'an allows it.

now this one is of course hard for muslim men to swallow because they have been used to have monopoly on sex eat

Bravo!
bravo

Your post is beautifully bigoted!

Anders Behring Breivik sends his regards! ;D

WhereIsTheTruth

It is not "horney Muslim men" who "insist" that they can have intercourse with ma malakat aymanahona. The Qur'an allows it.

Bravo!
bravo

Your post is beautifully bigoted!

Anders Behring Breivik sends his regards! ;D

Thank you for exposing your stupidity. If you need any help to pay the expenses for your mental treatment, please let me know. I love to help the needy as quran orders us.

Peace

The_Dreamer

Yes dreamer. Quran allows muslim men and muslim women to have sex with their slaves. So of course I am just waiting for the day that slavery would be allowed again so I can kidnap some handsome infidel men and have a lot of fun with them eat eat
And its funny how you can call my post bigoted when you cant even refute a single word of mine.

Hmmm, where did I say that I intended to refute anything from the Qur'an? hmm

No, I just commented on how incredibly bigoted your post was, o great Messenger Becca, beacon for all of mankind (yeah), I hope that you are not offended by my humble observation.

So be in your senses and please dont waste my time by your meaningless posts. I am frankly very tired of trolls like you. By the way Hitler sends his regards to you bravo bye bye )

I didn't promote the Nazi ideology in any of my posts, did I?

Please show me where I did, Mrs. "WhereIsTruth" ;D

WhereIsTheTruth

Hmmm, where did I say that I intended to refute anything from the Qur'an? hmm

No, I just commented on how incredibly bigoted your post was, o great Messenger Becca, beacon for all of mankind (yeah), I hope that you are not offended by my humble observation.

I didn't promote the Nazi ideology in any of my posts, did I?

Please show me where I did, Mrs. "WhereIsTruth" ;D

And who told you that I want your baseless comments. Unfortunately it is your post which are incredibly bigoted and not mine. I did not understood a single word of what you wrote. Seems like you are a troll who is trying to play Christmas games with me. But I don't have time for you, I am sorry. May god give you a life inshallah. I hope you won't feel offended by my views on you.

Peace

The_Dreamer

And who told you that I want your baseless comments. Unfortunately it is your post which are incredibly bigoted and not mine. I did not understood a single word of what you wrote. Seems like you are a troll who is trying to play Christmas games with me. But I don't have time for you, I am sorry. May god give you a life inshallah. I hope you won't feel offended by my views on you.

Peace

I did not "understood" a single word of what you wrote either. rotfl

Bye! ;D

WhereIsTheTruth

I did not "understood" a single word of what you wrote either. rotfl

Bye! ;D

''The best answer to a fool(i.e you) is silence'' - Arabic proverb.

Peace

Bigmo

Excately. So now its proven that women also actually have Ma malakat aymanahon. And if ma malakat aymanahona are actually slaves (as some horney muslim men insist upon) then Quran tells us that women also own slaves. And if sex with slaves are permitted in islam (as horney muslim men insist upon) then it means that muslim women can have sex with their slave boys as well )

now this one is of course hard for muslim men to swallow because they have been used to have monopoly on sex eat But alhamdulillah Gods word tell us something else. Otherwise MMA does not means slaves at all anywhere.

Good point. I was thinking about that the other day. Remember Sunnis believe that when Muhammad migrated with his followers to Medina, the Medina folks "shared" their wives with the new arrivals. &

So you figure.

WhereIsTheTruth

Good point. I was thinking about that the other day. Remember Sunnis believe that when Muhammad migrated with his followers to Medina, th e Medina folks "shared" their wives with the new arrivals. &

So you figure.

Hehe you gotta be kidding dear brother bigmo, do they really have a hadith about that rotfl and what was the purpose of sharing their wives with Muhammad and company? But then wife sharing is not forbidden according to sunnies???

Bigmo

Hehe you gotta be kidding dear brother bigmo, do they really have a hadith about that rotfl and what was the purpose of sharing their wives with Muhammad and company? But then wife sharing is not forbidden according to sunnies???

Narrated Sa'd's father When the emigrants reached Medina. Allah's Apostle established the bond of fraternity between 'Abdur-Rahman and Sad bin Ar-Rabi. Sad said to 'Abdur-Rahman, "I am the richest of all the Ansar, so I want to divide my property (between us), and I have two wives, so see which of the two you like and tell me, so that I may divorce her, and when she finishes her prescribed period (i.e. 'Idda) of divorce, then marry her." Abdur-Rahman said, "May Allah bless your family and property for you; where is your market?" So they showed him the Qainuqa' market. (He went there and) returned with a profit in the form of dried yogurt and butter. He continued going (to the market) till one day he came, bearing the traces of yellow scent. The Prophet asked, "What is this (scent)?" He replied, "I got married." The Prophet asked, "How much Mahr did you give her?" He replied, "I gave her a date-stone of gold or a gold piece equal to the weight of a date-stone." (The narrator, Ibrahim, is in doubt as to which is correct.) Bukhari

Narrated Anas When 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf came to us, Allah's Apostle made a bond of fraternity between him and Sad bin Ar-Rabi' who was a rich man, Sad said, "The Ansar know that I am the richest of all of them, so I will divide my property into two parts between me and you, and I have two wives; see which of the two you like so that I may divorce her and you can marry her after she becomes lawful to you by her passing the prescribed period (i.e. 'Idda) of divorce. 'Abdur Rahman said, "May Allah bless you your family (i.e. wives) for you." (But 'Abdur-Rahman went to the market) and did not return on that day except with some gain of dried yogurt and butter. He went on trading just a few days till he came to Allah's Apostle bearing the traces of yellow scent over his clothes. Allah's Apostle asked him, "What is this scent?" He replied, "I have married a woman from the Ansar." Allah's Apostle asked, "How much Mahr have you given?" He said, "A date-stone weight of gold or a golden date-stone." The Prophet said, "Arrange a marriage banquet even with a sheep." Bukhari

WhereIsTheTruth

bigmoOh my god! These hadith actually say that your wives are your property so just go ahead and divorce them and give them to your friends. And not one word about what the wives thought about it. Who may have fabricated this nonsense hmm and more important how can sunnies believe in such crap?

Bigmo

bigmoOh my god! These hadith actually say that your wives are your property so just go ahead and divorce them and give them to your friends. And not one word about what the wives thought about it. Who may have fabricated this nonsense hmm and more important how can sunnies believe in such crap?

The idea is that they were so generous that they even shared their wives. Of course by divorcing them first. You are right, it shows the mentality we are dealing with here where a wife is seen as personal property.

There is more

I found that some Sunnis believe that a person can marry a "slave girl" and her sister too all at once. hypno

This is what I call a screwed up mentality.

Meanhwile they catch you with a beer or a marijuana joint then you are toast.