"Those Your Right Hand Possesses"
This phrase (ما ملكت أيمانكم - ma malakat aymanukum) appears throughout the Quran, referring to female slaves and captives. Islamic law explicitly permits sexual relations with these women, even if they are married, without requiring an additional marriage contract.
The Quranic Permission
"And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess." — Quran 4:24
This verse permits sex with married female captives. Classical exegete Ibn Kathir explains: "Married women are prohibited, except for female slaves, even if they have husbands in the land of war, they become lawful when they enter the land of Islam."
"And those who guard their private parts except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed." — Quran 23:5-6 (also 70:29-30)
The Quran explicitly permits sex outside marriage with female captives, treating them as a separate category from wives.
Historical Context: The Conquest of Awtas
After the Battle of Awtas, Muslim fighters captured women whose husbands were still alive. They were reluctant to have sex with them, so they asked Muhammad:
"We captured women and we desired them, but we disliked having intercourse with them while their husbands were alive. So we asked the Prophet about it and this verse was revealed: 'And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess.'" — Sunan Abu Dawud 2:2150
This hadith confirms that Quran 4:24 was revealed to permit sex with married captive women, nullifying their previous marriages.
The Practice During Muhammad's Time
Multiple authentic hadiths document this practice:
"At the battle of Hanain Allah's Messenger sent an army to Awtas and encountered the enemy and fought with them. Having overcome them and taken them captives, the Companions felt reluctant to have relations with captive women because of their husbands being polytheists. Then Allah, Most High, sent down regarding that: 'And women already married, except those your right hands possess.'" — Sahih Muslim 8:3432
The Waiting Period
Islamic law requires a waiting period ('iddah) before having sex with a pregnant captive to ensure paternity is clear. However, for non-pregnant captives, no waiting is required:
"We went out with Allah's Messenger on the expedition to the Bi'l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (coitus interruptus). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah's Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Messenger and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born." — Sahih Muslim 8:3371
Modern Implications
ISIS and Sexual Slavery: The Islamic State justified sexual slavery of Yazidi women based on these exact Quranic verses and hadiths, publishing detailed guidelines on enslaving and raping captive women.
Classical Consensus: All four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) agree that a man may have sexual relations with his female slaves without marriage.
No Consent Required: Islamic law does not require a slave woman's consent for sex. She is property that can be used, sold, or given away.
Biblical Contrast
The Bible has strict prohibitions against such practices:
"Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death." — Exodus 21:16
"There must be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people." — Ephesians 5:3
While the Old Testament tolerated slavery in some contexts, it never permitted the rape of captive women. The New Testament explicitly commands:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." — Ephesians 5:25
For more on biblical teachings about women, see our Prophets section.
Questions to Consider
- How does permitting sex with captive women without consent differ from rape?
- Can a religion be considered moral if it permits sexual slavery?
- Why do many Muslims today deny these clear Quranic teachings?
- What responsibility do religious texts have when their explicit commands lead to atrocities?