🔍 Understanding Concubinage in Islam (Surrīyah سرية): A Comprehensive Insight
Definition
Concubinage in Islamic terms refers to the practice of cohabitation with female slaves, who are not free women, under certain conditions. These female slaves, known as Surrīyah (سرية) or sarārī (plural), were often prisoners of war, purchased, or descendants of slaves. A concubine could gain freedom if she bore a child with her master.
Etymology
The Arabic term “Surrīyah” is derived from “surur” meaning delight or pleasure, reflecting the historically perceived role of concubines in providing companionship and bearing children.
Background and Historical Context
Islamic law, as codified during the era of Prophet Muhammad, included provisions related to slave concubinage. The practice can be seen within the broader context of slavery and warfare, where captives, including women, were inevitable. The Qurʾān addresses the legality of concubinage in several instances, providing a structured legal approach somewhat similar but distinct from earlier Jewish legal traditions.
For example, after the Battle with the Banū Quraiz̤ah, Prophet Muhammad took Rīḥānah the Jewess as a concubine. This historical precedent established concubinage as permissible under Islamic law under strict conditions. Moreover, Muhammad’s concubine, Maria the Copt, sent by the Egyptian ruler, underlines the social practice.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
- Islamic Culture: Concubinage was restricted to slave women and considered lawful. Free Muslim women could not be concubines.
- Jewish Culture: Mosaic law permitted concubinage with both Hebrew girls sold by their fathers and Gentile captives. The Biblical texts provide explicit regulations, both protective and restrictive, concerning concubines.
Synonyms
- Concubine
- Slave mistress
- Surrīyah
- Sarārī (plural)
Antonyms
- Free woman
- Legitimate wife
Related Terms with Definitions
- Nikah: Legal marriage under Islamic law.
- Mutʿah: Temporary marriage, particularly in Shīʿah tradition, which parallels some aspects of concubinage.
- Slave: An individual owned by another person and deprived of freedom.
- Ahl-al-Kitab: People of the Book; referring to Jews and Christians, whose captives could historically be taken as concubines.
Exciting Facts
- Slavery, including concubinage, has been formally abolished in most Islamic countries today, reflecting evolving ethical values.
- Islamic jurisprudence mandated that a child born from a concubinary relationship must be granted freedom.
- The Qurʾānic injunctions concerning concubinage often reflect socially protective motives, such as rights to sustenance and decent treatment for concubines.
Quotations
“These female slaves must be either taken captive in war, purchased by money, or the descendants of slaves.” — Ibrahim Al-Hassan
“The institution of concubinage is founded upon the example of Muhammad himself.” — Ibrahim Al-Hassan
References
Included for further reading:
- Books:
- “Slavery and Islam” by Jonathan A.C. Brown
- “The Concubine, the Princess, and the Teacher: Voices from the Ottoman Harem” by Douglas Scott Brookes
- Articles:
- “Concubinage in Islamic History” (Journal of Islamic Studies)
Suggested Literature and Other Sources for Further Studies
- Reading the Qurʾān and Hadith regarding slavery and concubinage.
- Comparative studies between Islamic, Judaic, and Christian views on concubinage and marital rights.
- Investigating the abolition movements within Muslim-majority societies.
Inspiring Farewell
“Understanding historical regulations and cultural practices enriches our perspective on ethical evolution and informs contemporary dialogues on human dignity and rights.”
Thank you for delving into the intricacies of concubinage (Surrīyah) within Islamic tradition. Always question, always compare, and always seek knowledge with an open heart. - Ibrahim Al-Hassan
