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This is a sub-article to Islamic military jurisprudence and Prisoner of war

Ma malakat aymanukum ("what your right hands possess" ما ملكت أيمانکم) is a reference in the Qur'an to slaves.

Overview[link]

The term itself is normally considered to refer to prisoners of war, or more broadly to slaves in general, according to the classic tafsirs. Bernard Lewis proposes the translation "those whom you own,"^[1] but this is neither a literal nor properly idiomatic translation.

The general term ma malakat aymanukum (literally "what your right hands possess") appears fourteen times in the Qur'an, in the following Arabic variations:

• Note: Masculine plural may also refer to a group of males and females.

Although slavery was not outright condemned, Muslims^[who?] argue that this is because slavery was a vital part of the world during the time of the revelation and it would be difficult for society to end it immediately^{[citation needed]}. Muslims (apologetics) argue that God sought to incrementally push for the abolishment of slavery through personal humanitarian initiatives. For example, "The Prophet said, "Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom)."^[2] Also when an individual erred such as missing a day of fasting they were to free a slave. Slavery was not encouraged, i.e. there was no command to take slaves. On the contrary, there were commands that freeing slaves is a righteous act. Therefore this set the emancipation of slaves in motion. While this emancipation was occurring, the Qur'an and the Prophet established rights for slaves which were not previously enjoyed, as well as limiting the source of slaves to only prisoners of war.^[3]

It was a practice and tradition of the Prophet Muhammad to release from captivity those females who would face the risk of being disgraced or humiliated as a result of being held as captives or slaves, and those who came from respected backgrounds that were known for their philanthropic contributions to the general masses, regardless if their charitable deeds benefited Muslims or non-Muslims^{[citation needed]}.^{[citation needed]}

After the Muslims executed the male members of the Banu Qurayza tribe,^[4] the women and children were taken as slaves, Muhammad himself took Rayhana as his slave.^[5]

During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, the tribe of Tayy that lived to the North East of the city of Madina, engaged in banditry and highway robbery, and came in conflict with the Muslims of Madina, which led to battles in between them that led to Tayy's defeat, and the subsequent captivity of some of their tribes folk.

Abu Hamid al Ghazali narrated in his Ihya Uloom ad deen, that when the daughter of the Hatim at-Tayy was taken as a captive, she came to the Prophet Muhammad asking for her release, and not to be made a subject of humiliation amongst the various Arab quarters, as her father, Hatim at-Tayy, was a person who used to aid the needy, feed the hungry, spread greetings, free slaves, and never refused an assisting request; to which the Prophet Muhammad replied that these described qualities of her father are those of the believers, and if her father was a Muslim then indeed he would have asked for (Divine)mercy on him. He then asked his companions to release her stating that her father loved the noble-character, and God loves the noble-character.

"Ma malakat aymanukum" in the Qur'an[link]

The main points about "those whom one's right hands possess" in the Qur'an are:

The right to request freedom[link]

The Qur'an states:

Let those who find not the wherewithal for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah gives them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom for a certain sum), give them such a deed if ye know any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which Allah has given to you. But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, Allah is, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them).^[6]

Al-Bukhari said: "Rawh narrated from Ibn Jurayj: `I said to `Ata', "If I know that my servant has money, is it obligatory for me to write him a contract of emancipation." He said, "I do not think it can be anything but obligatory." `Amr bin Dinar said: "I said to `Ata', `Are you narrating this from anybody' He said, `No,' then he told me that Musa bin Anas told him that Sirin, who had a lot of money, asked Anas for a contract of emancipation and he refused. So he went to `Umar (bin Al-Khattab), may Allah be pleased with him, and he said, `Write it for him.' He refused, so `Umar hit him with his whip and recited, (give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them.) Then he wrote the contract." This was mentioned by Al-Bukhari with a disconnected chain of narration. It was also narrated by `Abdur-Razzaq who said Ibn Jurayj told them: I said to `Ata', "If I know that my servant has some money, is it obligatory for me to write him a contract of emancipation" He said, `I do not think it can be anything but obligatory.'" (It was also said by `Amr bin Dinar who said, "I said to `Ata', `Are you narrating this from anybody' He said, `No.') Ibn Jarir recorded that Sirin wanted Anas bin Malik to write a contract of emancipation and he delayed, then `Umar said to him, "You should certainly write him a contract of emancipation." Ibn Kathir comments that the chain of narrators in the latter is Sahih (Authentic).^[7]

Collecting donation money for freedom[link]

(And give them something out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you.) This is the share of the wealth of Zakah that Allah stated to be their right. This is the opinion of Al-Hasan, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and his father and Muqatil bin Hayyan. It was also the opinion favored by Ibn Jarir.^[7]

(And give them something out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you.) Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said, "This is urging the people, their masters and others." This was also the view of Buraydah bin Al-Husayb Al-Aslami and Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas said: "Allah commanded the believers to help in freeing slaves."^[7]

Ibn Kathir supports donation of money for this cause by quoting a hadith from Al-Bara' bin `Azib, in which Muhammad is supposed to have said that an action that draws closer to paradise and away from the fire is emancipating the person by freeing him on your own or by helping in the price to gain his freedom.^[8]

Marriage[link]

Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess: Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you: Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.^[9]

Muhammad Asad notes that for the expression ma malakat aymanukum ("those whom your right hands possess", i.e., "those whom you rightfully possess"), it is often taken to mean female captives can be taken in marriage irrespective of whether they have husbands in the country of their origin or not. Despite the differences of opinion, even among the Companions of the Prophet, regarding the legality of such a marriage, Razi in his commentary on this verse, and Tabari in one of his alternative explanations (going back to ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, and others) hold the view that ma malakat aymanukum denotes here "women whom you rightfully possess through wedlock".^[10]

If any of you have not the means wherewith to wed free believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands possess: And Allah hath full knowledge about your faith. Ye are one from another: Wed them with the leave of their owners, and give them their dowers, according to what is reasonable: They should be chaste, not lustful, nor taking paramours: when they are taken in wedlock, if they fall into shame, their punishment is half that for free women. This (permission) is for those among you who fear sin; but it is better for you that ye practise self-restraint. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.^[11]

Ibn Kathir comments:

• "(This is for him among you who is afraid of being harmed in his religion or in his body;) indicates that marrying slave girls, providing one satisfies the required conditions, is for those who fear for their chastity and find it hard to be patient and refrain from sex."^[12]

• "(not fornicators) referring to dishonorable women, who do not refrain from illicit sexual relations with those who ask. Ibn `Abbas said that the fornicating women are the whores, who do not object to having relations with whomever seeks it"^[13]

• "(nor promiscuous) refers to taking boyfriends. Similar was said by Abu Hurayrah, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, Ad-Dahhak, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Yahya bin Abi Kathir, Muqatil bin Hayyan and As-Suddi."^[13]

Imam Bukhari relates that Muhammad said that one of the three who would have a double reward is "a master of a woman-slave who teaches her good manners and educates her in the best possible way (the religion) and manumits her and then marries her."^[14]

Treatment of slaves[link]

Ibn Kathir comments on verse 36 in Chapter An-Nisa [Women (4)] in the Qur'an that people must behave kindly to the one held as captive by others since they are weak by quoting an authentic hadith, in his opinion, in which Muhammad during an illness before his death recommended people to care of the captives. He also supports good treatment of captives by quoting hadiths from Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim that the slave has the right to have food, clothing and to only be required to perform what he can bear of work.^[15]

Sexual intercourse[link]

In Islamic Divine Law (Arabic: Sharia), Ma malakat aymanukum is the term for slaves or captives of war.

According to some Muslim theologians, it is lawful for male masters to have sexual relations with female captives. This is problematic because believers are taught that righteousness is to free the slave. "Quran 2:177 Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous."

Some however like Ibn Kathir claims for verse 25 in Chapter An-Nisa [Women (4)] in the Qur'an that the interpretation of it is that it is not allowed for "that your right hand possess" to commit fornication, and quotes Ibn Abbas interpretation to be not refraining from illicit sexual intercourse with whoever asks for it. In the same verse Ibn Kathir continues his interpretation by commenting that is not either allowed for "that your right hand possess" to take boyfriends according to Abu Hurayrah, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, Ad-Dahhak, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Yahya bin Abi Kathir, Muqatil bin Hayyan and As-Suddi.^[13]

Dress codes[link]

An-Nur 30–33, in the course of laying down the familiar dress code of Islam, explains that women "should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty" except to various familiar people, including those "whom their right hands possess". Al-Ahzab 55 makes it explicit that the same liberty is given to the Prophet's wives.

An-Nur 58 says that "those whom your right hands possess" and underage children should ask a believer's permission (before they come to their presence) at the three times of day when one is likely to be undressed.

They should not be forced into prostitution when they desire chastity[link]

An-Nur 24:33 states, ... But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to the one being forced).^[16]

Ibn Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "If you do that, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful, and their sin will be on the one who forced them to do that." This was also the view of Mujahid, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, Al-A`mash and Qatadah.^[17]

Being good to them[link]

An-Nisa 36 reminds readers that a believer should do good to a variety of people, including "what your right hands possess".

an-Nahl 71 and ar-Rum 28 both use the same metaphor: just as the fortunate among people do not share their wealth with "those whom their right hands possess" to the point of making them equals, nor fear them as they fear each other, so does God with people, bestowing more on some than others, but never making them equals, let alone fearing them..(.)

List[link]

A list of people who were amongst Ma malakat aymanukum includes:

622 – 719 AD

• Rayhana bint Zayd
• Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfah
• Safiyya bint Huyayy
• Maria al-Qibtiyya
• Abu Suhail an-Nafi
• Pirouz, the father of Hasan al-Basri

See also[link]

• Islam and slavery
• Nikah Mut'ah ("temporary marriage" in Shia Islam)
• Nikah Misyar
• Mamluk
• Pilegesh

References[link]

External links[link]

Traditional Sunni viewpoints[link]

• Islam Q&A fatwa

Traditional Shi'a viewpoints[link]

• Slavery in islam

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2011)

George Wassouf جورج وسوف
Background information
Born	(1961-12-23) December 23, 1961 (age 50)
Origin	Kafroun, Syria
Genres	Syrian, Arabic Music
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1975 —
Labels	Rotana
Website	http://alwassouf.com

George Wassouf (Arabic: جورج وسوف‎) (born December 23, 1961) is a Syrian singer^[1] with over 30 albums released. Wassouf's vocal style has been emulated by younger singers such as George El Rassi.

Born in Kafroun, tartous, Syria into a Christian household, he was called "the miraculous of his time" for his artistic talent in singing.^{[citation needed]} Wassouf started singing at the age of 10 in his hometown Kafroun. He was discovered by his first manager and producer George Yazbeck at a wedding party that Wassouf was performing at, aged 12 years old. At the age of 16 he was called Sultan El-Tarab by George Ibrahim El Khoury a magazine director, Arabic for The Sultan of Music, with his classic song "el-Hawa Sultan".^{[citation needed]} He became famous after appearing on the Lebanese show Studio El Fan 1980 when he was 16 years old when he was known as Sultan of Tarab.^{[citation needed]}

Wassouf preferred not to shoot videos for his songs saying "I don't feel I can act ... I really can't... I only find myself when I'm on the stage ... singing, but the video clip forces me to act".^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

• 1984: El Hawa Sultan
• 1992: Rouh El Rouh
• 1993: She' Ghareeb
• 1994: Kalam El Nass
• 1996: Leil El Ashiqeen
• 1998: Lissa El Dounya Bi Khair
• 1999: Tabeeb Garrah
• 2000: Dol Mush Habayib
• 2001: Zaman El Ajayib
• 2002: Inta Gherhom
• 2003: Salaf Wi Deine
• 2004: Etakhart Kteer
• 2006: Heya El Ayam
• 2008: Kalamak Ya Habibi
• 2009: Allah Kareem

Videography[link]

• Kalam El Nass
• Irda Bil Nasseeb
• Lissa El Donya Bi Khair
• Tabeeb Garrah
• Ana Assef
• Dol Mush Habayib
• Yom El Wadaa'
• Zaman El Ajayib
• Mat'oulou Leh
• Salaf Wi Dein
• Sabir Wi Radi
• Sihirt El Leil
• Etakhart Kteer
• Ya Habibi
• As'ab Furaa
• Allem Albi Elshou'

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website http://www.alwassouf.com
• Official Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/GeorgesWassouf

Hans Jansen

Johannes "Hans" J. G. Jansen (born 17 November 1942, Amsterdam) is a retired scholar of contemporary Islam in the Netherlands.^{[citation needed]}

Jansen is a graduate of the University of Amsterdam, his doctorate in Arabic is from the University of Leiden. He has worked in Egypt, where he was the Director of the Dutch Institute in Cairo. From 1983 he was an associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at Leiden University. Up to 2008, he was Professor of Modern Islamic Thought at the University of Utrecht.

He is a regular newspaper columnist and frequent media commentator. He was a principal witness in the trial of Geert Wilders, during which a judge allegedly tried to convince him that the trial was justified. As a result, the judges were substituted and a retrial was ordered.

Publications[link]

Books in Dutch:

• Inleiding tot de Islam (1987)
• De Koran uit het Arabisch Vertaald door Prof. dr. J.H. Kramers (1992) (edited by Asad Jaber & Johannes J.G.Jansen)
• Nieuwe Inleiding tot de Islam (1998)
• Het Nut van God (2001)
• God heeft gezegd: terreur, tolerantie en de onvoltooide modernisering van de islam (2003)
• De radicaal-islamitische ideologie: Van Ibn Taymiyya tot Osama ben Laden, Oratie Universiteit van Utrecht, 3 februari 2004
• Islam: een hoorcollege over de islamitische godsdienst en cultuur (2005, audio-cd)
• De historische Mohammed: de Mekkaanse verhalen (2005)
• De historische Mohammed: de verhalen uit Medina (2007)
• Bombrieven (2008, correspondence with Abdul-Jabbar van de Ven)
• Islam voor varkens, apen, ezels en andere beesten (2008)
• Zelf Koran lezen (2008)
• Eindstrijd, edited by Jansen & Snel (2009)

Books in English (Many other titles are not yet available in English):

• The Interpretation of the Koran in Modern Egypt (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1974)
• The Neglected Duty: The Creed of Sadat’s Assassins and Islamic Resurgence in the Middle East (New York: Macmillan, 1986)
• The Dual Nature of Islamic Fundamentalism (London: Hurst & Company, 1997) ppls

External links[link]

• Interview at religioscope site

Tofik Dibi
Member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands
Incumbent
Assumed office November 30, 2006
Personal details
Born	Tovek Dibi (1980-11-19) November 19, 1980 (age 31) Vlissingen, Netherlands
Political party	GreenLeft (GroenLinks - GL)
Spouse(s)	Single
Residence	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Religion	Muslim
Website	(Dutch) GreenLeft website

Tovek (Tofik) Dibi (born November 19, 1980 in Vlissingen) is a Dutch politician for GreenLeft (GroenLinks). He has been an MP since November 30, 2006. He focuses on matters of criminal law, safety, youth, family, and integration.

Biography[link]

Dibi is of Moroccan descent. He is studying Media and Culture at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in cinema. He combined his study with activities in the Marxist Turkish Workers' Union in the Netherlands (Turkish: Hollanda Türkiyeli Isçiler Birligi (HTIB), Dutch: Turkse Arbeidersvereniging in Nederland), and in his own neighborhood Bos en Lommer in Amsterdam. Together with the Trotskyist International Socialists, he initiated the national demonstration Stop Bush! organizing protests when George W. Bush visited the Netherlands in 2005, and the national action committee Enough is Enough, which focused on the discrimination against Muslims.

In September 2006 Dibi unexpectedly came in seventh on the list of GreenLeft for the 2006 general elections and was chosen in the House of Representatives in November 2006. The GreenLeft screening commission called him "a political talent", to Dibi's own amazement, for he had not considered his candidacy all that seriously.^[1] At the time he was the youngest member of parliament. Because of his background he concentrates on improving opportunities for young allochtoon (migrant) people in the larger cities.

On January 13, 2007 Dibi was arrested and later released while pamphleteering against Dutch MP Geert Wilders with members of the International Socialists.^[2] Their posters called Wilders "an extremist" and "harmful for society".^[3]

In May 2012 he made public his internal candidacy for heading the Groenlinks list for the September 2012 elections.

See also[link]

• List of Dutch politicians

Sources[link]

• (Dutch) Parlement.com biography

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tofik Dibi

• (Dutch) House of Representatives biography