The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

1. I recall that during the Bangladesh conflict I heard that Maudoodi and like maulvis had given the fatwa that if soldiers of the Pakistan army capture any enemy women they can make them their concubines.

2. I have made the point previously that the NA which declared Ahmadis as non-Muslim was elected in 1970 as part of the NA for the original Pakistan. Now the majority of that NA (55%) went to Bangladesh. So the majority had no hand in that declaration, and by all evidence that majority would have opposed the decision to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslim.

According to Quarn’s law one can only take captives among those who have fought against Muslims. Women are usually noncombatants. Maududi sahib’s interpretation of “those whom your right hand possess” is against the Quranic rules for taking POWS.

Like Shias, sunni muslims (men) have this impression that they can have physical relation with captive women – they have no idea that who is allowed to take captives and how can they be only ‘women’.

ma malakat aimanu-kum

Hand signifies power\control.

23:88 Say, ‘In whose hand is the dominion of all things and who protects,

67:1 Blessed is He in Whose hand is the Kingdom, and He has power over all things;

Use of “right hand” refers to just\lawful approach in Quran.

69-45 We would, surely, have seized him by the right hand,..

4:33…. And as to those with whom your right hands have ratified agreements, give them their due. Surely Allah is ever Witness over all things.

The literal translation of above verse would be – with whom you have lawfully\justly ratified agreements.

This term “Those whom your right hands possess” literally means – Those whom Allah has made subject to your just\lawful supervision or those whom Allah has given in your control in just\lawful manner. By law I mean Quranic law.

Further this term doesn’t speak for one gender of specific age as some take this term specifically for “women who are kept as concubines”.

4:36 and serve Allah, and associate naught with Him, and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbors of your kin and alien neighbors, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and those whom your right hands possess. Surely Allah loves not such as are proud and boastful.

In above verse animals are referred as “those whom your right hands possess”.

By those whom your right hands possess are meant all those with whose care a man is entrusted, so that it includes even animals over which a man has control. (AH – Bahr al-Muhir “commentary”, By Imam Athir al-Din Abu ‘Abd Allah Abu Hayyan Al-Undluai) (Rz – Al-Tafsir Al-Kabir “commentary”, by imam Fakhr Al-Din Razi).

In Quran this term is used for POWs\Captives\Slaves\animals.

I think it refers to Freed Slaves, Freed POWs who accepted Islam, Poor people, animals etc – Because they are dependent on others for their sustenance in Muslim society.

Quranic Law for POWs (from maulana Muhammad ali’s translation)

The Prophet was the first man in history to give prisoners of war humane treatment. At that time prisoners of war were dealt with very savagely. It was common custom to sell them to others. They were kept as slaves and used as beasts.

8:67 It is not fit for a prophet to take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land. You desire the frail goods of this world, while Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is Might, Wise.

The conditions for taking POWS are.

1. One has to fight an impose war.
2. One has to triumph in the land.
3. One’s objective shouldn’t be the “FRAILS GOODS” of this life but a struggle for true cause and self defense.

Only then one is eligible to take POWs. POWs can only be those who fought against Muslims.

That is to say, it does not become a Prophet to make prisoners of his enemy save as a result of regular war involving much bloodshed. The system of making prisoners of enemy tribes without war and bloodshed practiced until-and even after-the advent of Islam, is here made unlawful. Prisoners can be taken only from combatants and after a battle.

Rules for the release of prisoners are also laid down. These are the most vital steps taken to eliminate slavery.

47:4 So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then. When you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners, and afterwards (set them free) as a favour or for ransom till the war lay down its burdens…

1. Set them free as a favour.
2. Take ransom for imposed war’s expenditure.

The common custom before Islam was selling of combatants and non-combatants. This verse excludes that possibility.

The Sabeans
 
I use to wonder who were Sabeans mentioned in Holy Quran.
Dawn news article tells about them.
 
See this link.
 

@Rashid

We should also then be thankful that Muslims are not the dominant world power now.  Imagine the havoc we would have created in the world under Muadoodi’s guidelines!