Concubines and zina in islam

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I use to think that the lives of prophets didn't have domestic drama, well I forgot that at the end of the day they were still human. I found that prophet Muhammad had 11 or 13 wives, I grew up thinking it was 9 bit that is not the problem. The reason some people say he has 11 wives is because the remaining 2 were not confirmed as his wives, some say they were his concubines. So if truly they were his concubines, isn't that Zina, he was committing Zina if truly he wasn't married to them. Why is that when prophets commit sins we overlook it and try to justify their sins

Mufti Tosif Qasmi · Accepted Answer

This objection is based on a serious misunderstanding and ignorance of Islamic teachings. In Islam, relations with a female slave (concubine) were not considered zina (fornication/adultery); rather, they were lawful according to Islamic law, and this is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an:

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ

(Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:5-6)

Translation: “And those who guard their private parts, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess.”

Therefore, the Qur’an itself does not classify relations with “ما ملكت أيمانهم” as zina. Accusing the Prophet ﷺ of zina is false, disrespectful, and extremely dangerous, because the Prophets (peace be upon them) are protected from major sins, especially acts like zina. Judging divine laws through modern Western standards is neither fair nor intellectually honest.

Concubines and zina in islam

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