"To whom your right hands possess"(“Ma Malakat Aimanukum”)translation of the holy Quran verse, is being wrongly interpreted.

It must be borne in mind that there is a specific word in Arabic language for female slaves and this word has been used at least twice in the Quran, once as a singular [“Amatun” which is used in 2:221] and secondly as a plural [“imaaun”, which is used in 24:32].

The common interpretation of the term “Ma Malakat Aimanukum” as captive girls (with whom one can have free sex) is not warranted by the Quran. Many traditional Muslims have abused this term. They have followed corrupted scholars who have innovated and fabricated laws that have no basis in the true Islam and contradict the laws of Allah in the Quran.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE TERM

The term “Ma Malakat Aimanukum” literally has the following meanings:

-What your right hands possess

-What you rightfully have

-What you [already] have

-What is rightfully yours

The Term “Ma Malakat Aimanukum” refers to a neutral gender which is applicable to both male and female.

NOW LET US EXPLORE EACH KEY WORD IN THE TERM “MA MALAKAT AIMANUKUM”, A LITTLE FURTHER

The word “Malakat” has the root meem-laam-kaaf [M-L-K]. It primary signification is:

-To possess or own [something or someone], particularly with ability to have it to oneself exclusively

Other meanings include:

-To have power to command or exercise authority

-To acquire

-To take over

-To Marry

As can be seen that one of the meanings is “to marry”. This is according to one of the most authentic dictionaries of Arabic language [Lisan-ul-Arab by Ibn-Manzoor Vol. 13, page 184]. Another authentic dictionary of Modern Arabic also describes this meaning [The Hans Wehrs Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, page 1081].

According to Lisan-ul-Arab, al-milaak means

-Marriage
-The bond of holy matrimony

According to the same dictionary, milaakun also means ‘Wife’

The word “milkun” which has plural “amlaak” means:

-Possessions
-Lands
-Fortune
-Wealth
-Real estate

-Property

The word “mulkun” means:

-Sovereignty
-Kingship
-Possession
-Right of possession [what is rightfully yours]

In the term “Ma Malakat Aimanukum”, the word MALAKAT is in the PAST tense, which signifies “What you ALREADY have”, or “what you ALREADY possess” or “what CAME in your possession”. The word, grammatically, cannot be taken as to mean “what you WILL possess” or “what you WILL have”. The future or present tense form of this word is altogether different and has been used in various verses of Quran [5:17, 5:76, 10:31, 13:16, 16:76, 17:56, 19:87, 20:89, 25:3, 29:7, 34:22, 34:42, 35:13, 39:43, 43:86, 82:19]

NOW LET US SEE THE WORD “AIMANUKUM”

The word “Aimanun” is the plural of “Yaminun” and means “Right hands”. The root of this word is ya-meem-noon [Y-M-N].

The word “Yaminun” also means:

-A covenant

-An oath

Ma Malakat aymanukum is a phrase used for the poor humans whom an oath has been pledged to be taken care of. They are not necessarily prisoners of wars but can be if one wishes to take under his special care (under oath) a war prisoner, ie raising his/her status.

In 33:50, the prophet is told that among the categories of women lawful for marriage are Ma Malakat yaminuka (singular) FROM AMONG the prisoners of wars, which proves they are a separate group from war prisoners. Further in 33:55, the prophet's wives are not blamed for not wearing the veil in the presence of certain groups, including Ma Malakat aymanikum and this again excludes regular war prisoners. Or in 24:58 setting the limits of privacy inside a home between an adult and the rest of his/her household, including Ma Malakat aymanikum who cannot logically be war prisoners. In the context of marriage, they are also mentioned separately than regular male/female slaves 24:32-33.
Ma malakat aymanikum are therefore some special people in society, weak and unable to provide for themselves. They might have families but are very poor to take care of them, Islam encourages a wealthy/capable believer to take them under his/her wing through an oath that he/she will provide for them.

16:71,4:33,24:33 remind the people of the moral obligation of sharing from what Allah has given them with the weak and poor, including Ma Malakat aymanikum. Then 4:36 clearly explains that the oath takers must provide Ma Malakat aymanikum i.e. those poor humans in our care under oath, equitably with everyone else "And serve Allah and do not associate any thing with Him and be good to the parents and to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the neighbor of (your) kin and the alien neighbor, and the companion in a journey and the wayfarer and Ma Malakat aymanukum; surely Allah does not love him who is proud, boastful".

No sexual relation (fornication) is allowed with them outside of wedlock.

Quran 4:3,24:33.

CONCLUSION: Scripture has never permitted men to engage in immoral acts outside the institution of marriage whether this is from the category of free believing women, or from the category of “Ma Malakat Aymanukum”.

@Imran Khan Qra.