Muhammad Issues (Military Expeditions & Sexual Exploits)
Overview
The following is a list of some of the practices that Muhammad allowed (and at times encouraged) his followers to do during various military expeditions that Muhammad oversaw:
1. Muhammad allowed his followers to have sex with married female captives.
2. Muhammad allowed his followers to practice ‘coitus interruptus’ (withdrawing the male sexual organ before the emission of semen) with their female captives to avoid compromising their ransom prices through pregnancy.
3. Muhammad allowed his followers to marry women temporarily to relieve their sexual urges.
1. Married Female Captives & Adultery
According to the Quran (4:22-24), Muslim men are permitted to have sexual intercourse with the female captives that they own, even if the female captives are already married. If adultery is defined as a married person engaging in sexual activity with someone other than their spouse, then Quran 4:24 allows adultery.
Sahih Muslim (1456a & 1456d) and Sunan Abi Dawud (2155 - Graded: Sahih) relate that Muhammad received Quran 4:24 from God after the Battle of Hurain. On this occasion, the Muslims had defeated their enemies in armed conflict and taken several captives, among whom were several married women. Due to the marital status of these women and their pagan husbands, Muhammad’s followers were reluctant to have sexual intercourse with the captured women. However, Muhammad received a revelation from God (Quran 4:24) permitting the men to have sexual intercourse with the married women anyway. The only stipulation was to ensure that the married women weren’t already pregnant, hence the instruction to observe the waiting period. The same narration is also related by Jami` at-Tirmidhi (1132 - Graded: Hasan, 3016 - Graded: Sahih & 3017 - Graded: Sahih) and Sunan an-Nasa'i (3333 - Graded: Sahih). See too Ibn Kathir (Tafsir - Quran 4:24) and Al-Jalalayn (Tafsir - Quran 4:24).
For more information see 'Further Considerations' in 'Quran Issues (Married Captives & Adultery)'.
2. Female Captives & 'Coitus Interruptus'
Both Sahih al-Bukhari (4138) and Sahih Muslim (1438a) narrate Muhammad allowing his followers to have sexual intercourse with their female captives as well as Muhammad permitting the practice of ‘azl’ or ‘coitus interruptus’. After taking several Arab women as captives during the military expedition of Bil-Mustaliq, the Muslim men decided to have sexual intercourse with the captured women because they were missing their wives and longing for sexual gratification. However, in order not to lower or compromise the ransom prices that they could get for these women, they were withdrawing the male sexual organ before the emission of semen to avoid conception (a pregnant woman was evidently ransomed at a lower price than a non-pregnant woman, hence the practice of ‘azl’ or ‘coitus interruptus’ to prevent impregnation). Unsure about whether they should do this or not, Muhammad’s followers asked Muhammad for guidance. Muhammad said that it didn’t matter whether they withdrew the male sexual organ before the emission of semen or not, since every soul that is destined to enter this world will enter it. See also Sahih al-Bukhari (2229 & 6603) and Sahih Muslim (1438c). Further to this, Sahih Muslim (1439a) relates Muhammad allowing the practice of 'coitus interruptus' with female slaves outside the context of military expeditions and war.
3. Temporary Marriage
According to Sahih al-Bukhari (4615 & 5075), while Muhammad and his followers were engaged in a military expedition, Muhammad’s followers became agitated because they desired sexual intercourse with their wives but their wives had not accompanied them. They told Muhammad about their problem and proposed (perhaps sarcastically) self-castration. In response, Muhammad allowed his followers to marry women temporarily to relieve their immediate sexual impulses. All that was required was the giving of a garment to the women who had been temporarily married. To accompany this instruction, Muhammad recited the following verse from the Quran: “You who believe, do not forbid the good things God has made lawful to you - do not exceed the limits” (Quran 5:87).
Quran Passages & Hadith Narrations
The Quran 4:22-24 (Abdul Haleem)
(22) Do not marry women that your fathers married - with the exception of what is past - this is indeed a shameful thing to do, loathsome and leading to evil. (23) You are forbidden to take as wives your mothers, daughters, sisters, paternal and maternal aunts, the daughters of brothers and daughters of sisters, your milk-mothers and milk-sisters, your wives’ mothers, the stepdaughters in your care - those born of women with whom you have consummated marriage, if you have not consummated the marriage, then you will not be blamed - wives of your begotten sons, two sisters simultaneously - with the exception of what is past: God is most forgiving and merciful - (24) women already married, other than your slaves. God has ordained all this for you. Other women are lawful to you, so long as you seek them in marriage, with gifts from your property, looking for wedlock rather than fornication. If you wish to enjoy women through marriage, give them their bride-gift - this is obligatory - though if you should choose mutually, after fulfilling this obligation, to do otherwise [with the bride-gift], you will not be blamed: God is all knowing and all wise.
Ibn Kathir (Quran 4:24)
Allah said, (Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess.) The Ayah means, you are prohibited from marrying women who are already married, (except those whom your right hands possess) except those whom you acquire through war, for you are allowed such women after making sure they are not pregnant. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, "We captured some women from the area of Awtas who were already married, and we disliked having sexual relations with them because they already had husbands. So, we asked the Prophet about this matter, and this Ayah was revealed, (Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess). Consequently, we had sexual relations with these women.'' This is the wording collected by At-Tirmidhi An-Nasa'i, Ibn Jarir and Muslim in his Sahih. Allah's statement, (Thus has Allah ordained for you) means, this prohibition was ordained for you by Allah. Therefore, adhere to Allah's Book, do not transgress His set limits, and adhere to His legislation and decrees.
Al-Jalalayn (Quran 4:24)
And, forbidden to you are, wedded women, those with spouses, that you should marry them before they have left their spouses, be they Muslim free women or not; save what your right hands own, of captured [slave] girls, whom you may have sexual intercourse with, even if they should have spouses among the enemy camp, but only after they have been absolved of the possibility of pregnancy [after the completion of one menstrual cycle]; this is what God has prescribed for you (kitāba is in the accusative because it is the verbal noun). Lawful for you (read passive wa-uhilla, or active wa-ahalla), beyond all that, that is, except what He has forbidden you of women, is that you seek, women, using your wealth, by way of a dowry or a price, in wedlock and not, fornicating, in illicitly. Such wives as you enjoy thereby, and have had sexual intercourse with, give them their wages, the dowries that you have assigned them, as an obligation; you are not at fault in agreeing together, you and they, after the obligation, is waived, decreased or increased. God is ever Knowing, of His creatures, Wise, in what He has ordained for them.
The Quran 5:87-88 (Abdul Haleem)
(87) You who believe, do not forbid the good things God has made lawful to you - do not exceed the limits: God does not love those who exceed the limits - (88) but eat the lawful and good things that God provides for you. Be mindful of God, in whom you believe.
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2229
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: that while he was sitting with Allah's Messenger he said, "O Allah's Messenger! We get female captives as our share of booty, and we are interested in their prices, what is your opinion about coitus interrupt us?" The Prophet said, "Do you really do that? It is better for you not to do it. No soul that which Allah has destined to exist, but will surely come into existence.
Sahih al-Bukhari, 4138
Narrated Ibn Muhairiz: I entered the Mosque and saw Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and sat beside him and asked him about Al-Azl (i.e. coitus interruptus). Abu Sa`id said, "We went out with Allah's Messenger for the Ghazwa of Banu Al-Mustaliq and we received captives from among the Arab captives and we desired women and celibacy became hard on us and we loved to do coitus interruptus. So when we intended to do coitus interrupt us, we said, 'How can we do coitus interruptus before asking Allah's Messenger who is present among us?" We asked (him) about it and he said, 'It is better for you not to do so, for if any soul (till the Day of Resurrection) is predestined to exist, it will exist."
Sahih al-Bukhari, 4615
Narrated `Abdullah: We used to participate in the holy wars carried on by the Prophet and we had no women (wives) with us. So we said (to the Prophet). "Shall we castrate ourselves?" But the Prophet forbade us to do that and thenceforth he allowed us to marry a woman (temporarily) by giving her even a garment, and then he recited: "O you who believe! Do not make unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you."
Sahih al-Bukhari, 5075
Narrated 'Abdullah: We used to participate in the holy battles led by Allah's Messenger and we had nothing (no wives) with us. So we said, "Shall we get ourselves castrated?" He forbade us that and then allowed us to marry women with a temporary contract (2) and recited to us: -- 'O you who believe ! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, but commit no transgression.' (5.87)
Sahih al-Bukhari, 6603
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: That while he was sitting with the Prophet a man from the Ansar came and said, "O Allah's Messenger! We get slave girls from the war captives and we love property; what do you think about coitus interruptus?" Allah's Messenger said, "Do you do that? It is better for you not to do it, for there is no soul which Allah has ordained to come into existence but will be created."
Sahih Muslim, 1438a
Abu Sirma said to Abu Sa'id al Khadri (Allah he pleased with him): O Abu Sa'id, did you hear Allah's Messenger mentioning al-'azl? He said: Yes, and added: We went out with Allah's Messenger on the expedition to the Bi'l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid-conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah's Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Messenger, and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born.
Sahih Muslim, 1438c
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We took women captives, and we wanted to do 'azl with them. We then asked Allah's Messenger about it, and he said to us: Verily you do it, verily you do it, verily you do it, but the soul which has to be born until the Day of judgment must be born.
Sahih Muslim, 1439a
Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger and said: I have a slave-girl who is our servant and she carries water for us and I have intercourse with her, but I do not want her to conceive. He said: Practise 'azl, if you so like, but what is decreed for her will come to her. The person stayed back (for some time) and then came and said: The girl has become pregnant, whereupon he said: I told you what was decreed for her would come to her.
Sahih Muslim, 1456a
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah her pleased with him) reported that at the Battle of Hanain Allah's Messenger sent an army to Autas and encountered the enemy and fought with them. Having overcome them and taken them captives, the Companions of Allah's Messenger (may peace te upon him) seemed to refrain from having intercourse with captive women because of their husbands being polytheists. Then Allah, Most High, sent down regarding that: "And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess (iv. 24)" (i. e. they were lawful for them when their 'Idda period came to an end).
Sahih Muslim, 1456d
This hadith has been reported on the authority of AbuSa'id (al-Khudri) (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters and the words are: They took captives (women) on the day of Autas who had their husbands. They were afraid (to have sexual intercourse with them) when this verse was revealed: "And women already married except those whom you right hands posses" (iv. 24)
Sunan Abi Dawud, 2155 (Graded: Sahih)
Abu Sa’id Al Khudri said “The Apostle of Allaah sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of Apostle of Allaah were reluctant to have relations with the female captives because of their pagan husbands. So, Allaah the exalted sent down the Qur’anic verse “And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hand posses.” This is to say that they are lawful for them when they complete their waiting period.
Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 1132 (Graded: Hasan)
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri narrated: "We got some captives on the day of Awtas, and they had husbands among their peopled. They mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah, so the following was revealed: And women who are already married, except those whom your right hands posses.
Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3016 (Graded: Sahih)
Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri: "On the Day of Awtas, we captured some women who had husbands among the idolaters. So some of the men disliked that, so Allah, Most High, revealed: And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess... (4:24)"
Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3017 (Graded: Sahih)
Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri: "We captured some women on the Day of Awtas and they had husbands among their people. That was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah so Allah revealed: '...And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess... (4:24)'"
Sunan an-Nasa'i, 3333 (Graded: Sahih)
It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet of Allah sent an army to Awtas. They met the enemy, fought them, and prevailed over them. They acquired female prisoners who had husbands among the idolaters. The Muslims felt reluctant to be intimate with them. Then Allah, the Mighty and Sublime revealed: "Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (slaves) whom your right hands possess," meaning, this is permissible for you once they have completed their 'Iddah.