Rulings on slave-women and bondwomen

Question

Question: What is the status of slave-women and bondwomen in the Islamic Shari‘a? (1) Were they purchased with money, and was nikah also contracted with them? (2) If their children are born without nikah, are they entitled to inheritance? (3) Was there any restriction on the number of bondwomen? (4) Four marriages at one time are permitted, but is there a restriction in this that no more than seven may be contracted in one’s whole life?

Answer

Jihad used to take place in accordance with the Shari‘a; in it they were taken captive and brought, and then they were distributed; whoever was given one of them into his ownership (milk) had no need of nikah with her. (2) They were entitled to inheritance. (3) There was no restriction. (4) There is no such restriction.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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