Page "Concubinage" Paragraph 29

The Sunnah of reports that Muhammad had two or three concubines during his life.

Umm-ul-Momineen ( Mother of Muslims ) Rehana was a prisoner of war that Muhammad kept for himself as a concubine after the battle against tribe of Bani Qariza ( Ghazwa-e-Bani Qariza ).

Umm-ul-Momineen ( Mother of Muslims ) Maria Qibtia is reported to be another concubine gifted to Muhammad by the King Maqooqas in response to his letter inviting him towards Islam.

The King Maqooqas in response appreciated the invitation and gifted two concubines Maria Qibtia and her sister Sirin with two horses.

Muhammad kept Umm-ul-Momineen ( Mother of Muslims ) Maria Qibtia for himself as concubine.

Both Rehana and Maria Qibtia were granted equivalent status and protocol in form of prestigious Muslim household as were arranged for all other wives ( Ummahat-ul-Momineen ).

It was the highest rank and protocol in the then society of Arab that a woman could have.

It was a matter of great surprise for Arabs that same protocol had been awarded to a concubine ( slave women ) as giving such prestigious protocol to a concubine was against their norms and traditions.

Muhammad did so to set examples that Islam equates slaves with free human and accepts no discrimination of any kind like race, gender, region, religion etc.

measure of Muhammad was necessary to curb the cruel tradition in the then Arab society of misusing handmaiden as concubine for sexual pleasures and later refuting her due rights and that of her children.

Muhammad promoted concubines Maria Qibtia and Rehana as Umm-ul-Momineen ( Mother of all Muslims ) awarding them same splendid household, rights, privileges, protocol and status as he had ensured for all other wives who belonged to reputed race, tribes and / or families.

is how Islam negated and discouraged the unjust attitudes and customs against slaves and concubines.