Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Concubinage is no longer relevant in Islam because slavery—the system that enabled it—has been abolished worldwide. The Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad emphasized freeing slaves, guiding humanity toward dignity and justice. Today, Islam’s moral focus is on marriage, a bond of consent, love, and mercy, replacing exploitation with compassion.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Let me be clear: concubinage is a closed chapter in Islamic history.
From both Islamic and global perspectives, concubinage no longer exists. Slavery, the foundation of concubinage, has been abolished through binding treaties that Muslims must respect. So, concubinage is not a current Islamic issue but a historical one.
The Qur’an has always guided the Ummah toward freedom. One of its highest moral acts is “freeing a human being from bondage” (A-Balad 90:13). This was a significant principle and a clear ethical path.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) exemplified this guidance. Everyone under his authority was eventually freed. His Companions followed his example, freeing hundreds of slaves as acts of devotion and repentance. Islam did not promote slavery; it aimed to dismantle it.
Since slavery no longer exists, concubinage has no relevance today; hence, it’s pointless to discuss it now.
What remains, and what Islam actively promotes, is marriage—a relationship built on mutual consent, affection, mercy, and dignity. Allah describes marriage as a sign of His mercy:
“He placed between you mutual love and affection.” (Ar-Rum 30:21)
This is where the moral focus of Islam now lies: on ethical relationships, spousal rights, emotional responsibility, and spiritual companionship.
In short, the Prophet (peace be upon him) guided humanity from exploitation to dignity. The era of bondage is over. He replaced it with a new vision of human relationships based on justice, mercy, and love.
Read more:
- How Can We Get the Reward of Emancipation of Slaves after Abolishing Slavery?
- Real Talk: Are Muslim Men Allowed to Have Concubines?
- Did the Prophet Have Concubines?
- Did Muhammad Liberate Women from Slavery and Abuse?
- Women Slaves in Quran and Hadith: How True?
Almighty Allah knows best.