What is the interpretation of "and married women, except those whom your right hands possess"? And does "milk al-yamin" (that which your right hands possess) still exist?
The word "muhsanat" (محصنات) is mentioned in the Quran with four meanings: chaste women, free women, Muslim women, and married women. The intended meaning in the noble verse is married women, and its meaning is that it is not permissible to marry believing married women, nor polytheistic married women. An exception to this is the permissibility of marrying a married woman if she is taken captive, because she becomes a slave (milk yamin), and the marriage contract is dissolved by captivity. She should not be approached until after purification (istibra') by one menstruation or by giving birth. This is supported by the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri regarding the captives of the Day of Awṭās and the revelation of the verse: (And married women, except those whom your right hands possess) in this regard. And the concept of "milk yamin" (what your right hands possess) is legislated until the Day of Judgment.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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