Refuting A Dawagandist’s “Rebuttal”
To Jochen Katz's Article, "Did Allah forget the wives?"
Bassam Zawadi has attempted to address a Quranic oversight which Jochen Katz had mentioned in an article where he discusses Q. 52:21 and its failure to mention believing women. Zawadi also takes a stab at “responding” to my reply to another Muslim who failed to refute Katz’s article.
We highly recommend that the readers go through Jochen Katz’s article and my rebuttal before looking at this reply.
Here is the verse in question:
And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned.
As anyone can see Allah fails to mention the believing women in a context which not only speaks of rewards but of joining believing men with their children.
Zawadi claims that the verse doesn’t say “and those men who believed,” and tries to brush aside Katz’s appeal to verse 20 to prove that the context is clearly referring to believing men only:
They will recline (with ease) on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to Houris (female, fair ones) with wide lovely eyes. Hilali-Khan
Since the believers will be espoused to the houris it is obvious that this must be referring to only the men (that is, unless Zawadi believes that Muslim women will be engaging in lesbian acts with these houris in paradise!).
Zawadi argues that verses 20-21 are not necessarily speaking of the same gender or group since the conjunction “and” separates them, thereby implying that a shift in subject or referent has taken place, i.e. verse 21 is no longer speaking of the same group that is mention in verse 20.
This makes it obvious that Zawadi didn’t actually bother to read the surah in context since this is what he would have discovered:
Surely the godfearing shall be in gardens and bliss, rejoicing in that their Lord has given them; and their Lord shall guard them against the chastisement of Hell. 'Eat and drink, with wholesome appetite, for that you were working. Reclining upon couches ranged in rows; and We shall espouse them to wide-eyed houris. AND (Wa) those who believed, and their seed followed them in belief, We shall join their seed with them, AND (WA) We shall not defraud them of aught of their work; every man shall be pledged for what he earned. AND (Wa) We shall succour them with fruits and flesh such as they desire while they pass therein a cup one to another wherein is no idle talk, no cause of sin, and there go round them youths, their own, as if they were hidden pearls. AND (Wa) they advance one upon another, asking each other questions. They say, 'We were before among our people, ever going in fear, and God was gracious to us, and guarded us against the chastisement of the burning wind; we were before ever calling upon Him; surely He is the All-benign, the All-compassionate.' Therefore remind! by thy Lord's blessing thou art not a soothsayer neither possessed. S. 52:17-29
There are several occurrences of the conjunction “and” (wa) without any indication that a change in subject is taking place. In fact, the entire context is speaking of the same group or subject which means that Zawadi has to have a strong contextual reason for separating verse 20 from 21 in order to posit two different groups.
Zawadi further argues that even if it were referring to men only this still wouldn’t be a problem since all this would mean is that their offspring would be given an opportunity to attain the ranks that their fathers have attained. It seems that Zawadi likes to make up things as he goes along since that is not what the verse states at all. The passage expressly says that the men will be joined to their offspring provided that they too believed, no more no less. And yet sadly, the mothers of these children are not mentioned at all.
Zawadi claims that it is strange that a person would say that Islam disrespects women in regard to their rights over her children when there are narratives which claim that she is entitled to the greatest rights over her children.
What is strange here is how Zawadi attacks a strawman and brings up a red herring since Katz said absolutely nothing about the surah teaching children to disrespect their mothers.
More importantly, doesn’t Zawadi realize that his comments actually further confirm just how cruel Q. 52:21 truly is to women? Seeing the honor and respect children are expected to render to their mothers why then doesn’t Q. 52:21 explicitly mention them? After all, if children are told to love and cherish their mothers then shouldn’t Allah have mentioned them directly? How evil and cruel must Allah be for not referring to women in a context which speaks of their children!
However, there is a seemingly good reason why Allah failed to mention the mothers in Q. 52:21. According to the same hadiths that Zawadi refers to the majority of people in hell will be the women of this world!
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) on ‘Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that THE MAJORITY of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion THAN YOU. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not THE EVIDENCE OF TWO WOMEN EQUAL TO THE WITNESS OF ONE MAN?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301; see also Volume 2, Book 24, Number 541)
Chapter 1: THE MAJORITY IN PARADISE WOULD CONSIST OF THE POOR PIOUS PERSONS AND THE MAJORITY OF THE DENIZENS OF HELL WOULD CONSIST OF WOMEN, AND THE TRIAL BY MEANS OF WOMEN
Usama b. Zaid reported that Allah's Messenger said: I stood at the door of Paradise and I found that the overwhelming majority of those who entered therein was that of poor persons and the wealthy persons were detained to get into that. The denizens of Hell were commanded to get into Hell, and I stood upon the door of Fire and the majority amongst them who entered there was that of women. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6596)
Ibn Abbas reported that Allah's Messenger said: I had a chance to look into the Paradise and I found that majority of the people was poor and I looked into the Fire and there I found the majority constituted by women. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6597)
This means that women will make up a minority in paradise, which is precisely what Muhammad is stated to have said!
Imran b. Husain reported that Allah's Messenger said: Amongst the inmates of Paradise the women would form a minority. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6600)
Thus, it makes perfect sense why Allah wouldn’t mention women being joined with their offspring in Q. 52:21, since many (or even most) of the mothers who were honored by their children in this life will be burning in hell forever!
It is rather unfortunate that Zawadi simply cannot see how his assertion actually backfires against him and confirms Katz’s point.
And so much for the assertion that Islam respects women since what could be any more disrespectful than Muhammad's claim that women are intellectually and religiously deficient and that women make up the majority of people in hell!
Zawadi claims that Q. 52:20 which speaks of Allah giving the believers houris does not exclude their earthly wives. Zawadi then quotes a hadith which says that a woman who remarries after her husband’s death will be wedded to her last husband in paradise. Zawadi also refers to another narration to prove that the wives of believers won’t appear old in paradise but become young virgins again.
However, this all depends on whether the woman even makes it to paradise at all since the narrations which I just quoted show that many (if not the majority) of them will never make it. Therefore, countless numbers of Muslim women will never become young virgins since they will be suffering in eternal torture according to Muhammad!
He then attacks Christianity for stating that a woman will no longer be married to her husband saying how sad and disheartening this will be for loving couples. However, what this shows is just how vile and corrupt Zawadi’s mind truly is.
The true worshippers of God won’t need sexual companions since they will be given something infinitely better and more satisfying:
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:8-11
“And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” Psalm 17:15
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Roman 14:17
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’ Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?’ I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:9-17
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4
True believers won’t need to have sex in order to experience true, eternal joy and pleasure since true happiness and fulfillment comes from dwelling in the eternal, glorious pure and holy presence of the Triune God. Everything else pales by comparison.
Now compare this with the gross sexual perversion of Allah’s paradise:
The Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right!) mid thornless lote-trees and serried acacias, and spreading shade and outpoured waters, and fruits abounding unfailing, unforbidden, and upraised couches. Perfectly We formed them, perfect, and We made them spotless virgins, chastely amorous, like of age for the Companions of the Right. S. 56:27-38 Arberry
Surely for the godfearing awaits a place of security, gardens and vineyards and maidens WITH SWELLING BREASTS, like of age, and a cup overflowing. Therein they shall hear no idle talk, no cry of lies, for a recompense from thy Lord, a gift, a reckoning, S. 78:31-36 Arberry
Here are the comments of Ibn Kathir concerning Q. 56:35-37:
Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said…
<In Paradise, the believer will be given such and such strength for women.>
Anas said, "I asked, 'O Allah's Messenger! Will one be able to do that? He said,
((He will be given the strength OF A HUNDRED (MEN).))
At-Tirmidhi also recorded it and said, "Sahih Gharib." Abu Al-Qasim At-Tabarani recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah was asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Will we have sexual intercourse with our wives in Paradise?" He said…
((The man will be able to have sexual intercourse WITH A HUNDRED VIRGINS IN ONE DAY.))
Al-Hafiz Abu 'Abdullah Al-Maqisi said, "In my view, the Hadith meets the criteria of the Sahih, and Allah knows best." (Source; bold and capital emphasis ours)
And here is how he describes the breasts of these houris:
<And vineyards, and Kawa'ib Atrab,> meaning, wide-eyed maidens WITH FULLY DEVELOPED BREASTS. Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid and others have said…
<Kawa'ib> "This means ROUND BREASTS. They meant by this THAT THE BREASTS OF THESE GIRLS WILL BE FULLY ROUNDED AND NOT SAGGING, because they will be virgins, equal in age…" (Source; bold and capital emphasis ours)
The two renowned Muslim expositors, al-Jalalayn, said the following in regard to Q. 56:36,
and made them virgins, immaculate - every time their spouses enter them they find them virgins, nor is there any pain [of defloration] - (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; bold and underline emphasis ours)
And here is what they say regarding Q. 36:55:
Indeed today the inhabitants of Paradise are busy (read fi shughlin or fi shughulin), [oblivious] to what the inhabitants of the Fire are suffering, [busy] delighting in pleasures such as deflowering virgins - not busy with anything wearisome, as there is no toil in Paradise - rejoicing, blissful (fakihuna is a second predicate of inna, the first being fi shugulin, 'busy'); (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; bold and underline emphasis ours)
It gets even more perverted. According to the following narrations Muslim men will have erections that never get soft!
4337. Abu 'Umama (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah will not admit anyone in the Paradise but Allah, the Mighty and Glorious, will marry him with seventy two wives: two will be from virgins (haurine) with big eyes and seventy will be his inheritance from the people of the Hell-Fire (1). Everyone of them will have A PLEASANT VAGINA and HE (the man) WILL HAVE A SEXUAL ORGAN THAT DOES NOT BEND DOWN (during sexual intercourse)."
Hisham b. Khalid says, "The words 'out of his inheritance (due) from the denizens of the Fire', many men who will enter the Fire and the inmates of the Paradise will inherit their wives just as Faraoh's[sic] wife will be inherited (by the believer)."
According to al-Zawa'id, its isnad has some controversy. Al-'Ajali has declared Khalid b. Yazid b. Abi Malik reliable while Imam Ahmad, Ibn Mu'in, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Ibn Jarud Sahi, 'Uqail etc., have declare[sic] Ahmad b. Salih al-Misri da'if. (Sunan Ibn-I-Majah (Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. Yazid Ibn-I-Maja Al-Qazwini), English version by Muhammad Tufail Ansari [Kazi Publications, Lahore (Pakistan), 1st edition 1995], Chapter NO. XXXIX, "The Description of the Paradise", Volume V, p. 546; capital and underline emphasis ours)
What this shows us is that Zawadi would rather have a whore house where men are given eternal erections to deflower heavenly virgins for all eternity! It seems that Allah’s presence is too boring to be able to satisfy anyone for eternity which is why he needs to keep his servants occupied in never ending orgies.
In his haste to prove that women will get what they desire in paradise Zawadi quotes Q. 39:34 and 43:70 without seeing how these passages end up confirming Katz’s point and mine!
For instance, notice what Q. 43:70 says:
Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in happiness.
Here is another passage which says something similar:
Verily, the dwellers of the Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. S. 36:55-56 Hilali-Khan
Later Zawadi will cite S. 40:8 to prove that already in Mecca women were mentioned in context of eternal rewards.
Our Lord, and admit them to the Gardens of Eden that Thou hast promised them and those who were righteous of their fathers, and their wives, and their seed (wa-azwajihim wa-thurriyyatihim); surely Thou art the All-mighty, the All-wise. Arberry
He even claims that Q. 40 is chronologically earlier than Q. 52 and yet he simply cannot see the significance of this!
Notice once again what Q. 52:21,
And those who believe and whose offspring (thurriyyatuhum) follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their offspring (thurriyyatahum), and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned. Hilali-Khan
Both Q. 40:8 and 52:21 speak of “their offspring,” using the same Arabic term, but only the former passage mentions “their wives.”
Now doesn’t Zawadi realize that these examples prove that Katz was right? If Allah could mention wives in all of these verses then he could just as easily have referred to them in Q. 52:21. The fact that he didn’t mention them proves Katz’ point that they were not included in that particular surah, which shows that Allah deliberately overlooked them.
Zawadi further overlooked the fact that these are not the words of Allah but of the angels!
Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) (saying): "Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire! "Our Lord! And make them enter the 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) which you have promised them, and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their offspring! Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. S. 40:7-8 Hilali-Khan
It is not Allah making promises on his own initiative, but the angels praying and imploring him to forgive and bless the repentant. The angels seem to be more considerate than Allah.
Second, this verse clearly addresses men again. The wives are included in a certain list, but the verse mainly addresses the believing MEN, since it does not include “husbands” in the list (which it would have to, if women were equally addressed.)
Third, Zawadi doesn’t see how these texts also refute his appeal to an Arabic linguistic feature which he calls Taghleeb Al Dhukur 'Ala Al Enaath? According to this rule, masculine pronouns can be used to include women under its categorization as well.
However, if this is the case then why does Allah even bother mentioning the wives of the believers at all? Didn’t Allah know this Arabic rule which says that masculine pronouns also include women within it? Moreover, didn’t Umm Salamah, Muhammad’s wife, know this Arabic rule? She should have since the Quran claims to have been written in clear Arabic with all of its verses being fully explained or detailed:
Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand. S. 12:2 Hilali-Khan
We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear. S. 16:103 Y. Ali
And verily this Qur'an is a revelation from the Lord of all the worlds. The Spirit, faithful to the trust, has descended with it On thy heart, that thou mayest be a Warner, In plain and clear Arabic tongue. S. 26:192-195 Sher Ali
A Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; A Qur'an in Arabic for people who know. S. 41:3
We verily, have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand (its meanings and its admonitions). S. 43:3 Hilali-Khan
And yet even though she knew this feature she still had to ask Muhammad why Allah chose to speak of the rewards of men but neglected to mention the rewards of women.
A well-known example for several revelations, which are connected with one particular circumstance, are three verses which according to reliable reports, came down in response to the question of Umm Salama, WHETHER OR WHY ONLY THE MEN HAD BEEN REFERRED TO IN THE QUR'AN, as being rewarded. According to Al-Hakim and Tirmidhi the verses 3:195, 4: 32 and 33:35 were revealed in response to this question:
'And their Lord has accepted of them and answered them: Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you be he male or female: Ye are members, one of another: those who have left their homes, or have been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My cause, or fought or been slain - verily I will blot out from them their iniquities and admit them into gardens with rivers flowing beneath; a reward from the presence of God and from His presence is the best of rewards' (3:195).
'And in no wise covet those things in which God has bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others; to men is allotted what they earn and to women what they earn: but ask God of His bounty for God has full knowledge of all things' (4:32).
'For Muslim men and women - for believing men and women - for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God's praise - for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward' (33:35). [Salih, op cit., p. 148] (Ahmad Von Denffer, Ulum al Qur'an, Asbab Al-Nuzul, Several Revelations and One Sabab; underline and capital emphasis ours)
Furthermore, why didn’t Muhammad correct her and inform her of this linguistic feature of the Arabic language? Why did he proceed to compose passages which started to refer to believing women and their rewards?
More importantly, why didn’t Muhammad mention the fact that Q. 40:8 was “revealed” in Mecca and stated to her that this verse clearly speaks of the rewards which women also receive?
Doesn’t this prove that Q. 40:8 wasn’t composed at that time but came from the Medinan period which Muhammad had his scribe(s) insert into Q. 40? In fact, isn’t there evidence from the very same hadiths that confirm that Muhammad would often include verses from a later period within chapters which were originally composed at an earlier date? In light of this, can Zawadi prove conclusively that Q. 40:8 was originally a part of Q. 40 and NOT a verse which was inserted later into the 40th chapter?
Finally, does Zawadi really want to use this as an objection? If so is he comfortable with applying this to the following surahs?
Surely the godfearing shall be in a station secure among gardens and fountains, robed in silk and brocade, set face to face. Even so; and We shall ESPOUSE them to wide-eyed houris, therein calling for every fruit, secure. They shall not taste therein of death, save the first death, And He shall guard them against the chastisement of Hell – a bounty from thy Lord; that is the mighty triumph. S. 44:52-57 Arberry
But for HIM who fears the station of HIS Lord are gardens twain! Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Both furnished with branching trees. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? In each are flowing springs. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? In each are, of every fruit, two kinds. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Reclining on beds the linings of which are of brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens within reach to cull. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Therein are maids of modest glances whom no man nor ginn has DEFLOWERED before. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? As though they were rubies and pearls. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness? Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? And besides these, are gardens twain, Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? With dark green foliage. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? In each two gushing springs. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? In each fruit and palms and pomegranates. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? In them maidens best and fairest! Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Bright and large-eyed maids kept in their tents. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before them. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Reclining on green cushions and beautiful carpets. Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny? Blessed be the name of thy Lord possessed of majesty and honour! S. 55:46-78 Palmer
Here is what Ibn Kathir said concerning Q. 55:56:
<Qasirat At-Tarf> chaste females, wives restraining their glances, desiring none except their husbands, seeing them as the most beautiful men in Paradise. This was said by Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, `Ata' Al-Khurasani and Ibn Zayd. It was reported that one of these wives will say to her husband, "By Allah! I neither see anything in Paradise more handsome than you nor more beloved to me than you. So praise be to Allah Who made you for me and made me for you.'' Allah said, …
<whom never deflowered a human before nor Jinn>
meaning they are delightful virgins of comparable age who never had sexual intercourse with anyone, whether from mankind or Jinns, before their husbands. This is also a proof that the believers among the Jinns will enter Paradise. Artat bin Al-Mundhir said, "Damrah bin Habib was asked if the Jinns will enter Paradise and he said, `Yes, and they will get married. The Jinns will have Jinn women and the humans will have female humans.’" Allah's statement…
<whom never deflowered a human before nor Jinn. Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny>
Then Allah describes these women for the proposed…
<they are like Yaqut and Marjan.>
Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Ibn Zayd and others said, "They are as pure as rubies and white as Marjan." So here they described Marjan as pearls… (Source)
Since the masculine pronouns can also refer to the women is Zawadi willing to admit that these texts teach that Muslim women will also have sex with these houris, thereby implying that Allah will allow lesbian relations in his supposedly holy paradise? Will he concede the fact that the verses can be interpreted to mean that the believing women will have sex with the very houris that their husbands will be busy deflowering for all eternity? If not then why not?
Moreover, is Zawadi willing to acknowledge that the following verse permits Muslim women to have sex with their male slaves?
Successful indeed are the believers, Who are humble in their prayers, And who keep aloof from what is vain, And who are givers of poor-rate, And who guard their private parts, Except before their mates (azwajihim) or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not blameable, But whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they that exceed the limits; S. 23:1-7 Shakir
The reference to "their mates" includes both the males and the females, i.e. to the husbands and wives of the believers. The word zawaj can refer to either spouse and it is not gender specific. Notice how the late A. Yusuf Ali translated this word:
Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess, - for (in their case) they are free from blame, S. 23:6
Further notice what the late Muslim scholar Muhammad Asad wrote in relation to Q. 23:6:
Lit., "or those whom their right hands possess" (aw ma malakat aymanuhum). Many of the commentators assume unquestioningly that this relates to female slaves, and that the particle aw ("or") denotes a permissible alternative. This interpretation is, in my opinion, inadmissible inasmuch as it is based on the assumption that sexual intercourse with ones female slave is permitted without marriage: an assumption, which is contradicted by the Quran itself (see 4: 3, 24, 25 and 24: 32, with the corresponding notes). Nor is this the only objection to the above-mentioned interpretation. Since the Quran applies the term ‘‘believers" to men and women alike, and since the term azwaj ("spouses"), too, denotes both the male and the female partners in marriage, there is no reason for attributing to the phrase ma malakat aymanuhum the meaning of "their female slaves"; and since, on the other hand, it is out of the question that female and male slaves could have been referred to here it is obvious that this phrase does not relate to slaves at all, but has the same meaning as in 4: 24 - namely, "those whom they rightfully possess through wedlock (see note on 4: 24) - with the significant difference that in the present context this expression relates to both husbands and wives, who "rightfully possess" one another by virtue of marriage. On the basis of this interpretation, the particle aw which precedes this clause does not denote an alternative ("or") but is, rather, in the nature of an explanatory amplification, more or less analogous to the phrase "in other words" or "that is", thus giving to the whole sentence the meaning, "save with their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]", etc. (Cf. a similar construction 25: 62 - "for him who has the will to take thought -that is [lit., "or"], has the will to be grateful".) (Asad, The Message of the Qur'an, p. 713, f. 3: bold emphasis ours)
Asad acknowledges that the term azwaj or zawaj are inclusive terms which refer to either spouse, not just to the wives of the men.
Another Muslim source agrees with Asad:
Commentary: "Azwaj" is the plural of "Zauj" that is a pair. This is the reason that in Arabic it applies to both, masculine as well as feminine. Man is the Zauj of woman and woman is the Zauj of a man... (Riyad-us-Saliheen, compiled by Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi, commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, revised by M.R. Murad [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Houston, New York, Lahore, First Edition: June 1999], Volume 2, Book Fourteen - The Book of Supplicating Allah to Exalt the Mention of Allah's Messenger, Chapter 243: The Obligation of Supplicating Allah to Exalt His Mention and its Excellence, and its Manner, Number 1407, p. 1042)
This basically proves that the Quran is permitting believing women to have sexual relations with the slaves that they own. In other words we have a clear sanction from Allah allowing women to engage in sexual relations outside the confines of marriage!
If he is unwilling to admit all of this then on what basis does he choose not to?
For more on the Quran permitting women to have sexual relations with their servants please consult the following article.
In conclusion we must say that as usual Zawadi failed to refute our claims and actually managed to introduce further contradictions and raised additional problems.