Clarification on Hazrat Maariyah’s Relationship With Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)

Q. I am in a state of confusion because my Islamic teacher told me that Hazrat Maariyah gave birth to Ibrahim who is said to be the son of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). I was also told that she was a slave of the Prophet. What is the relationship between Maariyah (Radhiyallahu anha) and the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)? Did the Prophet marry her? My teacher also stressed that she is not his wife? I really can’t understand and I’m just 15.

A. Hazrat Maariyah (Radhiyallahu anha) was the slave girl/bondswoman of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). It was the age of slavery. Islam came and laid down a unique code of conduct with regard to slaves. Slaves in the Rule of Islam were given such rights and such freedom that, believe it or not, empires of slaves ruled Muslim lands for centuries. They defended Islam and Muslim countries from the kuffaar.

In any case, Hazrat Maariyah was given to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as a gift by the Egyptian ruler, Maqowqas. The slave girl becomes lawful for the master and intimate relations are permissible with one’s slave girl just as intimate relations are permissible between husband and wife. In this manner, Hazrat Maariyah Qibtiyyah (Radhiyallahu anha) gave birth to the son of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) named Ibraheem (Radhiyallahu anhu).