The Response to Those Who Object to the Enslavement of Disbelieving Women After War

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. The questioner asks: How should one respond to disbelievers or Muslims who find it strange that disbelieving women are enslaved after war?

Answer:
This is an objection to a ruling of the Shari'ah. It is an objection to a ruling legislated by Allah and His Messenger, and upon which the Muslims have reached consensus. One fears that this person may have fallen into apostasy, may Allah protect us from that, if he knows that Allah legislated this, that the Messenger legislated this, and that the Muslims agreed upon it. Indeed, it is not permissible for him to have sexual relations with a slave woman by right of ownership, because she did not become his property, and the Messenger, if he was mistaken, used to have concubines by right of ownership. We ask Allah for safety from such speech. Had it not been that we attribute this to ignorance on their part, we would have said that this is clear apostasy. Yes.