Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

The uncle of Hazrat Musa bin Ayyub says that I asked Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) if a man owns two slave sisters, can he have intercourse with both of them? He replied that no, it is not permissible to do so. However, he can do so after removing one from his ownership. I asked if he marries one of them to his slave, can he then do so? He replied that no, not until he removes one from his ownership.

Hazrat Ibn Ku'a asked Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) whether a man can unite two sisters (in marriage). He replied that one verse has made it lawful and another has made it unlawful. However, neither I nor my family will do so.

Hazrat Ibn Sirin narrates that Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to get very angry if someone would unite two sisters. He used to say that you people should treat your slaves well.

Hazrat Mak'hool was asked: If a person owns two slave sisters, and he has had intercourse with one of them, can he have intercourse with the other? He replied: No, it is not permissible until he removes the one with whom he has had intercourse from his ownership.

Hazrat Ammar says that whatever Allah Almighty has made unlawful in free women, He has also made unlawful in slave women. However, a man can keep as many slave women as he wishes. (There is no fixed number for them)

Hazrat Usman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked whether it is permissible to have intercourse with two slave sisters. He replied that one verse of the Book of Allah has made it lawful and another has made it unlawful. However, I myself would never do such a thing.

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) was asked whether it is permissible to have intercourse with two slave sisters. He replied that as long as the slave woman with whom intercourse has taken place is in his possession, he cannot have intercourse with her sister.

Hazrat Abdul Aziz bin Rafee’ says that I asked Hazrat Ibn Hanfiyyah whether if a man owns two slave sisters, can he have intercourse with both of them? He replied that one verse has made it lawful and another has made it unlawful. Then I went to Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib, and he also said the same thing as Muhammad bin Hanfiyyah. Then I asked Hazrat Ibn Munabbih, and he said that according to the Shariah revealed to Hazrat Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him), the one who combines two sisters in marriage is accursed. There was no detail in it as to whether both were free women or slave women. Abdul Aziz says that I went and told Ibn Munabbih’s statement to Saeed bin Musayyib, and he proclaimed the greatness of Allah (said takbeer).

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) declared this act to be disliked.

Hasan was asked: If a person owns two slave sisters, and he has had intercourse with one of them, can he have intercourse with the other? He replied: No, it is not permissible until he removes the one with whom he has had intercourse from his ownership.

Hazrat Hakam and Hazrat Hammad state that if a man owns two slave sisters, he should not approach either of them (sexually).

Hazrat Sha'bi and Hazrat Ibn Sirin state that except for the number, the rulings regarding intercourse with slave women and free women are the same.

Hazrat Usman (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked: If a person owns two slave sisters, and he has had intercourse with one of them, can he have intercourse with the other? He replied: One verse has made them lawful and another has made them unlawful. However, I neither command it nor prohibit it. Then the questioner met Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) at the door and asked him the same question. He replied: I forbid you from this, and if I have authority over you and you do this, I will punish you.

Hazrat Qasim bin Muhammad narrates that a tribe of the Arabs asked Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) whether a man could have intercourse with two slave sisters. He gave a fatwa permitting it. This matter reached Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir, who asked Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) about it, and he acknowledged giving that fatwa. Upon this, Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir said: Tell me, if a slave woman was with a person whose sister was also a slave woman, would it be permissible for him to have intercourse with her? Hearing this, Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: You have opened my eyes. Go to those people and prohibit them from doing so. It is not appropriate for them to do this. Hazrat Qasim bin Muhammad says: I said that this is a kinship of freedom and so on.