Channel 4 here in the UK showed this documentry on the Ottoman Sultans Harems, some heavy stuff. Worth a read for those who are interested..
very interesting.. thanks.
thats a good change of image....
nice
cool
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*Originally posted by amelie: *
nice
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an interesting read, thanks
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*Originally posted by 2GooD2BTruE: *
an interesting read, thanks
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:)
nice was interesting ;)
wowow cool,
when will a time machine be invented...?
^haha
Hey Zaksey, nice read. But there is something on my mind.. it can be an ignorant question but
'What was the status of those concubines from the religious point of view and the sons from them who ultimtely reigned the Sultanate?' Was there any questionof legitemate/illegitemate children?
Forget the time machine...Let's move to Africa...You can still own harems there...:D
Losty: No question of illegtimate children, the reason being, the Child of slave is free..and the paternity couldn't be denied..the concubines were essentially treated as slaves..I think that was their only status religiously.
one thing NOT mentioned in the article is the story why the Sultans tried to halt all marraiges. The reason being, one Turkish Sultan in the 14th Century was defeated in Battle. He and his wife were captured,he was kept in a cage and had to watch while his wife was tortured to death. I believe he died shortly afterwards..anyway after that it became a tradition that the Turkish sultan would never marry...
Ohh Zakk, :( I know what you are referring to. I think I read about that somwehere. It was a very humiliating experience for the King and from then onwards, I do not know for how long they did not marry.
^ The first ever marraige by an Ottoman Sultan happened during Suleyman the Magnificent ..some 150 years later..
lost soul and zakk,
I wonder about the 'halal/haram' aspect of children born to concubines fathered by muslims...? i mean isn't a realtionship oputside 'nikah' haram for muslims? and in that case the children fathered by sultans and born to concubines must be illegitimate. Or is it allowed in islam to have a realtionship with slave girls...? there's some confusion reagrdint this issu, any thoughts...?
Lajawab,
let's go to africa yaar!!
Very interesting.... Thanks for posting, Zakk.