This article studies the transformations which
took place in the legal status of slave women
(jawr), as a consequence of the spread of
Islam among Arabs. The author analyzes religious,
historical and social factors including
the change of criteria in regard to war booty
sharing, treatment of war prisoners, the introduction
of the concept of umm al-walad, etc.
The social impact of these transformations on
slave women and on the families they belonged
to, are also part of the focus of analysis.
