Eunuchs and Concubines in the History of Islamic Southeast Asia
EUNUCHS AND Moreover, they were always of servile CONCUBINES IN THE status, as the holy law demanded. In Southeast Asia, in contrast, concubines HISTORY OF ISLAMIC (gundik) were sometimes free, and SOUTHEAST ASIA eunuchs (sida-sida) mysteriously dis- appeared around 1700. William Gervase Clarence- 1 Unfortunately, the nature of these Smith practices in Islamic Southeast Asia is hard to unravel, as they are covered by a veil of silence. Servitude itself is seen as highly Abstract embarrassing (Salman 2001). 'Sexual aberrations' merely compound the In the early 17th century, male servant embarrassment, and outsiders writing eunuchs were common, notably at the about such matters easily attract Persianised Acehnese court of Iskandar accusations of 'Orientalism' and Muda. By mid-century, the castration of 'voyeurism.' This is unfortunate, because a male slaves mysteriously disappeared. study of these topics helps to illuminate Concubinage, however, lasted much historical specificities pertaining to both longer. While there were sporadic Islam and sexuality in the region. attempts to stamp out abuses, for example sexual relations with pre-pubescent slave Concubinage in Islam girls, and possibly, clitoridectomy, a reasoned rejection of the institution of Across Islamdom, the ulama accepted that concubinage on religious grounds failed a man could have an unlimited number of to emerge. This paper discusses the sexual servile concubines. Quranic references to treatment of slaves across Islamic 'those whom your right hand possesses' Southeast Asia, a subject which sheds seemed to justify the institution, and the important light on historical specificities Prophet himself was believed to have pertaining to both Islam and sexuality in owned two concubines in the latter stages the region, yet which continues to be of his life (Ruthven 2000: 57, 62-3, Awde treated with silence, embarrassment or 2000: 10, Zaidi 1935).
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