Analysis of the Role of the Imams (AS) in Promoting the Social Status of the "Umm-E-Valad" With an Emphasis on the Mothers of Imams (AS)

With the expansion of the Islamic realm and the conquest of parts of Asia and North Africa in the first and second centuries (AH) and the arrival of slaves and captives, a suitable platform was provided for the slavery of the Arab community. A group of these maids who had children from their masters were called Mother of the Child (Umm-E-Valad). The present study seeks to investigate the attitude of the community towards the mothers of the children and the role of the Imams (AS) in promoting their social status. For this purpose, historical and non-historical writings have been examined for the social understanding of the subject, using a descriptive-analytical method. The results of this study show that in a situation where slaves and the mothers of the children had no place in Arab society and were humiliated and discriminated against, the Imams (AS) while providing legal support to slaves, by releasing them and choosing them as wives were practically displaying  a model of right Islamic behavior.  They promoted the status of the mothers as the wives and mothers of their children.