Hijab

 Thank you for your questions!

The report I mentioned in which 'Umar censured the slave women for covering their heads, is pretty explicit. However, I'm not sure as to the extent of the ruling based on this report.

The ruling of the awra of a slave woman being the same as that of a man is also very explicit. The same requirements of coverage for a man would apply to a slave woman. This would also apply to that which is in public in front of unrelated males. There is also a scholarly view that a slave woman would cover everything except the hair (Ref. Al-Bahr az-Zakhkhaar). 

As for whether a man can have intercourse with his slave woman without her consent, her consent is not required. However, this does not justify the rape of her. 

And Allah knows best!

IRS 

Thank you for your question! 

There is an opinion that their awra is the same as a free woman in the prayer. I know of no other opinion that it is the same outside of the prayer. 

As for the reference in the blessed verse, one of the meanings of {...so that they may be known and not harmed...} (Q. 33:59) is: '...so that they may be known as free women and not slave women...' (Ref. Tafseer al-A'qam & Tafseer at-Tabari). The meaning of 'harm' in this sense does not refer to physical harm, but it refers to the harm of accusations. 

As for whether a slave master can force intercourse with a slave girl if she refuses, I don't know of anything explicit that permits or prohibits it. However, when we consider the hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny: ((There is no harm or reciprocating harm in Islam)), I think that the matter is clear. 

There is nothing in the verse that makes it time-bound or restricted to Arabs. And the command is not simply to cover their chests; rather, the command is to {draw their head-coverings (khumurihinna) over their breasts...} (Q. 25:31). The Arabic in the verse is very clear.

As for the 'higher level of modesty,' much like other aspects of Islamic Law, there are rulings that apply to some that don't apply to others. I think that our concepts of modesty have been governed by JudeoChristian Puritan ideas. It would seem very bizarre to us as Muslims that a traditional Muslim society existed with bare-headed (or even maybe bare-breasted?) women walking around. However, this is our law, and it is not simply theoretical--it is a reality that was lived.  

And Allah knows best!

IRS