I read that in Quran that a man can keep an extra woman that is not his wife,I read it while I was reading modudy sahib's (Quranic tashreh) now I'm confused so clear me on this topic.

Those Ayaat refer to a slave that a person owns. In the time of Revelation it was common to have slaves, though Islam came to encourage freeing of slaves. It`s not like some (arabs) today take au pairs from poor muslim countries and then rape them and think it`s Halaal using these Verses as an excuse, and they are doing a greater sin of disbelief because they interpret The Quran according to their desires in stead of the Guidance of the Messenger of Allaah -sAaws. The fact that they do this is not relevant if you take my word for it or not, and it`s better not to, because in Islam we firstly think good about our every brother and sister (unless we have other evidence). Just I mention it so that people who read this and are planning to send their daughter from Indonesia to Saudi-Arabia (for example) because there`s Mekka and Medina and they think then they`re in the best place - be aware and ask Allaah istikhara. The ummah is full of rotten-hearted people. May Allaah save us from the fitnah within us.

Girlfriends are Haraam, and sex unless it is in Lawfull marriage (or with `those whom ones right hand possesses`) is from the major sins, zinaa, and very dangerous, and requires punishment in Shari`ah.

To understand The Quran you have to understand The Sunnah, and to understand The Sunnah, you have to study the life (Serah) of your beloved Prophet Muhammad -sAaws- and soHiiH aHaadiith. It`s not only on this issue, but on any issue of The Religion of Allaah, The Lord of the universe. And the concept of `slave` in Islam is not equal to the concept of `slave` in non-believers mind, like the global criminals and terrorists, the yankees (though some of them are muslims- alhamdu Lillaah) who killed the entire nation of indians and enslaved them and enslaved muslims from africa and build their so-called sivilized world with their blood. To them a `slave` means the same as it meant to the disbelieving arabs of Mekka in the time of Rasuulullaah -sAaws. So first clear that thought from your mind.

It is possible today also to become slaves from jihad, but it`s not common anymore, I think. A `slave` in Islam is a member of the family of the (adult muslim) who owns him/her. In the time of soHaabah women had `slaves-girls`, and men had them, also slave-men. (Excuse me I don`t know if it was allowed for a believing woman to have relation with a slave without marriage, but I think it was only in marriage if they were muslim men.) Anyway they were their servants, and if they became muslims, then it was their Islamic duty to be obedient to their master, but in any case it was the masters duty to look after them, clothe them, feed them, not be unjust or harsh to them. If a person would hit a slave The Messenger of Allaah -sAaws- became very angry for what he had done. This is what I`ve read, and Allaah knows best.

A slave in Islam is a person with a deficiency in their independent decions, so they are under those who are their `owners`, or the trustees over them. It may be compared to a child's relationship with parents, to wife with the husband, to an inhabitant of a muslim country to its ruler.. so both have duties towards each other. And Islam commands kindness, justice, mercy, patience, and fear of Allaah. I was told by a brother during the Hajj, a student of knowledge, who helped me much that his family had a slave for some years when he was small, and somehow the parents of that person (western parents) could finally get contact to her through some diplomatic means, and they told her now she can come back. She told them they are not her family, but she wants to stay with her real family. This is how Islam, when it`s followed in reality makes even slaves love and respect their masters more than their own parents who were upon disbelief. May Allaah bless that family and preserve them. (they are by the way in Saudi-Arabia, so don`t think I`m saying bad about all of them).

This was my little understanding, and Allaah knows best. I hope it gave you easy in your quest for knowledge. May Allaah give us forgiveness and understanding of Deen. Aamiin