sexual ethics

• Submission to the will of Allah

  • Oneness and unity of God
  • Need to fulfil Allah’s will and willingness to submit to his rules
  • Submission to Allah is basis for Islamic ethical teaching
  • Allah responsible for life, knows what is best for his creation
  • "whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to Paradise." (Quran 4:13)
• Allah created all things in pairs

  Quran 36:36: Exalted is He who created all pairs”
• Allah created men and women to complement each other, to be each other’s ‘garment’

  • Males and females designed physically and emotionally to complement one another
  • “They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them” (Quran 2:187)
• Marriage

  • Sex outside marriage, seen as an attack on community + breach of contract
  • Family members defined in Qur’an, family is foundation of Muslim society, celibacy discouraged
  • Men can have multiple wives (up to four), women can only have one
  • “Whoever is able to marry should marry" (Al-Bukhari)
• Contraception

  • Consensus with scholars that all forms of contraception permissible as long as it does not damage health and reproductive capacity of person
  • Not allowed:
  • Using contraception with aim of having permanently child-free marriage, sterilisation is wrong, because it prevents children permanently (“You should not kill your children for fear of want” (17:31) )
• Homosexuality

  • Homosexuality is haraam in Islam – main proof is the story of the Prophet Lut/Lot
  • Sodomy is considered illicit act, in some countries will result in death
  • Modern Muslims say that people of homosexual orientation shouldn’t be ostracised or discriminated against because of their sexual inclinations
  • Islam treats ‘sinners’ with compassion and views them as people in need of support rather than alienation
  • “If a man who is not married is seized committing sodomy, he will be stoned to death” Abu Dawud
• Divorce

  • Sunni Muslim law allows man to say Talaaq three times (I divorce you) and they are divorced
  • Man cannot seek divorce from his wife until certain that she is not pregnant
  • During period of three months (called iddah) reconciliation should be attempted, if doesn't work then divorce can take place
  • Woman can also obtain divorce, either by agreement with her husband or because of his treatment of her
  • Hadith: “Among that which Allah has made permissible there is nothing He hates more than divorce”