Sexuality and Reproduction (1/2)

Sexuality in Islam is not trivialized as man's animalistic function to be tackled by his own whim and fancy.  Sexuality is perceived as one of the essential parts of man’s life to be regulated and disciplined through the proper guidance.

A man and a woman in Islam can enter into sexual relationship only after marriage, which is reckoned as a 'sign' of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and the ways of the prophets', The Qur'an says:

“And among His Signs is this that He created spouses for you from yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them.

We indeed sent messengers before you (O Mohammad) and We assigned them wives and children.”

It implies that  in Islam, the very basis of the marital relationship between   husband  and  wife  through  which  they  can  enter  into sexual  relationship   is  'love'. Furthermore, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) implants this 'love' in husband and wife towards each other so that they may live in peace and harmony. Such an Islamic attitude towards sexuality   goes   entirely   against   the mere lusty cravings in man/woman and   its satisfaction through legitimate or illegitimate ways. In Islam, it is the 'love' and the strong covenant (nikah) that unite   man   and  woman  not  'force'  or  temporary  arrangements outside  marriage or cohabitation.  For this reason, all types of pre­ marital  and extra marital relationships, fornication, illicit carnality are   completely condemned is Islam and man is ordained not to go nearer to adultery.  The Qur'an says:

“Nor come nigh to adultery For it is a shameful (deed) And an evil, opening the road (to other evils).”

Islam  thus   makes   a   distinction   between    sexuality   that   is constrained and disciplined through marital relationship and sexuality, which transgresses morality and spirituality and turns animalism.   Islam does not overlook the sexual drive in man but institutionalize      it through marriage to protect man from immorality.  The Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said:

“O young men!  Those among you who can support a wife should marry   for   it   restrains   eyes   from   casting (evil glances) and preserves one from immorality.”

Islam is quite sensitive in all issues pertaining to marriage and sexuality. As sexuality outside marriage is illegitimate, marriage without the proper consent is declared invalid.   The Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said:

'A widow shall not be married until she be consulted, nor shall a virgin be,  married  until  her  consent be asked; and that a woman ripe  in  years  shall   have her consent asked in marriage and if she refuses, she shall not be married by force,'

Therefore, marriage in Islam, unlike radical feminism is neither an imprisonment   for woman that is thrust or forced upon her as a punishment nor enslavement   that makes her subservient to man. Marriage is a covenant of faith and consent and a bond of love and concern.

Marital  relationship  in Islam is neither patriarchal  and political nor economic  and  sexual  for  its  own  sake  as  against   the common perception  of  gender   feminists,  but   moral and spiritual.  In fact, husband  and  wife  complement  each other in Islam since husband provides  economic and sexual security to his wife and his children and  his   wife guards her chastity and her husband's possessions  as her moral obligation.  The Qur'an says:

“Men are the protectors And maintainers of women, because God

Has given the ones more (strength) Than the other, and because

They support them

From their means

Therefore, the righteous women Are devoutly obedient and guard in (the husband's) absence

What God would have them guard.”

Thus, husband and wife in Islam complement each other and do not compete for domination and supremacy. They are friends and co-partners in their co-venture-vicegerency of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). Both enjoy   rights   and   duties   towards each other and both have obligations to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). This  is  very  clearly  stated  in  the Qur'anic  verse  which  proclaims  equality  in  the very creation of man and woman, pointing out their creation from a single soul:

“O mankind, be conscious of your duty to your Lord, Who created you  from  a  single soul, created of like nature, her mate, and from the  two created and spread many men and women; and be mindful of  your  duty  to  God  by  Whose name you appeal to one another and to (the ties of) womb.  Verily God watches over you.”

(Continued)