Sexuality and Reproduction (2/2)

Even if the sexual satisfaction is performed by man and woman while  being  mindful  of its etiquette as ordained in the Qur'an and Sunnah,  it  is  reckoned  as  ibadah and  sadaqah  (charity). The Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said:

 “Did Allah not make for you that from which you can give sadaqah, Verily,  every  time you say Subhana Allah, there is a sadaqua and for every time you say Allahu Akbar there is a sadaqah;

Every time you say Laa ilaha ill Allah, there is a sadaqah and for

Every time you say Alhamdulillah, there is a sadaqah;

Every act of enjoining what is right there is sadaqah and in every act of  forbidding  evil  there  is  a sadaqah,  and  in  your  sexual relations also there is a sadaqah.”

Thereupon the companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! Is there a reward for one of us when he satisfies his sexual desire?

The Prophet replied: “Don't you see, had he satisfied it with the forbidden would there not have been a sin upon him?” The companions said: "yes".

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “In the same way, when he satisfies it with the lawful, there is for him in that a reward.”

Thus, sexuality is never perceived by Islam as a mere carnal desire of man to be fulfilled in any animalistic way as he pleases. But man  in  Islam  is  ordained to follow certain etiquette in his sexual relationship  so  that  he  should remember Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) even before this  act  and  do  not  fall  a  prey  to  the Satanic trap. This can be easily  gleaned   through   a   careful   reading    of few Prophetic traditions, either practiced or spoken by him on these matters.

It  is  exhorted  that  the  husband  should  place  his  hand  on  the forelock  of her wife at the time of consummating  the marriage and pray for Allah's blessings.   The Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said:

“When any  of  you   marries a woman he should hold her forelock, mention  Allah  most  high,  and  pray  for His blessings  saying: O Allah,  I ask You for the good in her and the good with which You have  created her; and I seek refuge in You from the evil in her and the evil with which You have created her.”

Furthermore,  according  to   some other traditions,  it is desirable if the   husband  presents  to  his  wife  something  to  drink  to  show kindness   to her and to offer prayer together to remain closely ever after  for the good and seek refuge in Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) from the evil  It is  also evidenced from several traditions that it is commendable  to make  'wudhu'  (ablution)   after  sex  before sleep but obligatory to take bath after sex before or after sleep whenever  possible.

It  is  quite  obvious  from  the  above  discussion  that sexuality in Islam  is  neither  perceived   as  an  objective  of  life  to  be totally immersed  in it with no other moral and spiritual considerations  nor a  beastly act to be fulfilled through any way and mean for its own sake.  Islam disciplines  sexual desire of man and also expects from him  that  he  should   remember  Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) even while joining  his wife   for sex and even pray to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to protect his child from evil,  if  he  is  granted  a  child  after  the  sex.   It is clear from the following prayer and the Prophetic tradition:

In the name of Allah, O Allah! Keep us away from the devil, and keep   the   devil   away   from that which You may grant us (offspring).

The Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said:

“After that, if Allah decrees that they will have a child, the devil will never be able to harm that child.”

It also implies that Islam not only enjoins man to remember Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) before his sexual relationship but also makes him conscious of his responsibility towards his prospective child to protect him from the cunning Satan.