Sexuality and Islam

Abstract

This paper deals with three major questions: (1) What are the sexual norms defined by the sacred texts (Koran and Sunna)? (2) What are the sexual practices currently observed among Moslems? (3) To which extent are current sexual practices of Moslems dissociated from Islamic sexual norms? Sexual standards in Islam are paradoxical: on the one hand, they allow and actually are an enticement to the exercise of sexuality but, on the other hand, they discriminate between male and female sexuality, between marital and pre- or extramarital sexuality, and between heterosexuality and homosexuality. Men are given more rights with regard to the expression of their sexuality; women are forbidden to have extramarital sex (with their slaves) and both genders to have homosexual relationships. The combination of these paradoxical standards with modernisation leads to the current back and forth swing of sexual practices between repression and openness. Partial modernisation leads to greater sexual tolerance. But restrictive sexual standards have gathered strength and have become idealised as a result of the current radicalisation of Islam. This swing of the pendulum between repression and openness is illustrated by phenomena such as public harassment, premarital sexuality, female pleasure, prostitution, and homosexuality. Currently, Islam is not any more the only reference which provides guidance concerning sexual practices but secularisation of sexual laws is still politically unthinkable today. So the only solution is to achieve reform in the name of Islam, through the reinterpretation of repressive holy texts.

Understanding premarital pregnancies among adolescents and young women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

“…Likewise, there is evidence that sexual behavior can be tied to religious precepts (Adjamagbo et al, 2004). Islam and Christianity, the two dominant religions in Ouagadougou, are both restrictive in terms of premarital sexuality (Dialmy, 2010; Thornton & Camburn, 1989), but in the Burkinabe context, Christianity is more associated with Western culture and a certain cultural openness, which are in turn correlated to premarital sexual activity. In connection with the cultural inheritance model, we tested two hypotheses: a lower risk of premarital pregnancy among the Mossi women compared to the other ethnic groups (Hypothesis 1), and a higher risk of premarital pregnancy among Christian women, compared to Muslim women or women of other religions (Hypothesis 2).…”

Problems and Factors Affecting the Sexual Lives of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Living in Turkey

“…In addition, the roles of tradition and religion in Turkish life and culture have helped cultivate the view that one's sexual life is something very private and to be shared only between the two people involved. According to Turkish and Islamic culture, the sexuality for women is usually a taboo and restrictive for premarital, free, and overt sexual relationships [19,20]. Furthermore, because of Turkish women being passive in sexual activity, they carry out sexual activities less than men [21].…”

Avortements non médicalisés: état des lieux à travers une étude rétrospective de 451 cas traités à l’hôpital militaire d’instruction Moulay Ismail Meknès, Maroc

“…En Amérique du nord (USA) certains états essaient même de rendre l'avortement illégal par le biais de référendums, (l'Etat du Dakota a essayée à deux reprises en 2006 et 2008) [17–19]. La majorité des écrits soulève la nécessité de légaliser l'avortement et d'informer l'opinion publique à travers les médias et les programme scolaires (l’éducation sexuelle) du bénéfice de la contraception, ce qui pourrait éviter le recoure aux avortements non médicalisés [20–22]. …”