Islam & Sexual Relationships (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

Islamic Teachings on the Nature & Importance of Sexual Relationships

What are Muslim Teachings About Sexual Relationships?

• Muslims believe that the only correct place for sexual relationships is within a marriage

• They believe that within a marriage, sex is important for fulfilling three needs:

  • Physical

  • Emotional

  • Spiritual

• It fulfils physical needs

  • Sexual desire is natural and these needs are best fulfilled within marriage

  • The Qur’an teaches that this creates a peaceful life for people

• It fulfils emotional needs

  • Sex helps a couple to commit themselves fully to each other and gives them an emotional bond to each other. They become soulmates for life

  • The Qur’an compares the closeness of a husband and wife to the closeness of garments (clothing) to the body, because they offer each other protection, as clothes do to the body

• It fulfils spiritual needs

  • Because marriage is a lifelong bond, sex fulfils not only physical and emotional needs but also spiritual needs, because sex is seen as an act of worship and something Allah intended for the couple to do

  • Sex within marriage is a gift from Allah that provides the opportunity for procreation (having children)

  • This type of relationship is favoured by Allah and will lead to a reward in the afterlife (akhirah)

  • The Qur’an teaches a prayer to Allah to make Muslim married couples set a good example of moral conduct for others by the way they live

Muslim Attitudes Towards Homosexuality

What are Muslim Attitudes Towards Homosexuality?

• Homosexuality is sexual relations between two people of the same sex

• Islam teaches that homosexuality is a sin; it goes against Allah’s will and is immoral

• Muslims believe that:

  • Homosexuals will be punished by Allah

  • Sex is only intended for a husband and wife within marriage

• Islam teaches that one of the purposes of human life is procreation; this is not possible in a homosexual relationship

• The Qur’an recounts the story of the Prophet Lot, who was upset with the sexual immorality of people in his society, including homosexual acts

• The Hadith condemns male homosexual acts

• However, if someone does not act on their homosexual tendencies, they will not be judged

• Today homosexuality is a crime in many Muslim countries and is punishable by death in some

Muslim Attitudes Towards Sexual Relationships Outside Marriage

What are Muslim Attitudes Towards Sexual Relationships Outside Marriage?

• Muslims believe that any sexual relationships outside marriage are forbidden

  • The only place they are acceptable is within a marriage

• Therefore, Islam teaches that premarital sex is wrong as it takes place outside of marriage

• The Qur’an teaches

• Sex outside marriage is considered an ‘obscenity’, a serious sin

• Muslims are taught to ‘guard their chastity’ (Qur’an, Surah 23:5) and this means remaining pure and avoiding situations that might lead to sin

  • Islam encourages modest dress, which does not draw attention to the body

  • Boys and girls are discouraged from mixing freely during puberty

  • The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that if a man and woman are left alone, Satan joins them, which means that they might be tempted to sin

  • Members of the opposite sex who meet up before marriage are chaperoned by a member of the woman’s family

• Adultery is sex where one or both partners are already married to someone else

• It is also known as extramarital sex

• This is condemned by Allah in the Qur’an

• The punishments for adultery the Qur’an describes are very severe

• However, there are strict conditions attached

  • For example, four people must have seen the act of adultery for the punishment to apply