The Reminder
“Remind For Surely Reminding Benefits The Believers” (51:55)
SEX : HALAL OR
HARAM?
Upon deep study of the Islamic sources, the
great scholar Iz bin Abd Al-Salaam (may Allah
the All-Mighty have mercy upon him) concluded
that the spirit of the whole of Islamic law could
be summed up as: “Promotion of that which
is beneficial and prevention of that which is
harmful”.
As a general principle the more an act causes
harm, the more severe the sin and the more
severe its punishment in Islam. The fact that
fornication (sex outside marriage) is considered
a MAJOR SIN is due the destructive effects it
has on individuals and the whole of society.
Living in a society which promotes sexual
freedom we can clearly see the harm it causes
to society such as:
• Teenage pregnancy
Government figures show one fifth of teenage
pregnancies involve girls under 18 who already have
a child. The rate has been rising steadily in the UK
particularly in girls under 16. The UK has the highest
teenage birth rates in Western Europe.
• Illegitimate children
The proportion of children born outside marriage in
the UK has leapt from 12% in 1980 to 42% in 2004,
according to the Office for National Statistics. In the
United States between 1978 and 1996, the number of
babies born to unmarried women doubled, from just
over 500,000 to over 1.2 million.
• The break-up of families
New research has shown that adulterous husbands and
wives are by far the main cause of Britain’s record-high
rates of divorce with husbands three times more likely
than their wives to cheat. Almost one-third of divorces
in Scotland are blamed on adultery.
• Increase in abortion rates.
Department of Health figures show there were 185,400
abortions in 2004 - a rise of 2.1% from 181,600 in 2003
and about 5.3% from 176,000 in 2002. Alarmingly,
the number of under-14 abortions has also increased.
In the United States there were 1.31 million abortions
in 2000.
• The spread of STDs (sexually transmitted
diseases).
• A general laxity in morals
• Bitterness in relationships
HARAM SEX (SEX OUTSIDE MARRIAGE)
The list can go on. In short fornication is harmful to society which is why
Islam prohibits it. It is no surprise that all the revealed religions have prohibited
fornication and adultery.
This is why the Quran states:
“And approach not Zina (FORNICATION); indeed, it is an indecency,
and an evil way” (17: 32)
During his ascension (Al-Mi’raj), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
was escorted by Jibreel (Gabriel) (peace be upon him) and shown different types
of punishments meted out to those guilty of various major offences. While
recounting the various scenes shown to him, he said (peace and blessings be
upon him), “We came to a hole like a furnace which was narrow at the top and
wide at the bottom. There was a fire burning under it and there were naked
men and women in it. The flames leapt up to them from underneath. When the
fire came near, they rose up until they almost came out. When it abated they
went back into it again”. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
inquired who they were, Jibreel (Gabriel) (peace be upon him) said they were the
fornicators. (BUKHARI)
THE SEXUAL URGE IS NATURAL
Islam recognises the sexual desire as a natural human desire. Humans need to
satisfy their sexual desires in the same way that they have to satisfy their hunger
and thirst. However, Muslims cannot use this as an excuse to fornicate in the
same way it is not allowed to steal food because they feel hungry. Islam provides
lawful ways to satisfy our needs e.g. buying/selling food and marriage etc...
REWARDS OF HALAL “The Prophet, (peace and blessings be upon him), considered
lustful looks at a person of the opposite sex as “the
SEX (SEX WITHIN fornication of the eye”. He (peace and blessings be upon him),
said - “The eyes also commit fornication, and their fornication
MARRIAGE) (zina) is the lustful look.” (BUKHARI)
Where the punishment for fornication is severe, Islam being a 2 - Knowing that Allah The All-Mighty
just religion rewards those who abstain from fornication. knows when a person fornicates.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said “In your A Muslim who thinks “that as long as nobody finds out that
sexual intercourse (with your spouse) there is a Sadaqah
(charity)”. They, the companions, (may Allah the All-Mighty be
he/she is fornicating then he/she is not accountable for it
should reflect on the following verse:
pleased with them) said “O Messenger of Allah, is there reward
“And indeed We have created man, and We know what his
for one of us in satisfying his sexual need?” He (peace and
own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his
blessings be upon him) replied: “Do you not see if he were to
satisfy it in a Haram (unlawful) manner, would it not be a sin?
jugular vein” (50:16)
Similarly if he satisfies it in a Halal (lawful) manner he should
This is why that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings
be rewarded” (MUSLIM)
be upon him) said, “No one commits fornication while still
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever
remaining a believer” (MUSLIM). In other words a Muslim
cannot fornicate because he knows that Allah the All-Mighty
guarantees me that which is between his jaws (i.e. tongue)
is aware of it.
and that which is between his thighs (i.e. private parts), I will
guarantee him Paradise” (BUKHARI).
3 - Marriage: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
Another Hadith states: “There are seven categories of people
him) said about marriage “It (marriage) controls the gaze
who will be granted protection under the shade of Allah on
and preserves one’s private parts (i.e. from fornication), but
the Day when there is no other shade; ….among them is a
young person who is seduced by a woman of great beauty
for those who do not have the means to get married, they
should fast, for it is means for suppressing the sexual desire”
and wealth and yet he rejected her advances saying ‘I fear
(BUKHARI and MUSLIM)
Allah!’ (BUKHARI and MUSLIM)
SOLUTIONS
1 - Lowering the gaze
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at
forbidden things) and to protect their private parts (from
haram sexual acts)… and tell the believing women to lower
their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect
their private parts (from haram sexual acts)” (24:30-31)
This includes preserving oneself from that which excites
passions, opens ways for illicit sexual relations between a man
and a woman, and promotes indecency and obscenity. This is not
restricted to the physical looking at a person of the opposite
sex; rather it includes sexual images on television, billboards,
newspapers, and magazines. Songs with sexual content should
also be avoided. Thus, a Muslim must be careful what he looks
at and listens to.
ADVICE FOR PARENTS
Many parents refuse to accept that their son/daughter may
fornicate. They believe that their son is like Abu Bakr (may Allah
the All-Mighty be pleased with him) and their daughter is like
Maryam (Mary) (peace be upon her). They forget that their
sons/daughters are human beings who have natural urges. What
would they say about a person who had not eaten for days and
was then placed at a table full of different types of food, with
people around them eating? Do they not think the majority of
people in that situation will have some food?
It is clear that men can’t have one rule for themselves and
another for other people or other members of their family.
Male fornicators need to realise that they are causing damage
to their society and Allah the All-Mighty says:
“Allah does not approve of those who cause corruption”
(2:205)

Very often they are unaware how easy fornication has become
in this society. Parents need to help their children to stay clear
GENERAL ADVICE
of the pitfalls of fornication. Parents who still have doubts need
The reward of refraining from fornication is too large for it
only ask doctors working in hospitals to realise that Muslim
to be forsaken for 5-10 minutes of pleasure. Are those 5-10
girls are coming in regularly to get abortions.
minutes of pleasure worth risking your eternal life of eternal
pleasure in the Hereafter?
ADVICE FOR WOMEN “As for the one who feared standing before his Lord, and
When Allah the All-Mighty mentions the fornicators in Surah restrained himself from impure Evil desires and lusts surely
Noor (24:2), the female fornicator is mentioned before the male Paradise will be his abode” (79:40-41)
fornicator. Scholars have mentioned that the reason for this is
THIS REMINDER IS DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE (ESPECIALLY
to indicate the pivotal role of the female.
THE YOUTH) WHO AVOID FORNICATION DESPITE ALL
Many men will use all means to persuade a female into fornication THE TEMPTATIONS OF SOCIETY.
with the purpose of using her to satisfy their sexual desire.
Ultimately, fornication will only take place when she allows it to For comments, feedback, suggestions on future community
happen. Therefore the Quran mentioned her first to emphasise issues you would like dealt with, sponsoring future
to the female to not allow men to induce her into fornicating.
Women should see past the chocolates, flowers, romantic words
and promises of marriage.

It also reminds the female that she has a lot more to lose
than the male due to the effects of fornication being more
detrimental to her, such as the stigma society attaches to a
female fornicator and the danger of her getting pregnant.

ADVICE FOR MEN

Scotland’s Muslim Consultancy
Many male fornicators don’t have problems with using other
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people’s daughters/sisters to satisfy their desires but then
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they insist on marrying a virgin! They need to reflect on the
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following hadith:

A young man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be

upon him) and asked him for permission to fornicate. The
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Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him whether
he would accept for someone to fornicate with his mother,
daughter or sister to which he (may Allah the All-Mighty
be pleased with him) replied NO! The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said likewise other people don’t accept ADVERTISING | BRANDING | DESIGN FOR PRINT
for men to fornicate with their mothers, daughters and sisters. EXHIBITIONS | PACKAGING | WEB DESIGN
(MUSNID AHMAD)