Abstract

Dealing with the theme of sex among the Arabs in the Middle Ages requires distinction between two stages: the pre-revelation of the Koran and the life of Prophet Muhammad stage, and the post- Prophet stage, including the Umayyad and Abbasid ages. The Arabs were interested in the subject of 'sex' in an incomparable way, and this appears in their over-talking about everything that is related to the female sex organs and her reproductive system such as female circumcision, puberty, engagement, marriage, sexual intercourse, haymen, virginity and non-virginity. In addition, the Arabs dealt with the shortcomings of the wife, her childbearing and child birth, breastfeeding, nikaḥ al-mutʿah, literally "pleasure marriage", adultery, fornication, sexual deviation, male homosexuality (liwatt) and female homosexuality (lesbianism), which is called "sihaq" in Arabic. Islam gave interest to 'sexuality' because the sexual passion is a human instinct and a phenomenon that affects the behavior of human beings Therefore, it should be cultivated and refined without going away from its reality and the human tendencies that God created in the human being. According to Islam, the human being does not have to nullify his instincts or control them just for control's sake, but he has to employ them according to the Islamic Law (Shariʿa).

Highlights

  • The theme of 'sex' is one of the most controversial subjects in different cultural environments

  • Treatment of the subject of sex by the Arabs in the Middle Ages requires that we think deeply about different contexts in which the Holy Koran deals with the subject of sex

  • The Holy Koran deals with the subject of sex in the verses that talk about the issue of 'creation'

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

The theme of 'sex' is one of the most controversial subjects in different cultural environments. Some researchers have asked the following question: If Islam prohibits enjoying sex or if it limits the sexual relationship to reproduction only, why does it allow caressing between the man and the woman during the fasting period? Adultery occurs in several forms: public prostitution that is organized by rules in certain countries and it takes place in special places called Homes of Pleasure; participation of a number of men in having sexual intercourse with the same woman at the same time; having a mistress; exchange of wives and husbands for the sake of enjoyment in making love individually or collectively.

Nikāḥ Ijtimaa
16. Antara Ibn Shadad: al-Muallaqa
77. The Holy Koran
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