In answer to the video "Muhammad disobeyed the Qur'an"
The Quran directs men and women to complete and comfort eachother. They have been made from the same essence and should therefore relate to oneanother 4:25. They are eloquently depicted as garments of tranquility and protection to eachother
2:187"They are raiment (libas) for you and ye are raiment for them"
9:71"And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other"."Libas" is a clothing used to cover the physical body, also used in the Quran as a means by which one is spiritually covered with God-consciousness/taqwa 7:26. It is to that sort of covering the verse 2:187 refers to because each spouse restrains the other from unchastity, and protects society from debauchery
"be in contact with them and seek what Allah has written for you".This is just another instance of the Quran's supreme pragmatism. The coming together of men and women in lawful sexual intercourse isnt primarily a means of being
Gen1:28"fruitful and multiply".Otherwise the divine law should have banned sexual relations between married infertile people or in any other case that doesnt cause, or at least has the high probability of ending in procreation. Rather the Quran's approach addresses human nature and reality. It considers lawful sexuality as a means by which a natural need is satisfied, first and foremost. Regardless of whether being "fruitful and multplying" results from it or not.
Sexual attraction is a pressure God has ingrained in human nature. When a couple engages in that action, they are in reality seeking what Allah has written for them, even if at that time their only aim is to satisfy their sexual desire. The Quran refers in many places to the positive, God-ordained nature of sexuality within limits, that there is nothing wrong in satisfying carnal desires in lawful ways.
What is evil is to deny or forbid those needs or that one should transgress the prescribed limits for satisfying those needs
23:5-7,2:187,222"go in to them as Allah has commanded you".God awareness therefore remains in all situations, even while seeking to fulfill what is an indispensable basis for a healthy husband/wife relationship
2:223"Your wives are a tilth for you, so go into your tilth when you like, and do good beforehand for yourselves, and be careful (of your duty) to Allah, and know that you will meet Him, and give good news to the believers".Man is told to consider the spouse's affectionate disposition aforehand meaning he does not have the entire monopoly of the right to sexual intimacy. This statement goes both ways, which means that neither of the 2 is permitted to withhold the sexual act without a valid reason. Such a behavior would amount to abuse and mistreatment of the husband or the wife, hence reports the likes of which stating that angels curse the wife that refuses her husband's invitation to sleep with him, making him angry. This speaks of a wife not giving any reason for her refusal, hence the husband's upset feelings. When informed of Abdullah Ibn Amr’s neglecting of his wife’s conjugal rights, the Prophet reminded him that
"Your wife has a right over you".Some traditions relate the importance of both being satisifed after physical intercourse. The Prophet once said,
“When a man approaches his wife he should not hasten until she is satisfied because women have needs”also
“You men must make yourselves tidy and be prepared for your wives, as you would like them to be prepared for you”.This is about the importance for the husband to be well groomed for his wife, as a sign of love and respect. As shown from the Quran earlier, the spouse's affectionate disposition, his or her mood, must be taken into account aforehand
"None of you should fall upon his wife like an animal; but let there first be a messenger between you. The companions asked, what is that messenger? The prophet replied, Kisses and (romantic) words".Contrast this with the NT in 1cor7 saying a wife has no right over her body but her husband does, which leaves the door wide open to marital rape. Back in the HB itself, a rape victim is sometimes forced to marry her rapist. He may not divorce her at any point, giving him free license to keep on abusing his victim for the rest of her life Deut22. As to witholding the sexual act intentionally, a legitimate reason for a woman would be, among other things, during her menses
2:222"And they ask you about the monthly courses. Say; it is a harm. Keep therefore aloof from women during their courses, and do not approach them until they are cleansed. And when they are cleansed, go in unto them as Allah has commanded you".The words here are not general but restricted to sexual contact, and more specifically penetration. This is seen, firstly by the mention of "harm" resulting from that contact and more importantly from the part of the verse that talks about "coming into them" once the menses are over "from where Allah ordered you". The words are clear and unambiguous and dont mean that men and women may not or should not approach one another normally, interracting in everyday life as well as sharing the same bed, or even being romantic or erotic during that time, all of which having nothing to do with causing "harm" or "coming into them from where Allah has ordained".
The prophet used to yubaashir his wives during that time, without penetration. Yubaashir is a polite word to describe romantic physical, skin to skin interraction, from the root b-sh-r/skin
"The Prophet used to kiss and embrace/yubaashir while he was fasting, and he had more power to control his desires than any of you"
"and then she smiled".The statement is unambigous and shows that although he used to yubaashir his wives, the prophet still restrained himself sexually. He did not complete the sexual act, something that happens when penetration occurs. During a woman's periods, the Quran requires the same level of restraint among husbands and wives, but similarly this restraint, as seen from Aisha's words as she was pleasantly remembering her husband, is only limited to sexual penetration.
Another implication of the statement of "coming into them as Allah commanded" is that it prohibits penetration in an unnatural way
"Ibn 'Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah said: “Allah will not look at a man who has intercourse with a woman in her back passage".
Similar reports are numerous. Further, "coming to your tilth however you wish" simply allows all variations of intercourse so long as it is in the natural way, ie "in the place of tilth".
It is in the HB that general contact with one's wife is forbidden during menses, and actually among the 613 commandements revealed at Sinai, stating a menstruating woman is unclean and defiles others Lev15:17-33. She becomes completely ostracized in basic social activities because not only is she unclean but almost everything she touches or that touches her can transmit ritual impurity, exactly like a leper whose impurity isnt only restricted to him, but his entire house too Lev13:2-49,14:34-46.
Similarily to the physically impared and handicapped who arent fit to approach holy sites for offerings to God, as their physical blemishes are a profanity to God's sanctuaries Lev21:16-24.
Christians followers of St Paul, who have arbitrarily, and contrary to Jesus' explicit instructions, absolved themselves from Torah observance, which includes those purity laws, have no restriction at all about mingling, or even sexually interracting with women during their menstrual period. The pagans of Arabia were divided between those of Medina who adopted some of the Jewish customs, and the others who had no rules in this matter, some even seeking sexual intercourse specifically during this period of a woman's life in the belief that if a woman became pregnant then, the child would be cruel and extremely fond of shedding blood. These were admirable qualities for a man among the Bedouins.
As stated earlier, the Quran urges man to be considerate towards the wife, he cannot forsake his spirituality and obedience to God in the process
2:222"go in to them as Allah has commanded you".Anything going against the prescribed way in which sex is to be performed, is forbidden. This includes sodomy, whether it be practiced by heterosexual or homosexual couples.
The language used in the verse 2:222 evokes tenderness and deep consideration between the mates with the imagery of the farmer cultivating his tilth with great care. The words allude to liberty in this regard like the farmer is free to approach his land and cultivate it, as well as responsibility, caution and care which he must exercise in approaching his land. A farmer may not mishandle his land nor plant it anyway or anytime he likes.
A somehow similar metaphore is employed in the HB, as it compares a wife to the vine, a weak and tender tree, that needs support, often fastened to the sides of the house, on which it cleaves, runs up and bears fruit. The image creates a parallel with the weakness and tenderness of the female sex, their fruitfulness in bearing children and care for the household in which she is to stay in and exert herself
Ps128:3"Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table".
The Quran's eloquent words leave no room to them being read with the notion of forced sex in mind. Firon's crime of keeping the Israelites' women for himself and his men as a humiliation and torment, ie to abuse them sexually, as fasad fil ard meaning it is a crime punishable by death 28:4,5:33.
No comments:
Post a Comment