Do not go near sexual immorality (Surah 6:151)

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الصلاة والسلام عليك يا سيدي يا رسول الله

وعلى آلك واصحابك يا سيدي يا نور الله

فداك ابي وامي يا رسول الله

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوا الۡفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَہَرَ مِنۡہَا وَمَا بَطَنَ

And come not near unto foul deeds, whether manifest or hidden

(Surah 6 Ayah 151)

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوا الزِّنٰۤی اِنَّہٗ کَانَ فَاحِشَۃً ؕ وَسَآءَ سَبِیۡلًا

And come not near unto fornication; surely, it is a foul deed and an evil way

(Surah 17 Ayah 32)

These Verses of the Quran do not merely forbid sexual immorality and fornication, but anything that even draws one near to such evil, hence usage of the word تقرب taqrab “to draw near, to approach”. So from these Verses is derived an entire set of teachings pertaining to sexual morality which forbid actions lesser than the raw act of adultery. And this is similar to what is written in the Torah:

וְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֖ה בְּנִדַּ֣ת טֻמְאָתָ֑הּ לֹ֣א תִקְרַ֔ב לְגַלֹּ֖ות עֶרְוָתָֽהּ

Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her impurity

(Leviticus 18:19)

And here too the verb in the second person tiqrab תִקְרַ֔ב from the verb qarabקָרַב meaning “to come near, approach, draw near” appears and has been understood by the Jewish scholarly authorities as a prohibition against actions that may potentially lead to illicit relations. The laws relating to tzniut or modesty in Judaism, while originating in passages from the Bible, are clearly spelled out in the Talmud as explained by the Rabbis. Such laws as those mandating a head covering, especially for married women, a man listening to the singing voice of a woman, being in seclusion with an unrelated woman and touching members of the opposite sex one isn’t related too, especially in an affectionate manner. This would include handshaking. All of these Judaic laws of Tzniut correspond to laws in the Islamic Shari’ah.

Hence, in the Shari’ah, it is totally forbidden for a man to touch an unrelated woman and vice versa (including handshaking) and it is forbidden for two of the opposite sex who are unrelated to each other to be in seclusion together (the third person present will be Satan). The Shari’ah also commands women to dress modestly by covering their hair and entire body, with the exception of face and hands (for a woman to cover her face is preferable but not necessarily a commandment), and for members of the opposite sex to lower their gaze and not look at each other. Some Muslim jurists considered a woman’s voice awrah, meaning it was not permissible for her to make her voice heard in the presence of a member of the opposite sex. However, in the Four Schools of Sunni jurisprudence our position is that it is allowed to listen to a woman’s voice so long as it is not causing temptation, and women should not attempt to sweeten their voice lest it cause temptation. In general, Islam teaches that women should remain at home and not wander outside casually. And the Holy Quran forbids Tabarruj, the wanton exhibition of a woman’s beauty and adornment in public. For this reason it is even highly encouraged that Muslim ladies offer their Salah in the seclusion of their home and not in congregation at the Mosque.

However, several false reformers and reformist movements attempted to go against the spirit of Islam’s strict laws pertaining to modesty and seclusion of women by promoting “progressive” reforms. They sought a more public role for women. This slowly morphed into outright feminism and teachings that directly contravene the Shari’ah. Liberal reformists like Jawed Ghamidi of Pakistan and Khaled Abou El Fadl of Egypt declared that Islam doesn’t even require ladies to cover their head and their hair with a veil, and that they are permitted to go about bareheaded!

The liberal reformist trend is surely one that is heretical and opposes the very spirit of this Religion, not merely its letter. The spread of moral corruption and sexual immorality around the world is a consequence of “progressive” attitudes toward women, and the liberation of women through feminism. Muslims must resist these trends, as the conservative Taliban have successfully done so.

The truth is that none of the ancient Prophets and none of the great Saints and Reformers (Mujaddids) of this Ummah ever advocated for a more “progressive” approach to Islam with regard to women. On the contrary, we know that the Prophets railed against the sexual immorality and corruption in their society that was a consequence of the libertine and “progressive” sentiments: “Look how proud the women of Jerusalem are! They walk along with their noses in the air. They are always flirting. They take dainty little steps, and the bracelets on their ankles jingle.” (Isaiah 3:16) So it is the man who preaches with fiery words against the moral corruption and sexual immorality that is walking in the footsteps of the Prophets. He is constantly calling for a more conservative and modest society, one where women are practically invisible. On the other hand, the liberal reformist sitting somewhere opposes him and his message. He calls for greater liberalization and permissiveness. His is a message of “progress” and breaking with tradition. He walks in the footsteps of the false prophets and Satan himself.