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| Fatwa on Oral Sex Mufti Ebrahim Desai Darul Ifta, Madrasah In'aamiyyah, Camperdown, South Africa Oral sex between a husband and wife is
considered as Makruh Tahrimi by the jurists, since there is strong
possibility that by ejaculation, Mazi (semen) comes out and enters the
mouth of the partner. There is consensus amongst the Fuqahaa that Mazi is
Najis (impure) ORAL SEX Man has been created as a bearer of high
and noble attributes. In him he mirrors the attributes of divinity (Sifaat-e-Ilaahiyya)
such as life, knowledge, power, will, sight, hearing, speech, love, etc.
In the authoritative Tafseer of the aforementioned Aayat, it is said that
Insaan (man) has been adorned with the Noor of Aql (the light of
intelligence). This celestial faculty of intelligence creates in Insaan
the capacity for the manifestation of the lofty and divine attributes of
Allah Taãla. By virtue of the Noor of Aql man becomes incandescent by
being a mirror for these lofty attributes and manifestation (Tajalliyaat-e-Zilliyah
and Sifaat-e-Zaatiyyah). As a direct consequence of this lofty pedestal
which Insaan occupies in the Divine Scheme, the mantle of Khilaafah (vicegerency)
has been conferred on him. Stating this fact, the Qurãn declares: 'Verily
I shall be creating on earth a Khaleefah.' In the Tafseer of the Aayat mentioned at
the beginning, it is also said that in relation to all the species of
life, man has been endowed with the most beautiful form. All other animals
have been created in a lowly form with their heads downwards. Their faces
constantly pointing downwards to the earth indicate their low rank in
relation to man. In contrast, man has been created upright and he eats his
food by means of raising it with his hands unlike the lowly beasts with
faces downwards. HIS DEBASEMENT In the Tafseer of the Aayat, it is said
that when man willingly destroys his natural ability to progress to the
pedestals of elevation, he degenerates and falls from his lofty mansion.
He then falls to levels lower than the level of dogs, pigs and even
Shayaateen. SUPERIORITY According to the authentic Tafaseer, prior
to the creation of Aadam (Álayhis salaam), the Malaaikah (angels)
entertained the opinion that Allah Taãla will not create any being
superior to them. Allah Taãla negates this opinion of the Malaaikah by
creating Aadam (Álayhis salaam) and making him a manifestation of divine
attributes. To illustrate Insaan's superiority over all pecies of
creation, Allah Taãla commanded the Malaaikah to make Sajdah
(prostration) to him (Nabi Aadam (Álayhis salaam). The superiority of man
is well emphasised by the statement of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi
Wasallam): 'Allah created Aadam in His (Allah's) form.' Insha Allah, this
Hadith will be explained in greater detail in some future issue of 'the
Majlis'. Here it is sufficient to mention the interpretation of the
authorities intelligence, sight, hearing, etc. These lofty attributes are
located in that part of the human body called head. It is for this reason
that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) forbade striking or
slapping the face of any human being or even an animal. In the Tafseer of
the Qurãnic Aayat which permits husbands to beat wives in cases of
necessity, it is said: 'The face shall not be slapped'. Explaining the
reason for the prohibition of slapping the face, Imaam Nawawi (RA) says in
his Sharhul Muslim, 'Because the face is the embodiment of man's beauty in
addition to it being of sublime nature.' THE LATAAIF-E-SITTAH In man there are six metaphysical or
non-material or spiritual faculties known as the Lataa-if-e-sittah. Two of
these lofty faculties, viz. Lateefah Khaafi and Lateefah Akhfa are located
in the head. The Lateefah Akhfah is located in the centre of the brain
while the location of Lateefah Khafi is between the eyebrows. The
functions of these faculties are the highest states of reflection and
contemplation, progressing from the high state of Fana to Fanul Fana.
These are spiritual or Roohani stages which shall not be discussed in this
article. PATHWAY FOR QURÃN In the Ahaadith, the following narration
appears: The Makhaarij or places from whence Qurãnic
huroof (letters) emanate are located in the mouth. The high Ibaadat of
Tilaawat of the Qurãn shareef is effected via the mouth, hence the Hadith
describes the mouth as the 'pathway of the Qurãn'. Since it is, literally
speaking, the channel for the recitation of the Qurãn shareef, Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) emphasised much the maintainance of its
purity. The emphasis on the purity of the mouth could be gauged from the
many times Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) would use the Miswaak
everyday to clean his mouth. The practice of Miswaak is strongly stressed
by the Shariáh. In one Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam)
said, 'When the servant of Allah uses the Miswaak and then performs Salaat,
an angel stands behind him, listening attentively to the recitation of the
Qurãn. The angels draws closer and closer to the reciter and places his
mouth on the mouth of the reciter. Thus every word emanating from the
mouth of the Musalli enters the angel's mouth. Therefore, maintain your
mouth pure and clean for the Qurãn.' ZIKRULLAH The actual purpose underlying the creation
of man is Zikrullah or the remembrance of Allah Taãla. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) ordered Muslims to maintain their tongues fresh with the
Zikr of Allah Taãla. The facts mentioned above will indicate
that Insaan is Ashraful Makhlukaat (the noblest of creation) and the
noblest part of his body is his head which is the location for lofty
faculties and attributes which earn for him the designation of 'the form
of Allah'. In order that he maintains his lofty rank and progresses
continuously towards loftier mansions and closer Divine Proximity, it is
essential that man exercises restraint over his physical and animal
qualities. If he fails in this respect, he will descend to a level below
the lowly beasts. Allah Taãla has endowed man with intelligence,
will-power and shame. He must employ these attributes to subdue his animal
and carnal desires and refrain from indulgence in the excesses of lust. If
he fails in this achievement he will annihilate himself spiritually and
degenerate to sub-animal levels. The sublimity of Islam is of such a lofty degree that it exhorts its adherence to adopt dignity, deportment and propriety in even sexual relationship. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) advised his Ummah to abstain from total nudity when indulging in sex and not to behave 'like asses'. Since Islam is a culture of transcendental values calculated to ensure maximum remembrance of Allah Taãla, a Muslim should not debase himself to a sub-animal level by resorting to the vile practice of oral sex. The mouth of Insaan is the pathway of the
Qurãn, his tongue has been commanded to remain fresh with Zikrullah; his
mouth is situated in the noblest part of his body; the functions of his
mouth are noble and lofty; his mouth is a passageway for transference of
the recited Qurãn into the mouth of the listening angel. He cannot,
therefore, debase and dishonour himself so disgracefully by resorting to
the revolting practice of oral sex. A Muslim should not dishonour that
head and face which the Shariáh of Islam commands to be honoured. Allah
Taãla honoured the human head with noble qualities, the highest being the
Noor of Aql, but man debases that lofty part of his body by indulging in
an act of bestiality not even committed by the lowly beasts. It does not
behove man in general, and a Muslim in particular to degrade himself in
this manner. The Mu'min's link with Allah Taãla is so
strong or ought to be so strong that the Shariáh has prescribed a
particular Duá to be recited even when a man approaches his wife for
sexual relations. Even at the moment of reaching climax and ejaculation,
the Muslim is required to read in his mind (without moving the lips) a
special Duá so that he remains protected from any Shaitaani interference.
We learn from the Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) that
Shaytaan attempts to interfere with man even while he indulges in lawful
sex, hence the wording of the special Duá for this occasion is: 'O Allah!
Protect us from Shaytaan and protect the offspring you grant us from
Shaytaan'. Allah Taãla has honoured man highly, hence
the Qurãn says, 'Verily, we have honoured the sons of Aadam.' He is
therefore not allowed to debase himself with the bestial acts which even
the lowly beasts do not commit. The mouth is an honoured part of the
physical body. It is not a receptacle of impurity. The Shariáh emphasizes
the maintenance of its purity. Even in the developing foetus, Allah Taãla
has arranged for the maintenance of the purity of the mouth. The umbilical
cord connects the developing embryo to its mother. It is the passageway in
which exchange of nutrient and waste materials with the circulatory system
of the mother takes place. In man the umbilical cord arises at the navel
below which is the location of the rebellious Nafs which reduces man to
sub-animal levels if not restrained. Why does Allah Taãla not create the
foetus with the umbilical cord attached to its mouth so that its nutrition
reaches it in the normal way, viz. Via the mouth? Right until the very
last moments prior to its emergence into the external world, the baby's
nutrition is via the umbilical cord. Immediately on reaching the outside
world its nourishment reaches it from the mouth. Since the umbilical cord
is also the passageway for impure waste matter, its connection is near to
the location of the lowly nafs. The mouth has thus been guarded against
impurities. The facts presented in this article should
be sufficient to convey to Muslims that their Imaan and the spirit of the
teachings of Islam do not permit them to grovel in the dregs of debasement
and perpetrate moral injustice by utilizing the mouth for deriving sexual
pleasure. This is not the function of the mouth. It is a misappropriation
of an amaanat (trust). All parts of the body are Amaanat which have to be utilized
in accordance with the instructions of Allah Taãla. Such contamination
and moral pollution as entailed by oral sex are most unbecoming the
dignity and rank of man, especially if the Insaan appears to be a follower
of the illustrious Shariáh of Muhammad (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam).
Allah Taãla states in the Noble Qurãn, 'Verily, Allah loves those who
purify themselves.' Extracted from 'The Majlis' Vol. 6 No. 8 And Allah Taãla Knows Best. Was salaam Moulana Ahmad Kathrada |