Social System in Islam: The View of Man and Woman and the Human Sexual Instinct

"Woe to Humankind! What has made him reject God? From what thing did
He create him? > From a clot He Created him..."[Abasa: 17-19]
Thus, Allah (swt) has addressed Humankind with obligations and He
(swt) has made Humankind the subject of that speech and those
obligations. He (swt) has revealed the laws (Shar'a) to Humankind and
He (swt) will resurrect Humankind, account him/her and admit him/her
to Paradise or Hell. Therefore, He (swt) has made Humankind - not men
or women - the subject of the obligations.
Allah (swt) has created Humankind, whether male or female, with a
specific nature which is distinct from that of animals. The woman is a
human, as is the man, and they do not differ from each other in terms
of their humanity. Nor is one distinguished from the other in any
aspect of that humanity. Allah (swt) has prepared both of them, in
their capacity as humans, to enter the walks of life and inevitably
made them live in the same society. He also made the survival of the
human race dependent on their meeting together and their mutual
presence in every society.
It is not permitted to view one of them except as the other is viewed
because, as humans, they possess all human characteristics and the
essential requirements of life. Allah (swt) has created within each of
them a vital energy (Taqa Hayawiya), and it is the same vital energy
which He (swt) has created for the other. So He (swt) made in each of
them organic needs such as hunger, thirst and the need to relieve
nature and He (swt) made in each of them a survival instinct (Gharizat
al-Baq'a) and a procreation instinct (Gharizat al-Nau') and a
sanctification (Gharizat al-Tadayyun) instinct. They are the same
organic needs and instincts that are present in each other.
He (swt) has granted both of them the faculty of thought, and it is
the same faculty of thought that is present in the other. Thus,
intelligence is present in a man and it is the same intelligence that
is present in a woman, since Allah created an intellect for Humankind
and not exclusively for a man or a woman.
The procreation instinct can be satisfied illegitimately. However,
this will not serve the purpose for which the instinct has been
created in Humankind except in one case, that is if a man satisfies it
with a woman and a woman satisfies it with a man. Therefore, the
relationship of a man with a woman and vice versa from the angle of
instinctual sexuality is a natural relationship free from any
abnormality. It is the only genuine relationship by which Humankind
realises the purpose for which this instinct was created, that is the
survival of the human race. So when a relationship takes place between
them in terms of sexual intercourse, that is instinctive and natural,
and there is nothing strange or odd about that. Rather, it is a
necessary matter for the survival of the human species.
However, allowing this instinct to run loose is detrimental to
Humankind and his social life. The purpose of its existence is to
produce offspring for the survival of the species. Therefore,
Humankind's view of this instinct must be oriented towards the purpose
for which it is found in him, and that undoubtedly, is for the
survival of the species without distinction between men or women. As
for the pleasure and enjoyment which is obtained by satisfaction, that
is a natural and inevitable matter whether Humankind considers it or
not. Therefore it is not correct to say: pleasure and enjoyment should
be dissociated from the procreation instinct. Disassociation between
them is not attainable, this is because it is not possible. However,
Man's view stems from his concept about this satisfaction, and the
purpose of its existence. Consequently, Humankind must generate a
specific concept about this instinct and the purpose for which it
exists in him. This will form a distinct view concerning the
procreation instinct, so that he restricts it to the relationship of a
man with a woman, and a woman with a man. It will also form in him a
distinct view concerning the relationship between men and women in the
male-female sense, i.e. the sexual relationship, such that it is
directed according to the purpose for which it was created, i.e. the
survival of the human race. Through this view, the satisfaction of the
instinct is achieved, as is the purpose for which it was created.
The community which adopts this concept and possesses this distinct
view also achieves tranquillity (Tamannina). The view of the community
- any human community - concerning that which exists between men and
women in terms of the male-female relationship, (i.e. their sexual
relationship), must be changed from a view focused on pleasure and
enjoyment, to one of considering pleasure and enjoyment a natural and
necessary matter, but the view is orientated towards the purpose for
which this instinct exists. This view maintains and discharges the
procreation instinct according to the correct manner for which it was
created, and gives man the opportunity to carry out his other
activities and frees him to pursue the things that make him happy.
For this reason man must possess a concept concerning the satisfaction
of the procreation instinct and the purpose for which it exists. The
human community must have a system that ensures co-operation between
the man and the woman and eliminates from people's minds the dominance
of the notion of sex, making it the concern that overrides all other
concerns. This is because the community is of no worth (Salaah)
without the co-operation between men and women, considering them as
two siblings who support each other in mutual love and kindness. For
this reason, we must emphasise the importance of complete change in
the community's outlook towards the relationship between men and the
women, which will end the dominance of the concepts of sex, turning it
into a matter which is natural (marriage) and necessary for
satisfaction and ending the restriction of this relationship to
pleasure and enjoyment. Instead, it will produce a view which seeks
the good of the community, not a masculine or feminine one, and it
will be governed by the fear (Taqwaa) of Allah and not by enjoyment or
lust. It is a view which does not deny Man the enjoyment of sexual
pleasure, but makes it lawful (Mashru'), ensuring the survival of the
human race and agreeing with the ultimate goal of a Muslim, which is
to seek the pleasure of Allah.
Some verses in the Qur'an came to address the marital aspect, i.e. the
purpose for which the procreation instinct was created. Thus, there
are verses which make it clear that the creation of the procreation
instinct, in origin, is for the purpose of marriage, i.e. survival of
the human race. In other words, Allah (swt) has created the instinct
only for the purpose of marriage. The verses clarify this using
different styles and various meanings in order to ensure that the view
of the community towards the relationship between the man and woman,
is a view which is focused on marriage and not on sex.
"Oh Humankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single
person, and from him created his wife, and from them both He created
many men and women."[An- Nisa: 1]
"It is He Who has created you from a single person, and He has created
from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living
with her. When he had sexual relations with her, she became pregnant
and she carried it about lightly. Then when it became heavy, they both
invoked Allah, their Lord: If You give us a good child, indeed we
shall be amongst the grateful."[Al- Araf: 189]
"And Allah has made for you wives of your own kind, and has made for
you, from your wives, sons and grandsons."[An- Nahl: 72]
"The Creator of the heavens and earth. He has made for you mates from
yourselves."[Ash- Shura: 11]
The Impact of this view on the relationship between Man and Woman
Only when the instinct is excited, will it require satisfaction. Once
the instinct requires satisfaction, it will drive Humankind to acquire
it, and the human will experience anxiety as long as the instinct is
excited. Once it is calmed down, anxiety will no longer exist. The
non-satisfaction of this instinct will not result in death or any
physical, mental, or psychological harm. Harm will be merely through
anxiety and frustration. Consequently the satisfaction of this
instinct is not mandatory such as the satisfaction of the organic
needs (food, drink ,relieving), it is rather a matter to bring about
tranquillity and comfort.
Two matters excite the instinct:
1. The tangible reality and
2. Thought and association of ideas.
One of these matters at least, must be present for the instinct to be
excited. Meaning, it is not excited due to an internal motive (within
the human body), as is the case with the organic need, but rather from
an external incentive, namely the tangible reality or associated
thoughts. This holds true for all instincts, namely the instinct of
survival(for example to become rich...), sanctification (to worship..)
and procreation, with no difference between them.
Since the procreation instinct is similar to the other instincts in
that if it is excited it will require satisfaction, and since it is
not excited except by a tangible reality or associated thoughts, then
the human is able to control this satisfaction. As a matter of fact,
the human is able to initiate this satisfaction, or to prevent it from
taking place except in such a manner that it is geared towards
preserving the human race. Seeing the opposite sex or any tangible
reality related to the procreation instinct will excite the instinct
and cause it to require satisfaction. Consequently, reading sexual
stories and listening to sexual ideas will excite the procreation
instinct. Conversely, keeping away from the opposite sex (except blood
relatives), sexual ideas or anything related to the procreation
instinct will prevent the instinct from being excited. This is so
because the procreation instinct cannot be excited except by a
tangible reality or a sexual thought.
If the community's view of the relationship between men and woman is
focused on the male-female relations, i.e. the sexual relations, as is
the case in Western society, then it will be preoccupied with creating
exciting tangible realities and generating sexual thoughts necessary
to excite the procreation instinct, so as to require satisfaction, and
by its satisfaction, the relationship is achieved and comfort is
gained. Contrary to this, if the view of the community to the
relationship between man and woman is focused on the purpose
(marriage,protecting one's spouse,training the kids..) for which this
instinct was created, namely preserving the human race, then keeping
the tangible realities and sexual thoughts away from men and woman in
public life is a necessity. Otherwise, the instinct will be excited
and require a satisfaction that is not available, a matter which
causes anxiety and frustrations. Also, restricting exciting tangible
realities to the case of marriage is necessary to preserve the human
race, by producing tranquillity and comfort when satisfaction is
demanded within marriage.
This is a clear indication of the extent that the community's view of
man-woman relations has in directing public life in the community and
in the society. Both the Western and Eastern view of the man-woman
relationship is one that is sexual, not one geared to preserving the
human race. Hence, they purposely worked on finding tangible realities
and sexual thoughts for man and woman to excite this instinct, in
order to satisfy it. They claimed that if this instinct is not
satisfied, this will lead to suppression, which leads to physical,
psychological and mental harm. As a result, one finds in the Eastern
and Western communities and in the Western and Communist societies,
many sexual thoughts in writing, poetry, and literature in general. It
is normal in these societies to have unnecessary free mixing between
men and women in their homes, parks, roads, and swimming pools for
example. This is because they consider these things a necessity that
they purposely create. It is a part of organising their life and a
part of their life style.
Muslims who believe in the Aqeedah of Islam and the validity of its
rules, carry a different point of view. Meaning, Islam views the
man-woman relations as for preserving the human race. The Islamic
point of view does not focus on the sexual aspect of the relationship:
though considering it an inseparable part of satisfaction, its
satisfaction, however, is not the real motive. Consequently, Islam
views the presence of sexual ideas and the tangible realities that
excite the instinct as a cause of corruption and harm. Hence, it
forbade man and woman; to meet in seclusion (Khulwa), the woman from
showing her charms to strangers and the men and women from looking at
each other in a sexual fashion. Islam also has defined the
co-operation between men and women in public life and confined sexual
relations between men and women to marriage.
Therefore, Islam works to prevent the procreation instinct from being
excited by anything in the public life and works to confine sexual
relations to marriage. Contrary to Islam, Capitalism and Communism
work to create situations that excite this instinct in order to
satisfy it and to set it loose (to the level of animals) in
everything. Also, while Islam views the man-woman relations as only
for the purpose of preserving the human race, Capitalism and Communism
view the man-woman relations as a male-female one, i.e. a sexual view.
The wide difference between what Islam aims to achieve and what the
other two ideologies are designed to achieve becomes evident. This
reflects the Islamic point of view as being one of purity,
righteousness and chastity. It is a point of view for the tranquillity
of the human and the continuation of his race.
With regard to what the Westerners and the Communists claim that
suppressing the sexual instinct in men and women alike causes mental,
physical and psychological disorders to the human, this claim is wrong
and conflicts with reality. This is due to the fact that there is a
difference between the organic needs and the instincts in terms of the
necessity of satisfaction. The former, such as the need for food,
drink, and relieving the call of nature, must be satisfied or it will
result in physical harm that may lead to death. As for the instincts
of survival, sanctification and procreation, if not satisfied (outside
marriage) these will not lead to any physical, mental or psychological
harm, but merely lead to anxiety . This is proven by the fact that a
person might spend his entire life without satisfying some of the
instincts and no harm befalls him. Also their claim that physical,
mental and psychological illnesses occur when the procreation instinct
is not satisfied is false, since it only happens to some individuals,
not humans at large. This shows that such illnesses do not happen
naturally due to its non-satisfaction but rather due to other factors.
If such complications were a result of suppressing the instinct, it
would have happened in every case of non-satisfaction, according to
the laws of nature, a matter which has never occurred. And they admit
to the fact that it does not occur naturally due to non-satisfaction.
Therefore, such complications must be due to factors other than the
suppression of the instinct.
Furthermore, an organic need requires satisfaction naturally from
within. It does not require an external stimulant, though an external
stimulant incites it when the need is present. This is different from
the instinct which does not become excited naturally from within,
without the presence of an external stimulant. It is not stimulated
internally unless there exists an external stimulant which results
either from an exciting tangible reality or an exciting sexual
thought, part of which is the association of exciting thoughts. When
the external factor is absent, there will be no stimulation. This
holds true for all instincts with no difference between the instinct
of survival, sanctification or procreation and with all their external
aspects. Therefore, if a stimulant for any instinct is present, the
person will be excited and the instinct will require satisfaction.
Once the stimulant is kept at bay or the person becomes occupied in
something that is more important, the demand for satisfaction will
disappear and he will calm down. This is different from the organic
need where once excited, it will never go away until satisfied.
This clearly demonstrates that if the procreation instinct is not
satisfied, there will result no physical, mental or psychological
illness, since it is merely an instinct, and not an organic need. What
in fact happens is that once a person is confronted with an exciting
tangible reality or sexual thought, which stimulates the procreation
instinct, that person will be excited and demand satisfaction. If the
demand is not met with satisfaction, that person will experience
nothing more than anxiety. With repetition, anxiety will turn to pain
(also sexual problems later and abnormal behaviour). However, if the
stimulant is kept away or the person is kept occupied with something
that dominates the instinct, the anxiety disappears. Therefore,
suppressing the procreation instinct once aroused will result in
anxiety and pain, and if not excited, nothing will result, not even
anxiety or pain. Therefore, the proper solution is not to excite the
instinct. This is achieved by preventing anything from exciting it as
long as it can not be satisfied (until one gets married).
This shows the fallacy of the Western and Communist point of view,
which made the community's view to the relations between men and women
focused on the male-female relations(a sexual one). Consequently, it
shows the falsehood of the treatment produced by this point of view of
stimulating the instinct in the man and the woman via highlighting
things that stimulate it, such as free mixing, dancing, games,
stories, etc. It also shows the truthfulness of the Islamic point of
view which made the community's view to man-woman relations focused on
the purpose for which this instinct was created, namely preserving the
human race. Accordingly, it shows the correctness of the solution
produced by this view of keeping away any kind of stimulating tangible
reality or sexual thought when legal satisfaction through marriage .
Therefore, Islam alone is able to completely and correctly treat the
corruption caused by the procreation instinct in the society and among
the people. Such correct and complete treatment will result in piety,
tranquility and elevation in the society and among the people.