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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Marriage and Morals in Islam Introduction A. Why This Book? Writers do not normally have to justify their subject. If they think that what they are writing will be useful to the people in their practical life or in their intellectual pursuit, then they feel no need to justify their work. The present book has both qualities: it is useful and of intellectual interest.

But there are many people, even among the Muslims, who think that sex is a taboo subject in all religions. Therefore, it is very appropriate to begin with the question: Is discussion of sexual morality allowed in Islam? To answer this question one has to look at the definition of religion from the Islamic point of view.

Anyone who has studied Islam even on surface can easily know that "religion" in Islamic definition is "a complete system of life" which covers all aspects of human life from the day a person is conceived up to the day he or she is laid in grave. Islam is not only concerned with the spiritual upliftment of human beings, it is equally concerned about their material and physical well-being.

Islam guides its followers in financial and economic matters, in social and political affairs, and also in moral and personal spheres of human life. In moral and personal matters, Islam has specific dietary guide-lines, hygienic rules, dress codes, and also rules about marriage, divorce and inheritance. The Islamic laws of marriage do not stop at how to marry and whom to marry, it also deals with the sexual morality of human beings.

This sexual morality, as we shall see in the following chapters, has been discussed in the Qur'an, and by the Prophet and his Ahlu'l-bayt very thoroughly and openly. Thus there should be no doubt in the mind of anyone about the permission Islam has given for open discussion of sexual morality. This was about the basic permission which Islam has given to discuss the sexual morality.

But this explanation will not be enough for some people who will confront me with the next question: "Is it necessary to discuss sex?" There are three reasons for the necessity of discussing sexual morality. The first reason applies to all Muslims and the other two reasons are relevant to the Muslims in the Western world who are the primary audience of this book.