Love and Sex in Islam

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SOCIOLOGY
Introduction
The concept of the sexual morality and love has greatly varied over the time and
among the existing religions and the cultures throughout the globe. The majority of the
people throughout the globe follows the religion of Christianity followed by the Islamic
religion. The love and the sexual norms together with the standards of love is general linked
with the religious beliefs and the conditions of the social and the environment. As per the
research by Inhorn (2018) most of the religions expressed the belief regarding the addressing
of the question of the proper role of sexuality and intimacy of love in the interactions of
human beings. The research assignment aims to focus on the concept of love and sexuality in
the religion of Islam, which is the second most followed religion of the world. The thesis
statement for the essay argue with the facts how the historical patterns and the concept of
love, intimacy and sex in the Islam has changed over the time. The research essay
furthermore will explain how the influence or the impact of the western culture has changed
the entire concept of love, intimacy and sex in Islam highlighting the perception of the
Muslim youths. The essay argues on the note how the current changes in the concept of love
and sex has been affecting the religious norms of Islam.
The Research questions
The research questions that have been formulated to be discussed in the paper include:
1. How has Western culture influenced the concepts of love and sex in Islam religion?
2. How do the Muslim youth view the concepts of love and sex?
3. How does the change in the concepts of love and sex affect Islam religion?
Concept of love in Islam
According to Van der Lugt (2017) no other religion in the world urges is followers
towards adopting mutual affection, love and intimacy like Islam. The concept of love in Islam
is comprehensive and encompasses within all the relations rather being confined among the
relation among men and women. Throughout the study of Qur’an and the narrations depicted
that the view of the Islam regarding the concept of love either in the human form or the
Devine form belongs to precious concepts. In the consideration with some of the other faiths,
one of the aspect of over in Islam is that it is basically considered along with the hate or the

2SOCIOLOGY
evil. According the narrations of Qur’an , one has to love for the sake of god and also hate
for the sake of god (Ramji, 2016). Love, intimacy and sexual relations are only encouraged
and allowed after the recommended marriage for starting a new family as per the order of
Allah. From the historical contexts, the religion forbids love and relationship of affection and
attraction among men and women since as stated in Qur’an.
Furthermore in the book, ‘Beyond the Veil’ by Fatima Mernissi, the author
highlighted the relationship among men and women in the present society highlighting how
there should be a difference among love and emotional attachment among human as per the
religious norms (Mernissi, 1987). As per the religious norms as stated in the book, women are
danger to the social order and this the virtue of a women is the duty of the women. The book
furthermore highlighted one of the controversial and debatable fact that how the religion
forbids any sort of emotional investment in women (Ghazali, 1975). This is because the
religion allows the love of each and every individual, especially the men of the society to be
exclusively devoted to Allah. In the consideration of an antipathetic phenomenon, the
religious norms stated that love including emotional attachment and attention should only be
devoted to Allah.
Concept of sex in Islam
The sexual morality in Islam is different than other religion of the world. This is due
to the encompassing nature of shari'ah of Islam. Though the religion has surely not been
different from the social problems, the sexual morality of the Islam is fundamentally different
as per the view of the youths of the Muslim. Islam aims towards teaching its followers not to
supress their urges of sexuality and fulfil them in a responsible way (Smerecnik et al., 2010).
From the historical context, the religion has been recognising the sexual needs of the human
beings and propagate their believe regarding the natural instincts of the human beings should
be nurtured and not suppressed. The religion states that the biological parts of the body of the
individual have purpose and have not been created without any of the use. None of the text in
the religious books preaches to equate the concept of sexuality with the inherent evil or the
sin. In the context of the historical perception, the religion recommends marriage as the best
deed and have strongly opposed monasticism and celibacy and believes that marriage is a
pathway towards the spiritual wayfaring of sexuality. According to the religious beliefs of
Islam, the verse of Allah openly recommend sex in Qur’an (Hildebrandt, 2015). It
furthermore legalises the marriage up to four times for a man only in the condition that justice