Sexuality in Islam

by Abdelwahab Bouhdiba

Originally published in 1985. Beginning with the Qur’an, Abdelwahab Bouhdiba confronts the question of male supremacy in Islam, and the strict separation of the masculine and the feminine. He gives an account of purification practices, of Islamic attitudes towards homosexuality, concubinage, legal marriage and of the sexual taboos laid down by the Qur’an. He assesses present-day sexual practice, including eroticism, misogyny and mysticism and concludes that the sexual alienation – and even oppression – of modern Muslim women is the result not of the Islamic vision of sexuality, but of social and economic pressures.

Genres: Islam, Sexuality, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 1985

Reviews

[Diana Ishaqat]

I’m glad I came across this read. It’s not an easy one. Here are some of my thoughts:

- The author, unlike many reviewers might assume, is not necessarily reflecting his own beliefs throughout the book. When he does, he sometimes appears to contradict himself (maybe only to me?) or simply attempt to intellectually trigger through different literally devices.

- It’s not easy to read this because a woman of today’s age and an ally would probably be hoping for an alternative, different interpretation to what we heard in classrooms and among society, but this book illustrates explains the common views, the way they are linked, how they were practiced, and to what ends. Despite receiving religious education for many years, some practices listed here were completely new to me/ I had no information about.

- It would definitely be a smoother read for those who received Islamic education (eg at school). Others might need to search the terms which were mostly kept in the original language.


Having that said:

- The book covers the Arab Hijazi Muslim traditions and although it does bring examples from Egypt and the Maghreb region. This is one/a type of Arabo-Islam, and the author only makes this distinction in the second part of the book.

- Other sources I read about the sexual and reproductive freedoms suggested that some of what the book listed as a general practice was the practice of some Arab/Hijazi tribes, and was not necessarily the case for all tribes and peoples who shared the same lands.

[Haifa]

Countless disturbing assumptions. Very local in terms of experiential data. Not successful in terms of the east+west epistemological collage. Ultimately disappointing.

[ReemAdel]

terrible. lacks real evidence and constantly uses hadiths that aren't reliable or even accepted amongst Muslim scholars. disappointing to say the least. 2/5 for his eloquence and only that.

[Anja]

Mixed feelings.