God created 2 different and distinct genders as a pair and from the same source. Each gender should maintain its biological, psychological, emotional, and social identity. The Law prohibits trans-sexual dressing, talking, behaving, and socializing. The man and the woman complement one another. Gender awareness develops in children but sexual awareness develops towards puberty. Socialization also plays a role in strengthening gender awareness.

Gender separation has been used in a wrong way to discriminate against women on the basis of their gender in both ancient and modern communities. Islam emphasizes gender identity while rejecting all forms of gender-based discrimination. The Law equalizes the guilt and their punishment of men and women. It also equalizes the reward for good work.

2.0 EXPRESSION OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

Sexual desire, shahwat, is normal and is satisfied legally only through marriage. Islam forbids complete rejection and suppression of the sexual instinct. God created in each gender features that attract the other gender. Human sexual attraction is enhanced by clothes, perfume, dyeing the hair etc. Shaitan exploits the sexual attraction between the genders to inflame passions that lead to sexual transgression.

3.0 REGULATION OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

The Law regulates sexual relations. Severe punishment is imposed for illegal sexual relations. Puasa can control sexual desire. Modesty, haya, is an inner spiritual protective device that makes a person shun sin and what may lead to it. Society’s revulsion to sexual impropriety is a psychological barrier to zina. Open broadcast of sexual misbehavior as well as false accusation of marital infidelity create tolerance for promiscuity. Those who commit zina are not allowed to marry the chaste and their evidence is rejected.

The following measures against antecedents of zina are prescribed by the Law: covering nakedness; prohibition of seclusion, khalwat; prohibition of free mixing of the genders, ikhtilat; prohibition of sexual display, tabarruj; and respecting the privacy of the home, hurmat al bayt.

4.0 HUMAN SEXUALITY AND MARRIAGE

Marriage is a natural human institution that protects against sexual immorality. Desire for sexual satisfaction is a major reason for marriage. Sexual attractiveness is a continuous process that is necessary to bind the 2 spouses together. The sexual relation in marriage is wider that coitus. It involves social and psychological bonding. The husband and wife have to be close physically, psychologically and emotionally. The sexual relation is private not to be disclosed to third parties. Protection of chastity, ghiirat, is a drive in the spouse and other members of the family to protect the chastity of both males and females.

Marriage is a permanent institution and cannot be a temporary sexual relationship. Four temporary sexual relations are forbidden: temporary marriage; prostitution; adultery between consenting adults, zina; and marriage with the hidden intention to divorce after a time. Prohibition of marriage with close relations, maharim, ensures social intercourse within the extended family without fear of sexual transgression.

5.0 COITUS