Minor illicit sexual activity


It is loudly proclaimed in the Grand Qur’ān:

  • Our Majesty have not neglected mentioning in the Book (Grand Qur’ān) any thing relevant to the audience. [Refer 6:38]

 

Sexuality is one of the subjects that are most relevant to humanity. And one topic on sexuality which most people are uncomfortable to talk about is masturbation. It is the reason that there is proliferation of slang phrases to talk about it. There are depictions of male and female masturbation in prehistoric rock paintings around the world.

Keeping in view the extent of the claim in the aforementioned sentence of Ayah 6:38, it would be hard to think the neglect of mentioning this topic as self-gratification is known since thousands of years in human history. However, it is a subject that is talked about through Euphemisms.

Recently, sonographic observations of male fetus started a debate that showed movements of hand touching/stroking genitals resembling common practice of stroking for sexual pleasure usually to orgasm.

In Arabic sexual activities, explicit or implicit, are mentioned by words stemming from Root: ف ح ش. that relates to Semantic domain: Immoderate behaviour.

The basic perception is that of indulging in excessive, immoderate, or beyond measure with reference to generally or universally accepted norms, limits and measures of behaviour. The perception and meanings of the Root have built in subjective and relational element. Moreover, because the excessive, immoderate and extremist tendencies are universally looked upon with dislike, abomination, repulsiveness, and unacceptability, therefore, it has inherent negative element.

For reason of built-in subjective and relational element, it is the context and related field which will determine and expose its meanings with reference to that context; and in definite state will generally express the irrational, unnatural, obscene, pervert and excessively emotional sexual conduct.

This Root is mostly used in Grand Qur’ān in relation to immoderate, abnormal and lustful unnatural sexual pursuits and behaviour; explicitly included in it is homosexuality: Lesbianism (4:15); Sodomy (4:16; 7:80; 27:59; 29:28), uz'zina: intercourse of genitalia [furr'ej] with mutual consent by a man and woman outside the fold of legal marriage; and marrying women with whom fathers were earlier married (4:22).

The primary objective of doing: acts of illicit sex is feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, not necessarily culminating in sexual climax, ejaculation or orgasm. Thereby, sexual excitement can be experienced as a pleasurable wave of tingling sensations through parts of the body that might not get exhibited to other party. Thereby, all sorts of actions aimed at sexual excitement are prohibited including the displayed and secretively intended:
 

  • "And that you (people) should not approach illicit sexual activities, including that which was exposed and that which remained unexposed. [Refer 6:151]

 

  • You the Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] pronounce: "The fact is that my Sustainer Lord has only prohibited: illicit sexual activities, including that which was exposed and that which remained unexposed;

  • And dilapidating sinful acts and excesses without permissible justification/cause; [Refer 7:33]

Firstly a prohibitive command is given: "you people should not approach illicit sexual attractions;" The verb is in Jussive Mood due to Prohibitive Particle. Verb signifies moving closer to something with affection. The object of verb is feminine plural that includes all sorts of illicit activities aiming at sexual pleasure and satisfaction.

The following sentences conjunct by particle is apposition of comprehensive equivalence to the preceding entity: . The verbal sentences are the Linkage clause for the Relative Pronoun and the prepositional phrase relates to the elided circumstantial clause for the subject of the verb.

However, in the aforementioned prohibiting sentences there is no mention of act of sexual pleasure and satisfaction self done by alone individual in solitude for which word "Masturbation (noun of action)" is coined, and in Arabic it is picturesquely portrayed by: استمناء a Form-X verbal noun stemming from Root:  م ن ى signifying semen. Form-X verbal noun and verbs are Reflexive Causative; Causative to do for the Self. Form-X Verbs signify what is called in Arabic تَكَلُّفٌ which means literally "self-charging" or "self-assigning a task". It also figuratively means "feigning".

It is understood that "self assigning a task" and "feigning intercourse" in solitude is minor offense as compared to displayed and explicit illicit sex involving another party or victim. An exemption from: is mentioned:

  • They are the people who consciously avoid committing major and grave sins (that cause serious and deep rooted disturbance and dilapidation in society) and diligently avoid illicit sexual activities barring the (اللَّمَمَ) minor occasional sexual lapse.

  • --Indeed the Sustainer Lord of you the Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] is vastly generous in overlooking and forgiving--. [Refer 53:32]

 

The first sentence is a dependent compound sentence with a conjunction particle which explains the characteristic of those who acted moderately and appropriately with magnanimity. The verbal sentence: comprises of Verb: Imperfect; Third person; plural; masculine; [Form-VIII]; Mood: Indicative evident by "نَ"; and [و] Subject Pronoun, nominative state referent to preceding Relative Pronoun;  مصدر-إِجْتِنَابٌ Verbal noun. Form-VIII verb has reflexive causative meanings and indicates a stronger role of the Subject as a performer of the action involving painstaking, meticulous effort. Sins and sexual pleasures are tempters and thus a strong effort is needed to escape temptation.

The object of verb in the first sentence is:  a possessive phrase signifying "the Major sins" which include all sins that are specifically prohibited to be done. The object of verb in the second sentence is: . It means that such people diligently avoid illicit sex in any manner. A barring from such diligent avoidance of illicit sex is mentioned by Restriction/Confining Particle: . Excepted act is: Collective Noun: Definite by article; Masculine; accusative.

It stems from Root:  ل م م.. Ibn Faris [died 1005] stated:

(مقاييس اللغة)

اللام والميم أصلُه صحيحٌ يدلُّ على اجتماعٍ ومقارَبَة ومُضامَّة.

That it means to congregate, become nearer and to be joined, amalgamated.

He and other Lexicographers also state that it refers to: صغار الذنوب minor offences; and that it refers to a person near adulthood.

Since: minor offence is excepted from: illicit sex activities it is obviously a euphemism for sexual act which is directly described by noun of action Masturbation. Considering that barring is from an object which is diligently avoided, it has occasional element in so doing and is a lapse - a gap in the continuity of avoidance of illicit sex.

The climax of feel of pleasure and satisfaction in masturbating by males is to achieve orgasm or emit the semen: .

  • Thereby, have you seen - examined that (semen) which you people keep ejaculating?  [56:58]

  • Are you the people who keep creating it (semen)?

  • Or Our Majesty are the Creator? [56:59]

Verbal sentence: comprises of Form-IV second person plural masculine imperfect verb in Indicative Mood with infix [و] subject pronoun; from verbal noun: إِمْنَاءٌ meaning ejaculation. It is Linkage clause for the Relative Pronoun which is the object of preceding verb "have you seen". Form-IV verb is causative - Causing someone or something to perform the action of Measure I.

What is caused to be ejaculated? It is semen:

  • Was he (man) not a sperm chosen from the semen which is ejaculated? [75:37]

The verbal sentence: is the adjectival for the preceding indefinite noun: semen. It comprises of Verb: Imperfect; Third person; singular; masculine; Passive; Mood: Indicative; Form-I; Proxy subject pronoun hidden referent to Semen;  مصدر-مَنْىٌ verbal noun.

Semen, not sperm, can be seen by naked eye only when it is visibly ejaculated in open space and collected. Thereby: is euphemism for masturbation which culminates in ejaculation of semen.

  • And He the Exalted may reward those who acted moderately and appropriately with magnanimity [Refer 53:31]

  • They are the people who consciously avoid committing major and grave sins (that cause serious and deep rooted disturbance and dilapidation in society) and diligently avoid illicit sexual activities barring the (اللَّمَمَ) minor occasional sexual lapse.

  • -- Indeed the Sustainer Lord of you the Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] is vastly generous in overlooking and forgiving --.

 

The information given about the conduct of people, who otherwise behave moderately and decently, includes a minor lapse. No negative remarks, or censure is mentioned. It can raise question in the mind of the addressee, elevated Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam]. The next sentence is explanatory - justificatory or parenthetic for the exception of preceding lapse (الجملة تعليلية لاستثناء اللّمم).

The address to the elevated Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] in the justificatory - parenthetic sentence is interrupted using rhetorical device apostrophe turning the address to the humanity, by using second person plural pronouns.

  • He the Exalted absolutely knows you people ever since He produced you people from the Earth.

  • And He the Exalted is fully aware when you people were foetuses self gratifying within the bellies of your mothers. 
  • Therefore, you people should not claim sanctification and exaltation for your personalities.

Is it not strange that in the context of minor illicit sexual lapse, Allah the Exalted is mentioning about our trait while we were: foetuses? The following prepositional phrase coupled with two successive possessive phrases relates to the elided adjective - specification for the preceding indefinite noun in absolute state, meaning "foetuses ----- (some adjective) within the bellies of your respective mothers". The elided trait of foetuses can certainly not that which could be admired and sanctified as is evident from the injunction in the following dependent clause: . This dependent clause begins with the conjunction Particle:  فَ  which shows cause and effect. Since He the Exalted knows us very well ever since the days we were unborn, therefore, we are advised "you people should not attribute holy status, sanctification to your personalities." It thus confirms that its mention is to something of negative import related to the period of life as foetuses.

The verbal sentence: comprises of Verb: Imperfect; Transitive; Second Person; Plural; Masculine; Mood: Jussive evident by elision of نَ [Form-II] by Prohibitive Particle; [و] Subject Pronoun,  nominative state; مصدر-تَزْكِيَةٌ Verbal Noun. Form-II verb is  Attributive-Estimative/Declarative: This verb makes an attribution to object; to consider someone or something to be something.

A research paper named ‘In-Utero Gratification Behaviour in Male Fetus’, is in circulation on internet which states:

Fetal masturbation has been described previously once in-utero but only as a description of an action. Masturbation is well described in infancy and early childhood when they discover that this practice can give them pleasure. Our letter proves that it could begin in-utero as a ‘gratification behaviour’. We have shown this pattern clearly using a volumetric rendering mode study.

And the ultrasound images show:

‘Fetal gratification behaviour’ in a fetus in the 32nd week of gestation of a normal gestation. The fetus was grasping his tumescent penis with his hand and did it with such force that it shows us clearly the glans. Initially, the glans was covered by the foreskin and gradually the foreskin is retracted as we show in images the total sequence of the hand movements grasping the penis.

 

 

Though the validity of this research is being challenged and interpreted differently, the information given and discussed above supports the authenticity of the research and sonographic images that the hands are fondling with the penis for self gratification.

Allah the Exalted knows us from the days we might have been doing it as self gratification as foetuses in the bellies of our respective mothers, therefore, there is nothing extra ordinary strange thing in the information about the occasional lapses of self gratification by men of moderate and decent conduct, thereby we are prohibited to attribute to ourselves holiness - brag piousness.