Sexual Ethics and Islam

Feminist Reflections on Qur'an, Hadith, and Jurisprudence

Stoning. Slavery. Honour killings. Homosexuality. In the context of Islam, these topics are frequently discussed but little understood. When debated, such emotive issues often spark heated argument rather than reasoned deliberation. In this lucid and carefully constructed volume, feminist academic Kecia Ali examines classical Muslim texts and tries to evaluate whether a just system of sexual ethics is possible within an Islamic framework. Seeking to avoid polemical argument, Ali explores key themes such as consent and control, which are crucial to any understanding of either traditional Islamic sexual ethics or the possibilities for progressive transformation in these ideals. Suitable for students and the interested reader alike, Sexual Ethics in Islam is an essential tool for understanding modern Islam in today's increasingly sexualised world.

Whether exploring the thorny issues of wives’ sexual duties, divorce, homosexuality, or sex outside marriage, discussions of sexual ethics and Islam often spark heated conflict rather than reasoned argument.