Tuesday, January 17, 2006
THE "X-RATED" STORY IN THE GUARDIAN
The article is sort of interesting, but the most interesting part of it is the Guardian's imposition of an "X rating", saying that only those over 18 may click to the next website to read the whole thing.
The Guardian's Middle East editor, Brian Whitaker, has written us a fascinating dispatch about sex and Islam. The topic came up as a result of a religious debate in Egypt about whether it is acceptable to take your clothes off when you have sex. One scholar, an expert on Islamic law from al-Azhar university in Cairo, warned that being completely naked during intercourse invalidates a marriage, while others countered that "anything that can bring spouses closer to each other" should be permitted. Brian writes:
Unlike Christianity, which tends to be squeamish about sex, Islam has a long tradition of talking about it openly. Up to a point, this is much more healthy. While Catholic priests are enjoined to remain celibate, Muslim clerics are expected to marry and indulge heartily with their wives in the pleasures of the flesh. In many parts of the Muslim world, especially where folk are poor and uneducated, the local imam is the person many turn to for guidance on matters relating to sex and marriage.
Over the last few years, hundreds of Islamic "fatwa" websites have also sprung up on which clerics - often with uncertain qualifications - answer all manner of questions that have been sent to them by email, including questions about sex. Some of their answers about what "good Muslims" should or shouldn't do in bed are very explicit, so readers under 18 should stop here. While some of the advice is sensible, a lot of it is completely daft, so remaining readers over the age of 18 may wish to get a second opinion before putting it into practice.
If you're over the age of 18 and have read Brian's disclaimer, you may now proceed to read his full article.
Has hell frozen over?
