Sexual Ethics in Islam and in the Western World (2011)

Sexual Ethics in Islam and in the Western World by Ayatollah Murtada Mutahhari is a compilation of articles published in Maktab-e-Islam, the leading religious journal in pre-revolutionary Iran. They were translated into English by Khurshid Ali and published by the Islamic Centre of England in 2011. The book is extremely short and concise, at only 67 pages and 7 chapters plus an Introduction by S. Khalil Toussi. I will share a brief description of the author, provided by Toussi, before mentioning the key arguments presented in the book. 

Mutahhari, considered a reformist of his time, was born in 1919 to a clerical family in a village near the city of Mashhad. He began basic Islamic training in Mashhad and later went to Qom for advanced education in the Islamic sciences, where he stayed for fifteen years. He attended lectures by Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini on Mulla Sadra's philosophy, mysticism, ethics, and principles of jurisprudence amongst many other disciplines. He was also involved in socio-political activities and his theological writings aimed to debunk Marxism and atheism, which were influencing Iranian intellectuals of the time. He was assassinated in 1979. 

Mutahhari compares former Western concepts of sexuality, which were strongly influenced by a Christian culture, to contemporary thought and modern approaches to sexuality (i.e. a more libertarian approach). These offer two opposing approaches to sexuality. The Christian-influenced approach glorifies celibacy over sexual activity (because sexual activity is base), while maintaining that marriage and sex are necessary for reasons of pro-creation. The contemporary Western approach to  sexuality is one of fulfilling one's desires to the utmost and is greatly hedonistic and indulgent, and often associated with freeing oneself from the chains of institutions like marriage or concepts like chastity. 

Mutahhari notes the influence of Western thought on Muslim communities, since there has been an exchange of culture and ideas between Islamic thinkers and Western philosophers for centuries. Consequently, he describes in which ways Islamic thought and Western thoughts on sexuality are distinct. One way in which he does this is by underlying the importance of marriage in Islam and the goodness that lies in engaging in sexual relations. This is supported by the practice of the majority of the Prophets, who had wives and this was not a hinderance to their worldly or spiritual success. He links the spiritual virtues of sexual activities to a wholesome way of living and is not merely a union required for procreation. He argues that Islam does not advocate self-denial nor does it condone lustful activity.

Mutahhari distinguishes between love and lust and consequently finds flaws in the arguments offered by the Western thinkers Bertrand Russell and Will Durant. He also briefly engages with some of Freud's thoughts on the subject. Mutahhari argues that the institution of marriage aims to nurture love rather than encourage lustful behaviour. 

I found this short book to be extremely insightful because it competently engages with Western thinkers as well as offers comparisons and reasoning that reflect the changing attitudes to sexuality as I've noticed them (as well as the trends that we have been taught) through my literary studies. Yes, it promotes Islamic values and marriage, but it also highlights what elements of Western thoughts Muslims are prone to being influenced by and how Islam relates to these matters. The collection of articles are informative and worthwhile read for those interested in comparing Western sexual ethics to those in Islam. 

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The Translator (1999)

The Translator by Leila Aboulela is one of my primary texts for my Masters thesis (in progress) so although I may discover more interesting interpretations and analysis through the course of my research, I thought I would share a quick review of the novel now. It was first published in 1999 but my edition is from 2008, published by Polygon. This was Aboulela's first novel and is 196 pages and 23 chapters long. I will explore some of the key themes of the novel as well as its socio-historical significance. I will also briefly discuss the choice of genre but firstly I will add the blurb of the novel. 

The Translator is a story about love, both human and divine. Sammar is a young Sudanese widow, working as an Arabic translator at a British university. Following the sudden death of her husband and estrangement from her young son, she drifts- grieving and isolated. Life takes a positive turn when she finds herself falling in love with Rae, a Scottish academic. To Sammar, he seems to come from another world and another culture, yet they are drawn to each other. 

As indicated above, this is a novel of love, loss and healing where faith plays a central role. Sammar marries her childhood sweetheart and first cousin, Tarig but after his death she has to renegotiate her notion of love and heal herself in order to be able to love again. Aboulela manages to write about the grieving process in a delicate and careful manner and illustrates some of the "extreme" decisions that may be taken in grief but also shows how invaluable a strong support network is, since her trauma meant that she was incapable of being a mother to her child. Slowly she reveals what she considers to be some of the underlying factors in love, such as gratitude, feeling understood, respected and safe. 

The relationship between the East and the West is a strong theme in the novel. Aboulela deals with the Orientalist tension, which is voiced via her colleague Yasmin, and attempts to remove the division between the two worlds by indicating a "crossing" or exchange of the two. While Yasmin is critical of Western academia, Sammar attempts to engage with it (via Rae) to deepen the understanding of Islam in the Western context. This is while Sammar herself negotiates her faith and its practise in the secular context of Aberdeen and the culture shock of enjoying practising her faith freely and openly in Sudan to the secret prayers in the UK. This theme highlights the central role of religion in a practising Muslim's everyday life, as opposed to it being a random disposable hobby. The importance of faith is highlighted again when Sammar is faced with the reality of her situation: that she loves a non-Muslim man, who she cannot marry unless he converts. This predicament is in many ways symbolic of the relationship between the East and the West and it challenges contemporary notions of romance and the romance narrative. 

In terms of the writing style itself, Aboulela writes in a largely linear chronology, making use of occasional flashbacks and memories to fill in gaps in the reader's knowledge. The novel is narrated with a slow and careful pace with a third person voice with the majority of the novel focalised from Sammar's perspective and occasionally from Rae's. In terms of genre, it parallels Jane Eyre and the nineteenth-century domestic novel in many ways, although Aboulela clearly adapts the story to suit the changed context and protagonists. 

This novel, having been published in 1999, illustrates the tense relationship the West has had with Islam from before a 9/11 era, which people often use as the benchmark of when islamophobia began. Although 9/11 may have led to increased discrimination towards Muslims, there is a deeper history behind hostility towards Muslims and it goes beyond simplistic conclusions of one or two terrorist attacks. This novel strongly implies the difficulties Muslims in the West have to face in order not to perpetuate imposed stereotypes and for how long these stereotypes have existed. 

Overall, this novel is a serious, calm and sombre reflection of the experience of a Muslim woman in Britain. The secular prejudice that is criticised in the novel, still exists in academia today, almost 20 years later, thus making it relevant to contemporary struggles. The Translator challenges Orientalist discourse but does not seek to create a divide between the East and the West but rather looks at positive exchange and a new approach to their relationship. It was a thoughtful novel that quietly dealt with deep social and personal issues. I personally found that the technological restrictions of the time illustrated the nature of patient perseverance and it added an extra charm to the relationship.  

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Have you read this novel or anything else by Leila Aboulela? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below or message me via instagram. 

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Seasons of Splendour (1985)

Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India was written by Madhur Jaffrey in 1985 but my edition was published in 1992 by Puffin Books. I found this book in my childhood bedroom while clearing it out and my recent study into Indian history and culture obviously made me keep and read it. This collection of short stories is 183 pages long (including the guide to pronunciations). It was a fascinating and enjoyable read and I'll review its structure, themes and my overall thoughts so you can consider having a read for yourself. 

Jaffrey structured these Indian short stories in the order of the Hindu calendar and more specifically followed the chronology of selected festivals throughout the year to head her chapters. Each chapter includes one or several short stories associated to the named festival. Because Jaffery herself was told many of these stories orally via her family members, she respects this oral tradition by including a comprehensive pronunciation guide at the end of the book. The 12 chapters are as follows: Introduction, A Special Birthday, Time For The Dead, Dussehra The Festival of Victory, The Day of The Wintery Full Moon, Karvachauth- The Little Clay Pot, Divali- Festival of Lights, Holi- Festival of Spring, A Day For Brothers, Nine Days' Festival and The Festival For Parvati. 

Since these stories are taken from Hindu mythology and scripture, they deal with both spiritual and worldly matters and their relationship. The themes are consequently linked to this worldly life and its spiritual significance, and so life, love, conflict, loss, family and death are amongst some of the topics of instruction. When matters of good and evil arise, I found the stories and characterisation of people to be more nuanced than most, although there is still the notion of good and bad we see that it is not always possible to come to a conclusion on the matter without looking beyond the surface. 

I was already familiar with some of these stories and festivals through my Religious Education classes at school and from watching lots of Indian dramas/ films but some of the festivals I didn't know the reason and stories behind and those I was familiar with were told with more detail and depth than what our brief school lessons taught. Jaffrey enhances the collection by connecting the festivals to her own childhood and family, which adds a valuable layer of how these festivals are celebrated and "lived" but also a glimpse into an Indian family's life along with its heritage. The book is nicely embellished by the black and white illustrations by Michael Foreman; they are detailed and add a visual dimension to the tales. 

Overall, this collection of short stories was a pleasure to read and I only wish there were more of them, which I am sure there are- but I may have to delve into the traditional Hindu texts to learn more. This would be a great book to read to young children (even for bedtime as the tales are not too long), or for them to read for themselves, but I also find that it is a valuable book for adults searching for a sneak peek into Indian cultural and religious heritage without going into academic study. It is engaging and informative and I believe that it makes a refreshing change from mainstream children's literature. 

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Have you read any interesting books about Hindu mythology and legend? Do you have any suggestions of some similar books? Do let me know in the comments below. 

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