Islam, Christianity, Sex, Singleness and Slave Girls: 1-Minute Source Document Comparison
Similarities and Differences Between Islam and Christianity on Sex, Singleness and Much More!
This article seeks to compare the foundational source documents of Islam and Christianity on topics such as sex, marriage, and singleness, without attacking individuals or resorting to name-calling.
Covenant between a man, woman and God
In both Christianity and Islam, marriage is between a man and a woman and marriage is the rightful context for the practice of sex (Matthew 19:5-6, Surah 4:1). There are passages in both the Qur’an and the Bible that speak of men treating their wives well and warn against lust (Matt. 5:28; 1 Peter 3:7; Eph. 5:28-29; Surah 4:19, 24:30-31, 30:21).
Singleness
Jesus was not married. Jesus and Paul taught singleness is a gift enabling focus on God’s kingdom (1 Cor 7:7-8, 32-35; Matt 19:10-12). Conversely, a Muslim site explains “Islam is totally opposed to monasticism and celibacy”, including a quote from Muhammad that one who marries has guarded half of his religion and fulfilling sexual urges lawfully reduces distractions in spiritual pursuits.
Multiple wives
In Christianity marriage is limited between one man and one woman but this is not the case in Islam. In Surah 4:3, men are allowed up to four wives.
However, Muhammad was allowed more than this (Surah 33:50-52) according to Allah. In Bukhari 7:62:142, Muhammad would have sex with his nine wives in one night. Surah 2:223 speaks of wives as a place of cultivation or sowing of seed so a man can come to his place of cultivation however he wishes.
This is different from 1 Corinthians 7:4, where a man does not have authority over his own body but his wife does and vice versa, with the emphasis being on each person focusing on pleasing the other.
In Ephesians 5:28-29 men are called to love their wives as their own bodies. In Islam, however, a woman must leave the oven when called to have sex with her husband (Tirmidhi 1160).
Believing Muslim women, had skin greener than their clothes from their husbands beating them (Bukhari 5825), potentially in line with Surah 4:34 arguably permitting wife beating, with Muhammad also striking Aisha in the chest (Muslim 4:127).
Muhammad was also permitted by Allah to marry Zaynab, the wife of his adopted son Zayd after seeing her undressed in her chamber and admiring her when the wind blew (The History of al-Tabari, Surah 33:37).
Slave girls
In Christianity, sex outside of marriage is prohibited. Period. However, in Islam, Allah permits Muhammad to sleep with a female slave despite the jealousy of his wives Aisha and Hafsah (Nasai 3959). Sexual intercourse with those “whom your right hand possesses” or slave girls is acceptable outside of marriage (Surah 33:50; 23:5-7).
A woman’s marriage means nothing after she becomes a war captive (Muslim 3432). While missing their wives and having sex with slave girls, Muhammad’s soldiers were told it does not matter whether or not they ejaculate into slave girls (Muslim 3371).
For information why sex with slave girls outside of marriage is prohibited in the Bible, read Sex and Marriage in Islam Compared to Christianity and Slavery and the Bible: Your Comprehensive Guide.
Child brides
Muhammad, described as a great moral example in Islam (Surah 68:4) married Aisha when she was 6-7 years old and had sex with her when she was 9 while he was in his 50s (Bukhari 5134, 6130, Muslim 1422c).
At age 9, Aisha had her dolls with her as a little girl who had not reached puberty (Muslim 1422c).
The Bible is against the idea of marriage to prepubescent girls (Ezek. 16:7-8, 1 Cor. 7:1-5, Eph. 5:28-29).
Sex in heaven
Muslims can have motivation in avoiding succumbing to lust and alcohol by knowing ample sex and alcohol will be available in heaven.
In Sunan Ibn Majah 4337 we read of men having permanent erections and enjoying 72 pleasant vaginas in heaven. According to Surah 78:31-36, Muslim men can look forward to enjoying women’s big breasts and wine in heaven.
By contrast, in Christianity there will be no sexual relations in heaven (Matt. 22:30). In fact, the only wedding described in heaven is between Jesus and His metaphorical bride, the Church. To be part of the marriage supper of the Lamb one must trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Rev. 19:1-20).
Jesus came to save people from sexual sin and brokenness in Christianity and was sinless Himself (Luke 19:10; 2 Cor. 5:21).
