ISLAMIC VIEW ON RAPE: In Arabic word, rape is called Al-Ightisaab. It’s also a form of Zina (fornication).

Rape is seen as abnormal in the common human sense. It’s the act of forcing someone for sexual intercourse or other sexual activity upon (someone) without their consent. The most time victim of rape is female while it’s possible for male to be raped.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ZINA (FORNICATION) AND IGHTISAAB (RAPE)

Zina (fornication) is an illegal/illicit intercourse, especially on the part of an unmarried person.

Adultery, is the illegal Sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse.

Rape is the act of forcing someone to illicit sexual intercourse without his/her consent.

While Fornication occurs in unmarried, Adultery in married Rape occured in both.

Fornication and Adultery do has the consent of the two parties while Rape occurs by force from a party on another party.

ISLAM: CAN A MAN BE RAPED?

It’s arguable debate over the years that can a man be raped? So much cases has been recorded on can a man be raped but the answer is yes! A case study is the story of prophet Yusuf (A.S) where his master(Mrs) try to have sex with him but Allah save guide him from this. Another case study is the happenings in some part of the world where ladies urged men for sex even against there will.

Although, there is no way it can open except by penetration from the man to the vagina of the lady. Which can almost tends to be a consent from the male side even against her will. For instance, a man who was robbed and forced to sex a lady robber may have no other choice than to do it, in this case, there is consent from the male side although against his wish which also amount to rape on the man side.

CAUSES OF RAPE.

1. Indecent Dressing: The Qur’an and Hadith of the prophet explained in details the dressing of a decent Muslim either male or female. In Suratul-A’araaf (Q7:26) Allah says: “O son of Adam (A.S) We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness:. that is the best! Such is among the signs of Allah, so that they may receive admmonition”. Its widely clear that Qur’an explained how a Muslim should dress by urging a decent dress. A Muslim lady is expected to cover all her body although, it’s permissible for her to leave her face and palms uncovered. Suratul Ahzaab(Q33:59) and Suratul Nuur (Q24:31) best explain the dressing of a believing women. While a Muslim man is expected to cover all his body as well but his dress must not up to his ankle.

While the above is put in place by the Qur’an and Hadith, it’s cogent to understand that any sort of clothes which against the provision is unislamic and most be avoided.

But in the modern world of today, where all sorts of evils are being perpertrated, illicit dressings (e.g mini skirt, tight clothes, spaghetti, show me your back, etc on female side while tight clothes, sagging, crazy jeans etc on male side ) turns to be the patterns of the day. All these clothes are gateway for rape. For instance, a guy whose urge for sex is high saw a lady that wear a transparent, short and tight dress, there is high probability for the guy to suppress his desire by raping the lady even at her life cost.

2. Flirty behavior: When one has indulged in bad acts, all sorts of evils acts becomes easier.

3. Walking alone: Walking alone in the street also can cause rape. That’s why Islam preaches that when a lady is traveling/walking she should walk with her “Mahram”. A Mahram therefore are of twelve categories as explained in (Q24:31). The main functions of the Mahram is to protect the lady as any evil can affect her so such person can protect her. But failure to comply may cause an attack on the lady which may also leads to rape.

In Islam, a mahram is a member of one’s family with whom marriage would be considered haram (illegal in Islam); from whom purdah, or concealment of the body with hijab, is not obligatory; and who may serve as a legal escort of a woman during journeys longer than three days.

–  Wikipedia

4. Indecent Relationship: Another causes of rape is indecent relationship. Indecent relationship is defined as any illegal relationship between opposite sex. The modern & common form of this is the Boyfriend, girlfriend stuff. It must be clearly stated that this kind of relationship is haraam in Islam and must be avoided by every meaning Muslim. While *Allah was discussing about Fornication in the Glorious Qur’an, He says “And do not come near to Fornication…..”(Q17:32) i.e in whatever form do not near it! Boyfriend and girlfriend matter is a gate to fornication and rape. A guy who has been willing to sex her illegal soulmate will to all extent do anything to persuade her and if it turns to be fruitless, he may go to the extent of raping her. So does in the case of female also.

5. Social media: Another major vices promoter in the modern world today, is the social media. Although the benefits of social media is incomparable but the vices also remain pompous.

Social media controls the ideas of the world. Nudes and illegal Sexual intercourse/relationship are posted to these medias without controlling, people who have been addicted to this site might wish to practice what they have being seeing.

6. Drinking: The prophet (S.A.W) says “The roots of all sins is Alcohol. So one of the causes of rape is drinking of alcohol either eccesively or not. A drunkard is open to any sort of vices as at this point he is prone to high sex urge.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO RAPE

To all diseases is a cure, therefore there are preventive measures explained by Islam. Some of the solution to rape therefore are:

1. Proper Islamic education: The first set of education for a proper upbringing is Islamic education. A well trained lady will know that visiting a guy alone at home is haraam while a guy also will know that allowing a girl to visit her alone is haraam. They will also deduct that other causes of rape which Islam has forbidden is to be avoided like improper dressing, walking without Mahram etc. Islamic education will teaches and explains this to the children.

2. Good Parenting care: The first school of a child is his/her mother (family). A good family will mostly produce a good offspring. Parents should take it as responsibility on their shoulder and that Allah made it compulsory on them to always guide and coach their offspring. A good Parenting care will also go a long way to avoid rape.

3. Proper dressing: Any sort of illicit dressings which is prohibited in Islam should also be prohibited. For instance, a transparent occur which reveals all the shapes of a lady might attract a guy to rape her.

4. Social media control: Since the social media is open to all, it’s the responsibility of the government to regulate the sites, what and where to be posted. But in a modern world which also advocates for illicits directly or indirectly, parents should endeavour to control their children’s internet activities. Starting from watching of T.V etc, all nudes or immoral series should be avoided. A child who watches all these sorts is open to rape.

5. Avoidance of illicit relationship: All sorts of haraam relationship should be completely avoided. When one is not ready fo marriage, one musn’t engraved oneself in illicit relationship.

6. Earlier marriage: One of the lasting solution to rape is early marriage. When a lady/guy is mature enough for marriage, all possible means should be channeled for him/her because he/she can wish to satisfy his/her sex urge in any means.

PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE IN ISLAM

Rape which is known as “IGHTISAAB” which can also mean to take forcefully what doesn’t belong to the prophet, especially, transgressing against the other.

Islam has a clear stances which states that this repugnant action is haram and Islam imposes a deterrent punishment on the one who commits it.

The scholars unanimously agreed that the punishment for rape the same with the punishment for fornication or adultery as the case may be; if the rapist is married, he is to be stone to death. If he is unmarried, he is to be given 100 laahes. Where’s, some scholars (like Imam Malik, Abu Haneefah etc and was also reported from Aliy(r.a)) were of the opinion that he must also pay the lady’s dowry and he is to be exiled (imprisoned) for a year.

Although, it most be noted some scholars were of this opinion but they don’t made paying of the dowry compulsory like Imam Shaafihi (r.a) – The punishment of stoning/lashes/exile is the punishment of Allah while the dowry to be paid is the right of the raped, though, the pain cannot be erased with the passage of time.

If the rape is accompanied with threat or use of weapons, then the person is a Muhãrib(one who wages war against Allah, His Prophet, His will and do cause mischief on the land). Then his punishment is that he should be killed or crucified or have one of his hand and leg cut off from opposite sides and be exiled from the land. “That is their disgrace in this world and for them is a great torment in the hereafter”.(Q5:33) So a judge is expected to choose out of the four punishment listed above.

In conclusion, rape is a two way traffic not one. It’s caused by the two sex not one so does that both sides receive the end means of it. Islam has placed down some mechanism that if we follow it, no single rape case will be left on the earth surface but human made law are reversed above divine laws.. Government, parents and religion societies also has a great way to go by educating people on the dangers of rape.