Child Molestation: Totally Forbidden and Must Be Stopped

September 4, 2010

Question

I have inquired about this topic before but I think the only relevant answer I recieved is about encouraging the good and forbidding the evil. I understand this concept – it’s the reason why I’ve been inquiring about this issue – so that I can encourage the good and forbid the evil. But let me start by restating the problem – I know someone who sexually molests children and I would like to help him stop. What exactly does Islam say about this behavior and about how we can stop it. Please help me because I’ve searched for quite some time, without any receipt of a concrete answer.

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful

As it goes without being said, child molestation is totally forbidden in Islam.

It is only permissible to perform lawful sexual activity with one’s spouse. Hence, it is unlawful to perform these activities with anybody else, and with a child it is utterly disgusting.

Your responsibility would be to explain and encourage this person to the best of your ability to abstain from such vile acts, and constantly pray that Allah give him the strength to stop. If he does not desist from this perversion even after advising him, then the only recourse would be to inform the relevant authorities of this behavior.

I hope this is the answer to your question. If there is something more specific about this case you would like to ask about then please mention it specifically.

Wassalam,
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

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Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Dr. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera is a British Muslim scholar educated in both the Islamic and Western traditions. He memorised the Qur’an by heart and graduated from the Darul Uloom seminary Bury, UK, and later earned a specialised licence to issue fatwa (legal responses) at Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur, India. He earned his BA from the University of Johannesburg and completed his MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He holds an honorary fellowship at The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman has the unique experience of serving as an imam in Muslim communities on both sides of the Atlantic, eight years in Southern California and over five in the great city of London—and his continued work as an international speaker and lecturer enables him to address and offer pertinent advice on current challenges that face Muslims in the West. He is the founder of Whitethread Institute, a post-graduate insititute for Islamic scholars. He is an avid traveller and continues to teach hadith and work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press (www.whitethreadpress.com). Many of his lectures are available on www.zamzamacademy.com and his courses through Rayyan Institute (www.rayyaninstitute.com).