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Ruling On Reading The Second Sex
Assalamualaikum
“My question is: Is it permissible to read this type of book, ‘The Second Sex’ written by Simone de Beauvoir?”
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15 Replies
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Ruling On Reading The Second Sex
updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago
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15
Replies
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Wa Alaikum Assalam,Yes, it is permissible to read a book like The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir. In Islam, reading and engaging with ideas — even those that challenge religious or social norms — is not prohibited in itself. Exposure to different philosophies does not equal endorsement. What matters is intention and intellectual stability. If you are reading to understand, analyze, or broaden your perspective, there is nothing sinful about that.
As a general guideline, Islamic scholarship distinguishes between:
• Material that is purely obscene and meant to arouse desires — this should be avoided.
• Content that directly promotes disbelief with the intention of mocking or attacking faith — this requires caution and a strong grounding in one’s own beliefs.
The key principle is that reading something does not automatically mean you accept it. Muslims historically engaged with Greek philosophy, other religions, and opposing viewpoints without considering mere exposure sinful.
So you may read such a book. Just maintain awareness, reflect critically, and measure ideas against your own moral and religious framework. If you ever feel that something is shaking your foundations in a confusing way rather than helping you think clearly, that’s when it’s wise to pause and seek guidance. -
The purpose of this book is not to promote obscenity. It is a philosophical and feminist analysis that discusses the social, historical, and sexual status of women.
However, it includes open academic discussions on sexuality, marriage, motherhood, and physical relationships. These discussions are presented from an intellectual and analytical perspective, not to arouse desire or provoke lust.
It is not a pornographic or deliberately obscene book. That said, some sections discuss sexual topics in detail, which may feel uncomfortable for certain readers.
In my opinion, it is not suitable for teenagers and should be read at a more mature age.-
Yes, I agree — it really depends on the person.
The issue is not simply the presence of sexual discussions in a book. As you mentioned, if they are presented academically and analytically, that is very different from content meant to arouse desire. We study reproduction and sexuality in biology classes too, and it doesn’t automatically lead to anything inappropriate. Context and mindset matter.
Some teenagers today are already exposed to far more explicit material online. So sometimes it’s not just about age, but about maturity, self-control, and how the reader processes information. Age can be a factor, but mindset and emotional stability matter more.
Being aware of topics related to sexuality is not inherently wrong. It becomes problematic when it is approached without dignity, respect, or boundaries. These subjects should be handled thoughtfully and privately, not casually or for stimulation.
So if someone is reading such a book with a mature mindset, intellectual curiosity, and self-control, there is no issue. The key is intention, context, and personal readiness. -
I do not agree because obscenity is a sin in our religion, and that book discusses matters that a person is supposed to learn about only after marriage. Being exposed to such things earlier through the internet may be true, but if society becomes like a jungle, humans will not turn into animals because of it. I do not focus on what my peers are doing; I only consider what is right and what is wrong. Do you agree with me that the mentioned book should not be read at this time?
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I understand what you’re saying, and I respect your concern about obscenity. Islam does clearly warn against shamelessness and indecency. But I think it’s important to differentiate between obscenity and academic discussion.
A book that discusses sexuality in an intellectual, analytical way is not the same as something written to provoke desire. Topics related to marriage, relationships, and physical intimacy are part of human life. Islam itself does not say that a person must only learn about these things after marriage. Knowledge in itself is not sinful. What matters is the intention and the mindset with which it is approached.
Just like we study reproduction in biology without it becoming immoral, discussing such matters respectfully and thoughtfully does not automatically make something obscene. Knowing about these topics before marriage does not turn a person into something immoral. A person’s character and self-control determine how they act — not simply exposure to information.
At the same time, I do agree that not every book is suitable for everyone at every stage. It depends on the individual. If someone feels uncomfortable, distracted, or spiritually unsettled by such discussions, then it may be better for them not to read it right now. There is nothing wrong with recognizing one’s own limits.
So whether you should read it or not really depends on you — your maturity, your mindset, and whether you feel you can engage with it critically and calmly. But I personally think we shouldn’t label such books as inherently bad or something that must be avoided.
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I agree with you because some of my thoughts are similar to yours.But would it be better if we involve a scholar in this discussion?I am not debating; I just want to understand this discussion.I would also like to request Dr. Irfan Shehzad to share his guidance on this matter.@Irfan76
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Dr. Irfan Shezad, I request you to kindly provide guidance on this matter.@Irfan76.
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The Quran discusses the matter of sex, and it is not necessary to read it after marriage.
Any book can be read unless it is solely to promote obscenity.
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Thank you very much for replying.I would like to clarify one thing. My brother did not use to listen to songs before; that is, he did not listen to vulgar songs. After marriage, I told him that these songs are permissible. In response, he said that yes, they are permissible after marriage, and another person also supported his view.
So what is your opinion about this? -
Vulgar songs should always be avoided, while romantic songs are allowed, no matter one is married or not.
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“I have read about songs and music so far; this is something new, but it fully meets the test of reason. Thank you so much for replying.”
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“I am not able to differentiate between the two. Is the one in which physical interaction is mentioned also included in the romantic category?”
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This is what the cultural and poetic norms determine. Develop a good taste for music, poetry and art and then decide.
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“These are rules, rules are rules. My personal taste does not decide what is halal and what is haram.”That is, even if someone’s taste or cultural preference for music, poetry, or art is good, it does not mean that everything is permissible in Islam. The determination of what is halal and haram is made solely according to the rules of Shariah and knowledge, not personal preference.
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Shariah did not list all the haram. Most of them are left to human nature. It is not personal preference, human nature as a whole that determines what is haram, for example, the Quran does not guide us on what insects are haram.
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