Sexual Assault

QUESTION:

What is the Islamic ruling on rape and sexual harassment, and what rights and support does Islam give to the victim?

ANSWER:

It is haraam in Islam. The rapist has committed adultery and the punishment of adultery will apply on him in a Shar’i court, it is also oppression. She can use any means necessary to ward him off when he is attempting to force himself on her. If in the process she kills him, it will not be considered as murder in a Shar’i court. In a country with no Shar’i courts, there are numerous Ahadeeth granting hope to the oppressed. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam says, “Indeed, Allah Ta’ala grants clemency to the oppressor, when He catches him (with punishment) he does not let him escape in the least.”

ثم رأيته في كراهية شرح الوهبانية ونصه ولو استكره رجل امرأة لها قتله وكذا الغلام فإن قتله فدمه هدر إذا لم يستطع منعه إلا بالقتل اه

)رد المحتار، ج٥ ,ص١٠٨(

و المراد انه لا يجب على الزاني المكرَه فلو زنى مكرَها بمتطاوعة وجب عليه الحد كما في حاشية الشلبي

)رد المحتار،ص٨٠،ج٦(

عن أبي موسى الاشعري رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

إنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظّالِمِ، حتّى إذا أخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ. قالَ: ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ﴿وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذا أَخَذَ الْقُرى وَهِيَ ظالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ﴾ [هود: ١٠٢].

صحيح البخاري (٤٦٨٦) و مسلم (٢٥٨٣) باختلاف يسير

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abrar Ahmad Motala

Date: 27 Ramadhaan 1447 / 17 March 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb