Describe and explain the ethical teachings of Islam on sexual ethics, with reference to the principal beliefs and sacred texts of the tradition

What this dot point is asking

NESA wants you to describe and explain the ethical teachings of a tradition in ONE area (bioethics, environmental ethics or sexual ethics) grounded in its principal beliefs and sacred texts. This page covers Islamic sexual ethics. Treat Islam accurately and respectfully, recognise diversity of interpretation, and show how core beliefs and sources generate ethical guidance. This is the ethics component of the Islam depth study, examined in both Studies of Religion I and II.

The answer

How Islamic ethics works

Islamic ethics flows from submission to the will of God. Conduct is guided by the Qur'an (the word of God), the Sunnah (the example of the Prophet recorded in hadith), and Sharia, the path of Islamic law derived from these sources by scholars. Actions are classified along a scale from obligatory to forbidden, and the goal is to live in accordance with God's guidance.

Marriage and family

Islam regards marriage (nikah) as the proper context for sexual relationships and as a foundation of family and society. Marriage is seen as a means of companionship, mutual support and the raising of children, and is encouraged for those able to enter it. Sexual intimacy within marriage is viewed positively as a good gift of God, not merely tolerated.

Modesty and chastity

The Qur'an and the Sunnah teach modesty (haya) in dress, speech and conduct for both men and women. Chastity outside marriage is required, and relationships are to be ordered toward marriage rather than casual encounter. Modesty is understood as protecting the dignity of the person and the integrity of the family.

Fidelity and the prohibition of adultery

Faithfulness within marriage is a strong obligation, and adultery (zina) is forbidden in the Qur'an as a serious wrong that harms individuals, families and society. The protection of lineage and family is one of the recognised aims of Sharia, which frames the seriousness of these teachings.

How sacred texts and Sharia guide adherents

The Qur'an addresses marriage, modesty, fidelity and the prohibition of adultery directly, providing the foundational guidance. The Sunnah of the Prophet models married life and the treatment of spouses, and is preserved in the hadith (to which Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a major contributor). Scholars derive detailed rulings through Sharia, applying the sources to particular questions. There is genuine diversity of interpretation across communities and schools, so respectful treatment recognises that teachings are understood and applied in varied ways while sharing a common foundation in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.