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Islamic ethical teachings on sexual ethics: HSC Studies of Religion

Syllabus dot point

“Ethics: describe and explain Islamic ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics (this page: sexual ethics)”

14 min read

Quick answer

In Islam, marriage (nikah) is the proper and blessed context for sexuality: God made spouses "that you may find tranquillity in them" and placed "affection and mercy" between them (Qur'an 30:21); they are "clothing" for each other (2:187). The Prophet urged those able to marry (Bukhari 5066) and called intimacy with one's spouse a charity (Sahih Muslim 1006). Marriage requires consent (Bukhari 5136) and a mahr to the bride (4:4), and spouses must "live ... in kindness" (4:19); "the best of you are those who are best to your women" (Tirmidhi 1162). Zina (sex outside marriage) is forbidden: "Do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse" (17:32). Modesty (haya), "a part of faith" (Bukhari 9), applies to both men and women, who must lower their gaze and guard their chastity (24:30-31). Contraception within marriage is widely permitted on the basis of 'azl (Bukhari 5207). These teachings protect lineage and family, an aim of Sharia, and are applied with diversity across schools and communities.

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. The answer
  3. In one sentence
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  5. Exam-style questions
  6. Practice questions

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: marriage, consent, the rights and duties of spouses, modesty, the prohibition of unlawful sexual relations, and contemporary questions.

Islamic ethics flows from submission to Allah and is derived from the Qur'an, the Sunnah (recorded in the hadith), and the reasoning of scholars (ijma, consensus, and qiyas, analogy), which together form Sharia. Actions are classified from obligatory to forbidden. Treat Islam accurately and respectfully: there is a shared foundation in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and diversity of interpretation across the schools of law (madhhabs), Sunni and Shi'a, and communities.

The must-know spine

Qur'an (Saheeh International): 30:21 (tranquillity, affection and mercy); 2:187 (spouses as clothing); 4:1 (created from one soul); 4:3 (up to four wives only with justice, otherwise one); 4:4 (mahr "graciously"); 4:19 (live "in kindness"); 17:32 (do not approach zina); 23:5-6 (guarding chastity); 24:4 (four witnesses); 24:30-31 (lower the gaze; guard private parts; head coverings); 24:32 (marry the unmarried); 2:222 (menstruation). Hadith: Bukhari 5066 (young people should marry); Bukhari 5063 (the Prophet married; celibacy rejected); Bukhari 5136 (consent); Bukhari 5090 (choose a spouse for religion); Bukhari 9 (haya is part of faith); Bukhari 5207 ('azl); Muslim 1006 (intimacy as sadaqa); Tirmidhi 1162 (best to your women). Terms: nikah, mahr, wali, haya, zina, 'awrah, hijab, 'azl, maqasid al-sharia, hifz al-nasl.

The answer

Teaching 1: marriage as a sign of God and the place for sexuality

  • A sign of God. "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy" (Qur'an 30:21). Humanity was created "from one soul" and its mate (4:1).
  • Mutual protection. "They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them" (2:187): spouses protect, comfort and cover each other.
  • Marriage is encouraged. "Marry the unmarried among you" (24:32). The Prophet said: "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty ... and whoever is not able to marry, should fast" (Bukhari 5066).
  • No celibate ideal. When some companions vowed never to marry, the Prophet replied: "I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me" (Bukhari 5063). Islam has no monastic priesthood.
  • Intimacy is good. The Prophet taught that "in man's sexual intercourse (with his wife) there is a Sadaqa" (Sahih Muslim 1006): lawful intimacy is rewarded, like charity.

Teaching 2: consent, mahr and the rights of spouses

  • Consent. "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission" (Bukhari 5136). A forced marriage is not valid in Islamic teaching; in most Sunni schools a guardian (wali) also takes part in the contract of a first marriage.
  • Mahr. "Give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously" (4:4). The mahr belongs to the bride, not her family.
  • Kindness. "Live with them in kindness" (4:19); "The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character among them. And the best of you are those who are best to your women" (Tirmidhi 1162).
  • Choosing a spouse. "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman" (Bukhari 5090): faith and character come first.
  • Polygyny. The Qur'an permits a man up to four wives, but only if he can treat them justly: "if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one" (4:3). Many scholars and Muslim-majority countries restrict it, and it is not recognised under Australian law.

Teaching 3: the prohibition of zina

  • The command. "And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way" (17:32). Note "do not approach": Muslims are to avoid situations that lead towards zina, not only the act itself.
  • Chastity. Believers are those who "guard their private parts, except from their wives" (23:5-6).
  • Protecting reputations. Accusing a chaste woman without "four witnesses" is itself a serious offence (24:4), a strong safeguard against slander.
  • Purpose. Classical scholars list the protection of lineage and family (hifz al-nasl) among the aims (maqasid) of Sharia, which explains why sexual relations are confined to marriage.

Teaching 4: modesty (haya) for men and women

  • Part of faith. "Faith ... consists of more than sixty branches ... And Haya ... is a part of faith" (Bukhari 9).
  • Men first. "Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them" (24:30).
  • Women. "Tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests" (24:31).
  • Application. Modest dress for both sexes, covering the 'awrah (parts of the body to be covered); for many Muslim women the hijab; modest speech and behaviour between unrelated men and women. Interpretations of dress differ widely across communities, and many Muslim women describe the hijab as a personal expression of faith and identity.

Teaching 5: intimacy, purity and family planning

  • Menstruation. Sexual relations are avoided during menstruation: "keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure" (2:222).
  • Contraception. Jabir reported: "We used to practice coitus interruptus during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger" (Bukhari 5207). On this basis most scholars permit contraception within marriage with the mutual agreement of husband and wife, while generally opposing permanent sterilisation except for medical need.
  • Children. Children are a blessing and lineage matters; assisted reproduction is permitted only with the couple's own gametes within marriage (see Islamic bioethics).

Diversity and contemporary issues

Issue Mainstream teaching Diversity and debate
Sex before marriage Forbidden (zina, 17:32) Broad agreement
Consent to marriage Required (Bukhari 5136) Forced marriage condemned by scholars; also illegal in Australia
Polygyny Permitted only with justice (4:3) Restricted in many Muslim-majority countries; not recognised in Australian law
Contraception Generally permitted within marriage ('azl, Bukhari 5207) Views differ on permanent methods
Hijab Modesty for both sexes (24:30-31) Wide variation in interpretation and practice
Same-sex relationships Traditional scholarship prohibits same-sex sexual acts Some progressive Muslim voices argue for reinterpretation; mainstream scholars maintain the traditional view

Evaluating Islamic sexual ethics

  • Strengths. A positive view of sexuality within marriage; strong protection of the wife's consent, mahr and dignity; modesty required of men as well as women; a clear link between individual conduct and the good of the family and society.
  • Challenges. Living these teachings in a secular, sexualised culture; debates within Muslim communities about gender roles, dress and the application of traditional rulings; the gap between ideals (consent, kindness) and some cultural practices, which Muslim scholars and organisations themselves criticise.
  • Diversity. Sunni and Shi'a schools and communities apply the teachings differently; for example, Shi'a (Ja'fari) law recognises temporary marriage (mut'ah), which Sunni schools reject.
Answering "Explain TWO ethical teachings relevant to sexual ethics" (5 marks)

Step 1: Choose two distinct teachings

Marriage (nikah) as the proper place for sexuality and modesty (haya) with the prohibition of zina; or marriage and consent and kindness between spouses.

Step 2: Source each from the Qur'an and hadith

Qur'an 30:21, 2:187 and Bukhari 5066; Qur'an 17:32, 24:30-31 and Bukhari 9.

Step 3: Explain how each guides Muslims

Marrying and valuing intimacy within marriage; modest dress and conduct for men and women, fidelity.

Step 4: Acknowledge diversity in one sentence

Interpretations of dress and some rulings vary between schools and communities.

Common traps
Presenting modesty as applying only to women
Qur'an 24:30 addresses believing men first.
Treating Islam as negative about sexuality
Intimacy within marriage is good and even rewarded (Sahih Muslim 1006).
Ignoring consent and the wife's rights
Bukhari 5136, the mahr (4:4) and "live with them in kindness" (4:19) are central.
Naming no sources
Cite surah and ayah, and hadith collection and number.
Treating Islamic teaching as monolithic
Acknowledge variation between madhhabs, Sunni and Shi'a, and communities.

In one sentence

Islamic sexual ethics, grounded in the Qur'an and Sunnah and applied through Sharia, teaches that sexuality belongs within marriage, a sign of God marked by "affection and mercy" (30:21) and requiring consent, mahr and kindness, while zina is forbidden (17:32) and modesty (haya) is required of men and women alike (24:30-31), to protect the dignity of the person and the family.

Try this

Q1. Outline the Islamic teaching on consent in marriage. (2 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Consent of the bride is required (Bukhari 5136), with the role of the mahr or wali as a supporting detail.

Q2. Explain how the teaching of haya guides Muslim men and women. (4 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Haya as part of faith (Bukhari 9); lowering the gaze for men and women (24:30-31); dress and conduct; diversity of practice.

Q3. Explain TWO Islamic ethical teachings relevant to sexual ethics. (5 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Two distinct teachings, each with Qur'an or hadith references, explained and applied.

Exam-style questions

Questions in the style of NESA exam questions on this dot point, each with a worked answer. They are written by ExamExplained unless tagged "Past paper"; the year shows the paper a question is modelled on.

2025 HSCPast paper5 marks
Explain TWO ethical teachings relevant to ONE of the following areas: Bioethics, Environmental ethics, Sexual ethics.
Show worked answer →
Criteria (NESA 2025 marking guidelines, SoR I Q15(b), SoR II Q26(b))
5 marks: a thorough explanation of TWO ethical teachings relevant to the chosen area, integrating relevant and accurate terminology. 4: sound. 3: explanation of TWO. 2: description of at least ONE. 1: statements about Islam. (NESA's sample answer chose environmental ethics, with mizan and khalifa.)
A 5-mark answer on sexual ethics
Teaching 1: marriage (nikah) as the proper place for sexuality
Marriage is a sign of God: "He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy" (Qur'an 30:21). The Prophet urged: "Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty" (Bukhari 5066). Intimacy within marriage is good, even rewarded: "in man's sexual intercourse (with his wife) there is a Sadaqa" (Sahih Muslim 1006).
Teaching 2: the prohibition of zina and the duty of modesty (haya)
"Do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way" (17:32). Both men and women are told to lower their gaze and guard their private parts (24:30-31), and "Haya is a part of faith" (Bukhari 9). This guides Muslims in dress, behaviour between the sexes and fidelity in marriage.

Source: NESA, 2025 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2024 HSCPast paper7 marks
(a) (i) Outline ONE ethical teaching in Islam. (2 marks) (ii) Explain how the teaching outlined in part (a) (i) is reflected in ONE of the following areas within the religious tradition of Islam: Bioethics, Environmental ethics, Sexual ethics. (5 marks)
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2024 marking guidelines, SoR I Q15(a), SoR II Q26(a)). (i) 2 marks: outlines ONE ethical teaching in Islam. (ii) 5 marks: a detailed and accurate explanation of how the teaching is reflected within Islam in the chosen area, integrating relevant and accurate terminology.

(i) Outline. Haya (modesty): an inner sense of dignity and shame before wrongdoing that the Prophet called "a part of faith" (Bukhari 9), expressed in speech, dress and conduct by both men and women.

(ii) Reflected in sexual ethics.

  1. The gaze. "Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts" (24:30); the same is asked of believing women (24:31).
  2. Dress. Women are told to "wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests" (24:31), the basis for the hijab, which Muslim women observe in diverse ways; men also dress modestly.
  3. Conduct. Modesty shapes interaction between unrelated men and women and keeps sexual intimacy within marriage (17:32; 23:5-6).
  4. Marriage. Haya continues in marriage as respect and privacy; spouses are "clothing" for each other (2:187).

Source: NESA, 2024 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2023 HSCPast paper5 marks
Serve Allah and do good. Qur'an 4:36. With reference to the stimulus, explain how ONE ethical teaching in Islam is applied in order to encourage adherents to do good. In your answer, refer to ONE of the following: bioethics, environmental ethics, sexual ethics.
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Criteria (NESA 2023 marking guidelines, SoR I Q15(a), SoR II Q26(a)). 5 marks: an accurate and detailed explanation of how ONE ethical teaching in Islam encourages adherents to "do good", with reference to the chosen area; integrates the stimulus with clear examples; clear, accurate terminology. 4: accurate. 3: explanation. 2: general statements. 1: statements about Islam.

Plan using kindness and justice in marriage.

  1. Teaching. "Live with them in kindness" (Qur'an 4:19); "the best of you are those who are best to your women" (Tirmidhi 1162).
  2. Stimulus. "Serve Allah and do good": in Islam, faithful and kind conduct in marriage is itself worship, since even intimacy with one's spouse is "sadaqa" (Sahih Muslim 1006).
  3. Application. Marrying with the woman's consent (Bukhari 5136), giving the mahr "graciously" (4:4), fidelity, and treating one's spouse with "affection and mercy" (30:21).
  4. Effect. Sexual ethics becomes a way of serving Allah by doing good to one's spouse and family.

Source: NESA, 2023 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2022 HSCPast paper3 marks
Describe ONE ethical teaching in Islam. In your answer, refer to ONE of the following: Bioethics, Environmental ethics, Sexual ethics.
Show worked answer →

Choose Sexual ethics. For 3 marks, name the teaching, describe it, and anchor it in an Islamic source.

Teaching: sexual relations are permitted only within marriage (nikah), with modesty and fidelity required.

Describe it: Islam views marriage as the proper context for sexual relations and family, prohibits zina (unlawful sex) and adultery, and calls for modesty in dress and conduct for both men and women.

Source it: "Do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse" (Qur'an 17:32); believing men and women are told to lower their gaze and guard their private parts (24:30-31). A response naming the marriage framework, describing modesty and fidelity, and citing a source earns full marks.

Source: NESA, 2022 HSC Studies of Religion examination.

2021 HSCPast paper6 marks
How has ONE ethical teaching within Islam influenced the lives of adherents? In your answer, refer to ONE of the following: Bioethics, Environmental ethics, Sexual ethics.
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For 6 marks, choose Sexual ethics, state the teaching, and show how it influences adherents' lives day to day, grounded in the sources.

Teaching: sexual relations belong within marriage (nikah). The Qur'an forbids zina (17:32) and calls for modesty (haya) and fidelity.

Influence on adherents' lives.

  1. Marriage and family. Adherents are encouraged to marry (24:32; Bukhari 5066), and the family is seen as the foundation of society; this shapes courtship, the marriage contract (with consent and mahr) and family life.
  2. Modesty. Teachings on dress and conduct (for example the hijab and lowering the gaze, Qur'an 24:30-31) influence daily behaviour and interaction.
  3. Fidelity. Adultery is gravely prohibited, shaping faithfulness within marriage.

For full marks, keep linking the teaching to concrete effects on how Muslims live.

Source: NESA, 2021 HSC Studies of Religion examination.

Practice questions

Original practice questions graded from foundation to exam level, each with a full worked solution. Try them before revealing the solution.

foundation3 marks
Outline the Islamic teaching on marriage. (Original)
Show worked solution →

Islam regards marriage (nikah) as a sign of God and the proper place for sexual relationships: God created spouses "that you may find tranquillity in them" and placed "affection and mercy" between them (Qur'an 30:21). Marriage is encouraged (24:32), requires the consent of both parties (Bukhari 5136) and a mahr given to the bride (4:4), and spouses must "live ... in kindness" (4:19).

Marking: 1 for marriage as the context for sexuality, 1 for a source, 1 for consent, mahr or kindness.

core5 marks
Explain how the Islamic teaching of haya (modesty) guides adherents. (Original)
Show worked solution →
Teaching
Haya is modesty and a sense of dignity before God and others; "Haya is a part of faith" (Bukhari 9).
For both sexes
Believing men are told to "reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts" (24:30); believing women likewise (24:31). Modesty is not only a women's duty.
Dress
24:31 asks women to draw their head coverings over their chests; many Muslim women wear the hijab, though practice and interpretation vary. Men also dress modestly.
Conduct
Haya shapes speech and interaction between unrelated men and women and supports the prohibition of zina (17:32).
Purpose
Scholars link it to the protection of lineage and family, one of the aims (maqasid) of Sharia.

Marking (Original): 5 for an accurate teaching, sources for men and women, applications to dress and conduct, and its purpose.

exam7 marks
Evaluate how effectively Islamic sexual ethics guide Muslims in contemporary Australia. (Original)
Show worked solution →
Clear guidance
The Qur'an and Sunnah give clear teachings: marriage as the place for sexuality (30:21; Bukhari 5066), consent (Bukhari 5136), mahr (4:4), kindness (4:19; Tirmidhi 1162), modesty for men and women (24:30-31) and the prohibition of zina (17:32).
Adapting to Australia
Muslims (3.2% of Australians at the 2021 Census) register marriages under Australian law alongside the nikah; contraception within marriage is widely accepted on the basis of 'azl (Bukhari 5207); community organisations and imams offer marriage preparation.
Challenges
A highly sexualised popular culture, dating norms, and debates about the hijab test the teachings; within Muslim communities there are debates about polygyny (permitted only with justice, 4:3, and not recognised in Australian law), gender roles and same-sex relationships, where mainstream scholarship maintains the traditional prohibition.
Judgement
The teachings give clear, well-sourced guidance that many Muslims find protective of dignity and family, but applying them requires interpretation and negotiation with Australian law and culture, which produces diversity of practice.

Marking (Original): 7 for a supported judgement, accurate sources, contemporary Australian context and recognition of diversity.

Practise this

Sources & how we know this

Based on the official NESA syllabus. Not yet individually reviewed by a person; always check NESA and your school's materials for current rules.

ExamExplained