Ḥurmat Al-Muṣāharah (Incest) When There is Doubt

Answered by 

Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt

Question:

If a man’s mother was rubbing medicine on his arm and he was very scared of ḥurmat al-musāhra (incest) taking place. He made sure to control himself but felt a feeling in his private part. He is not sure if there was slight erection or not. Is Ḥurmat Al-Muṣāharah established? What is the ḤHHanafī ruling?

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.

Ḥurmat Al-Muṣāharah incest is not established in the described scenario since there is doubt regarding whether the touch was accompanied by sexual temptation and lust. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 3, Page 33, Dār Al-Fikr[1], Al-Qawāid Al-Fiqhīyyah, Page 15, Dār Al-Tirmidhī[2])

Ḥurmat Al-Muṣāharah is incest which is based on confirmed sexual temptations and lustful advances. – (See: Al-Bināyah Sharḥ Al-Hidāyah, Vol 4, Page 45, Dār Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmīyyah)[3]

Only Allāh knows best.


[1] وَالْعِبْرَةُ لِلشَّهْوَةِ عِنْدَ الْمَسِّ وَالنَّظَرِ لَا بَعْدَهُمَا وَحَدُّهَا فِيهِمَا تَحَرُّكُ آلَتِهِ أَوْ زِيَادَتُهُ بِهِ يُفْتَى – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين ج٣ /ص ٣٣ دار الفكر 

[2] اليقين لا يزول بالشك

[3] الرجعة والمصاهرة يعني أنهما يثبتان بالقبلة بالشهوة وكذا بالمس وإن لم ينزل – كتاب البناية شرح الهداية ج٤/ ص٤٥ دار الكتب العلمية

This answer was collected from Mathabah.org. It’s an Islamic educational institute based in Canada. The questions are generally answered by Sheikh Yusuf Badat and Sheikh Omar Subedar.

Tags: erection, fiqh

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