Reports of necrophilia in Pakistan and Afghanistan have raised questions about Islam's stance on the practice. While a hadith – a recorded tradition concerning the Prophet Muhammad's actions – describes him descending into the grave of a dead woman and lying with her, the words used could be interpreted to mean intercourse. All four of Sunni Islam's madhahib al-fiqh, or orthodox schools of jurisprudence – al-Hanafi, al-Hanbali, al-Maliki, and al-Shafi'i – implicitly permit necrophilia, though it is usually mentioned in the context of other subjects. Sheikh Abdul Bari Zamzami, a founding member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, issued a fatwa in 2011 permitting a husband to copulate with his dead wife. Sheikh Sabri Abdul Raeuf, a professor at the prestigious Al Azhar university in Egypt, stated in 2017 that Islamic law permits sex with a dead spouse, even though it is not favoured in Islam.

Not all Muslims condone or accept necrophilia, which is understandably repugnant to most people, regardless of their religion. However, the extent to which Islamic jurisprudence is based on old, sometimes ambiguous texts can legitimize actions that are unacceptable according to modern sensibilities. Such slavish adherence to old texts can provide a cover for deviants, and, in some cases, can encourage them towards Islam, since the holy book is so extensive and comprehensive that it can be used to justify or rationalize virtually anything.



PJ Media: What's Behind Reports of a 'Rampant Rise' of Necrophilia in Muslim Nations?

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