Ruling On Reading The Second Sex
I understand what you’re saying, and I respect your concern about obscenity. Islam does clearly warn against shamelessness and indecency. But I think it’s important to differentiate between obscenity and academic discussion. A book that discusses sexuality in an intellectual, analytical way is not the same as something written to provoke desire. Topics related to marriage, relationships, and physical intimacy are part of human life. Islam itself does not say that a person must only learn about these things after marriage. Knowledge in itself is not sinful. What matters is the intention and the mindset with which it is approached. Just like we study reproduction in biology without it becoming immoral, discussing such matters respectfully and thoughtfully does not automatically make something obscene. Knowing about these topics before marriage does not turn a person into something immoral. A person’s character and self-control determine how they act — not simply exposure to information. At the same time, I do agree that not every book is suitable for everyone at every stage. It depends on the individual. If someone feels uncomfortable, distracted, or spiritually unsettled by such discussions, then it may be better for them not to read it right now. There is nothing wrong with recognizing one’s own limits. So whether you should read it or not really depends on you — your maturity, your mindset, and whether you feel you can engage with it critically and calmly. But I personally think we shouldn’t label such books as inherently bad or something that must be avoided.