Reexamining the Ethical Criteria Related to the Normal amount of Sex with an Emphasis on the Principles of Sexual Behavior in Islam

Knowledge of sexual behavior has been developed to provide a behavioral pattern for human sexual relationship to control sexual behavior and make it purposeful. Accordingly, this knowledge examines the behavioral norms in sexual behavior. One of the important issues in this regard is the desirable amount of sex. In this respect, some studies have been conducted from different medical and psychological perspectives, but the ethical borderlines of a good relationship have not been examined from the perspective of Islam. The present study attempts to reexamine the ethical criteria related to the normal amount of sex with an emphasis on the principles of sexual behavior in Islam.

The present study is library-based analytical, conducted based on Islamic sources (Quranic verses and narrations from Imams and the Prophet). Considering the fact that the present study relies on the Quranic verses and narrations, a large number of original and old sources were examined, but in analyzing and classifying the collected information, the contemporary views as well as the method of interpreting the religious texts were considered. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

From the written documents and their analysis, four classes of narrations were found in relation to the topic under investigation. Based on their analysis, a number of ethical principles and codes were obtained and, then, the ethical borderlines for sexual relationship were explained.

Based on the ethical codes presented, a desirable sexual-emotional relationship between the partners is to be controlled by an ethical framework. Paying attention to the ethical borderlines of this relationship not only makes it a noble and virtuous practice, but helps to stabilize the family and the sexual relationship.