format_quote Originally Posted by
daveyats
wow, so its ok to lust when you're in heaven but not here on earth?
(Smile) Actually, Daveyats, lust is ok here on Earth, too, just within the limits of marriage. For Muslims, sexuality is not “dirty” or “debased”. It's a healthyl part of who we are. God made us this way.
Furthermore, sexual activity is considered an act of worship! Consider the following:
(sadaqah is often translated as “charity”, but this is a bit limiting, I find. I would say that a better translation might be: something good that you do for the sake of God)
Muslim Book 5, # 2198 (translation I found on the site of 40hadithnawawi dot com (sorry, I can't post links)
"O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken away all the rewards. They observe the prayer as we do, and they keep the fasts as we do, and they give sadaqah (charity) from their surplus riches." Upon this he (the Prophet) said: "Has Allah not prescribed for you (a course) by following which you can also do sadaqah? Verily in every tasbih (i.e. saying Subhanallah) there is a sadaqah, every takbir (i.e. saying Allahu Akbar) is a sadaqah, every tahmid (i.e. saying Alhamdulillah) is a sadaqah, every tahlil (i.e. saying Lailahaillallah) is a sadaqah, enjoining of good is a sadaqah, forbidding of evil is a sadaqah, and
having sexual intercourse with your wife is a sadaqah." They (the Companions) said: "OMessenger of Allah, is there reward for him who satisfies his sexual passion among us?" He said: "Tell me, if he were to devote it to something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to devote it to something lawful, he should have a reward.
Actually, the translation above is a bit misleading, I think. I would translate the italicized phrase as:
the union of your genitals (this is more accurate, I feel, and more inclusive of women's sexuality). It also doesn't say: is there reward for
him who satisfies
his sexual passion... It actually says something more like (sorry, it's a bit tricky to translate): Does our getting together in sexual passion...does this have good in it?
The difference between this life and the Next, is that the limits that God has imposed on us will no longer be operative. We will be truly free to do as we wish. If the ideal you pursue is sex with beautiful people, then that is what you can obtain. If you want a quiet cottage in the woods, then you can get that, too. If you want freedom from gossipy neighbours and go cycling down the street with your hair flying in the wind...go for it. If you want answers to all the questions that you have, He's promised you'll get those. Or if you want to gaze upon the Face of God... you may do that, too (“face”is a manner of speaking. God, of course, is not a human).
The form Paradise takes depends on you.