With our upcoming read in mind - Love, Inshallah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women, I think this question is ideal for one of our book 
discussion topics in October (27th and 28th – see website for details).
I know some people have reservations about this book. Some are uncomfortable about its anthology and others are surprised about the existence of such a book and curious about its content. Then there are those who are neutral and not sure what to think about such matters and a book of this nature. But what I think this book will do, is to open up discussions on a variety of taboo issues within Muslim communities, but is writing a book of this nature the way to go about it?
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Should Muslims have open discussion about LL, S, R and L? With in the correct context, yes. These topics are essential to our growth and development as human beings and we must know what is correct, incorrect, beneficial and not beneficial. According to some, if not all schools of thought it is haram to speak specifically about your own intimate relations. Of course if you were speaking to a counselor, doctor or someone who was enlisted to help you in a specific situation, that would be an exception. If you have done something that is considered a sin, you should never broadcast it because that just encourages others to do the same. Each person will have to consider their own school of thought and level of religious observance to decide what is correct for them. Personally (and I am by no means a scholar or expert), I think that discussing such topics for the purpose of educating and helping society is beneficial, within the limits of halal and haram, when tastefully done, otherwise it becomes gratuitous and is actually then harmful. Disclaimer: I have not read the book!
Posted by Marjorie | September 10, 2012, 3:47 pmI personally don’t necessarily see it as a problem discussing sex or sexually matters in the open. But I think the context is important and I do think that certain aspects of our lives should be kept private. So I guess we need to be selective about what we reveal in the open. On the other hand, I do think there is a lack of forums for Muslim women to discuss pressing and difficult or taboo issues. Often times there are issues we want to express openly and to discuss with others whether it be to seek advice or just to be listened to. After all, we are human.
So far I am impressed with the raw honesty of the stories in this book. These women have owned their stories, embraced it and now sharing it with the world.
My concern is, if we do discuss issues such as sex or our love lives in the open – how much is too much? What would be the appropriate forums? And what should these forums comprise of or look like? Are books of this nature one of the ways to go about defying stereotypes of Muslim women?
Posted by Zainab John | September 28, 2012, 2:35 pmThere are lot of issues in sex discussions, all depends on what you want to discuss.
Posted by Ann Hector | September 30, 2012, 5:07 pm