"Closer than a Garment" by Muhammad al-Jibaly

Author: Muhammad al-Jibaly
Title: "Closer than a Garment: Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah" (200 p.)
Publisher: Al-Kitab & As-Sunnah Publishing
Availability:
http://www.simplyislam.com/52931.html (£ 8.95)
http://onlineislamicstore.com/b6202.html ($ 11.95)

“This book is an attempt to brush away many of the deviant ideas regarding sexuality that have crept into the minds and homes of the Muslims, and to present sexuality or intimacy as a pure and beneficent element of a Muslim’s life.”

Adhering to the teachings of the Quran and the guidance of the Sunnah in all aspects of life is the primary responsibility of every Muslim. Nowadays, when Islam has to stand up against the invasion of the western culture, it is especially important to have the right knowledge for sorting though the chaos of information showered on us by newspapers, magazines, the Internet, cable TV and so on. As we witness around the world the decay of family values and the outright denial of any norms regarding the acceptable expressions of sexuality, it is the time to hold closer than ever before to the guidance of Allah.

In “Closer than a Garment: Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah,” Muhammad al-Jibaly presents the contemporary Muslim reader with Quran and Sunnah based information about the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of sexual life in Islam. Al-Jibaly feels that “propagating the true Dawah …is a duty every Muslim should cherish.” Thus, he defines his mission to be to correct beliefs and practices, to invite to the true Deen, to warn against deviant beliefs and practices, and to purify the Sunnah. Al-Jibaly also emphasizes the significance of liberating the Islamic thought and presenting the Islamic solution.

Al-Jibaly tackles the subject of marital intimacy from a practical perspective, taking advantage of his many years long experience in the field of marriage and counseling. His arguments are always accurately articulated and supported by proper references from the Quran and the Sunnah or by the Fatwas of famous Muslim scholars.

The book is divided into nine chapters. The first chapter “Human Sexuality” serves as an introduction to the subject of the book, providing the readers with scientific and empirical information on human sexuality (sexual characteristics, sexual development, psychology of sex, sexual dysfunctions, and sexually transmitted diseases). In the subsequent chapters, Al-Jibaly addresses the following topics from Islamic perspective: etiquettes and prohibited acts of intimacy, ritual bath (Ghusl), the Awrah, Zina and its consequences, perversions and aberrations, and birth control. In addition to references from the Quran and the Sunnah, the chapter on birth control contains also the rulings of such renown scholars as Al-Albani, Ibn Baz, Al-‘Uthaymin, and Al-Fawzan.

Al-Jibaly’s “Closer than a Garment” is the second book of “The Muslim Family” series, with the other three being “The Quest for Love & Mercy: Fiqh of Marriage & Wedding in Islam,” “The Fragile Vessels: Rights and Obligations between the Spouses in Islam,” and “The Precious Sprouts: Islamic Regulations for Newborns.”

Last but not least, you can be sure that Al-Jibaly’s “Closer than a Garment” will have the answers to your questions and will live up to your expectations.

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