AIDS [Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome] is a fatal disease that weakens the resistance of the body against the invading germs, and makes it defenseless against all kinds of infections. As a result even an ordinary infection like Malaria sounds death knell for an AIDS patient.

AIDS infected patients, normally die within a few years time and the death is likely to be most horrific and painful. Until today, there is yet NO CURE in sight for this dreaded disease called Aids.

Sex is nature’s in born, biological urge that must find expression in mankind; as clearly seen from the following verse in the Qur’an:

“Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth (have sexual relations with your wives), when or how you will, and ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring.”(Holy Quran 2:223)

And the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) advised the young generation, saying:

“O Young people !Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps you to lower your gaze and guard your modesty (that is keeps you away from adultery).”

And that’s why Islam has simplified marriage to such an extent that it does not remain a hurdle or financial burden for parties intending conjugal relationship. But at the same time Islam not only forbids sex outside marriage but also effectively blocks all the possible channels leading to adultery and fornication. The commands pertaining to purdah, the gender based separation of spheres of activities and severe punishments to the guilty of immoral sex are few of the deterrents Islam prescribes as measures towards meeting that goal. Illegitimate sex is considered as one of most gravest sins and is condemned in no uncertain terms in all the ‘Holy Scriptures’. Because it shatters the social and moral fabric of the society and destroys the family system around which a society is built. The Holy Quran says:

“And come not near adultery. Verily it is an indecent (shameful ) act (sin) and evil way.”(Holy Quran 17:32)

And the Holy Quran strictly warns all those who are involved in any activity that in any way propagates nudity, obscenity, lewdness and sexual immoral practices in the society of grave consequences. Allah says:

"Verily those who desire (love to see) that the crime of adultery (immoral sexual practices) be propagated among the believers, will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter." [Holy Quran 24:19]

But today’s human being has transgressed all the limits, of decency and code of sexual conduct set by their Lord. The consequences in the form of high divorce rates, ‘broken families’, single mothers and AIDS are staring in our faces. It is a well-established fact that AIDS spreads mainly due to indiscriminate sex, homosexuality & drug abuse. And running away from these facts will not help us finding a solution to this problem. Rather it is high time that we reflect upon the following warning given in advance by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He said,

"Whenever sexual permissiveness spreads among the people, until it becomes declared, infections and fatal diseases, previously not found among their ancestors will spread among them."

Homosexuality and sexual perversion is not a new phenomenon to human society. Such was also the case of the people of the time of Prophet Lut (Lot - pbuh), who practised homosexuality and were warned by him; as described by the Holy Qur’an:

"And Remember Lut, when he said to his people - Do you commit the worst sin such as none proceeding you have committed among the mankind and jinn? Verily, you satisfy your lust on men instead of women! Nay but you are people transgressing beyond bounds."(Holy Quran 7:80-81)

This is because homosexuality is against nature, against common sense, against anatomy, against physiology, against logic, against aesthetics; and yet we find the Western media portraying homosexuality as “Freedom of Choice” as if it is an acceptable form of social behaviour? As for those homosexual men from among the nation of Prophet Lut (pbuh), the Qur’an says:

"Verily, they were a people given to evil and were the disobedient." (21:174)

And their punishment was ...

“And we (Allah) rained down on them a rain (of stones). And see what was the end of the sinners.”(Holy Quran 7:84)

People Beware! Do not let such an attitude develop in our society. Parents! Teachers! Social Workers! Concerned Citizens!!

Remember, it is now up to us to stop this degradation of social values. Prostitution, Pornographic literature/films and all other forms of immorality must be done away with, completely. The real danger is mainly to adolescents and teenagers in high schools, colleges or universities; who while away from homes are unaware of the dangers and experiment with sex. Then the only thing that will protect them from AIDS is their faith in Allah and a firm belief that all forms of illegal sexual satisfaction (outside marital bonds) are totally forbidden.

Those Muslims in the AIDS awareness programme should remember that unlike others whose slogan happens to be “SAFE SEX” (i.e. the compulsory use of the condom); our slogan would be “NO SEX OUTSIDE MARRIAGE” Research papers on AIDS, are in agreement that, the only sure way to avoid exposure to HIV is

To abstain from sexual intercourse entirely OR To have a mutually faithful relationship with an uninfected person. [Aids -Humanity’s Gravest Challenge by Dr. Pushpa Khurana, (1999) p.77]

CIRCUMCISION & AIDS:

Prof. Rogers Short & Dr. R Szabo two Melbourne University Scientists have announced that circumcision of all male babies is a must for prevention of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. The studies conducted in the “Aids-Belt” countries in African region show sharp differences in the prevalence of HIV infection from one area to another. In some areas the infection rates are as high as 25%, while in other areas as low as 1%, and the lower infection rates were clearly associated with the practice of male circumcision” (P: 15 TOI- 28-3-2000)

It will not be out of context to quote Dr. Advani of Tata Cancer Research Centre who, in an interview to The Times of India, has revealed the fact that the cases of vaginal cancer among Muslim women is negligible compared to non-Muslim women; which can be only explained by the fact that of Muslim males practice circumcision.”

So human being is always in need of guidance; and who other than their Lord, Allah can provide them guidance???