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How can one reconcile the religious texts that speak of the temptation of women and warn men against them, with the saying that a woman's desire for a man is equal to a man's desire for a woman?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Since women are naturally more provocative of instincts and desires, and men are more audacious than women, the religious texts have focused on warning men against the temptation of women. Adhering to religious guidelines like modesty prevents women from harm. Allah says: "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful." Al-Shanqeeti mentioned in his tafsir that lowering their cloaks indicates that they are free women, so they will not be harmed by transgressors. The issue of the strength of desire between men and women has been discussed since ancient times and has no relation to a man having multiple wives or the wife's obligation to answer her husband's call to bed; these matters have other reasons. One should be wary of the narrow-minded view that unjustly accuses Islam.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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