Question
I have inquired about this topic before but I think the only relevant answer I recieved is about encouraging the good and forbidding the evil. I understand this concept – it’s the reason why I’ve been inquiring about this issue – so that I can encourage the good and forbid the evil. But let me start by restating the problem – I know someone who sexually molests children and I would like to help him stop. What exactly does Islam say about this behavior and about how we can stop it. Please help me because I’ve searched for quite some time, without any receipt of a concrete answer.
Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful
As it goes without being said, child molestation is totally forbidden in Islam.
It is only permissible to perform lawful sexual activity with one’s spouse. Hence, it is unlawful to perform these activities with anybody else, and with a child it is utterly disgusting.
Your responsibility would be to explain and encourage this person to the best of your ability to abstain from such vile acts, and constantly pray that Allah give him the strength to stop. If he does not desist from this perversion even after advising him, then the only recourse would be to inform the relevant authorities of this behavior.
I hope this is the answer to your question. If there is something more specific about this case you would like to ask about then please mention it specifically.
Wassalam,
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf