The Bible Contains Explicit Sexual Narratives and Morally Problematic Stories
The Bible Contains Explicit Sexual Narratives and Morally Problematic Stories
Critics of Islam often attack Islamic texts while ignoring the explicit sexual narratives, incest stories, prostitution imagery, and morally troubling passages found in the Bible itself. Many of these passages involve prophets, righteous figures, or ancestors of Jesus according to the Biblical genealogy.
This article documents a number of such passages directly from the Bible.
Quoting these passages does not mean Muslims enjoy vulgarity or obscenity. Rather, the purpose is to expose the double standard of critics who attack Islam over morality while ignoring the contents of their own scripture.
Amnon Rapes His Sister Tamar
After everyone leaves the room:
“He caught hold of her and said to her, ‘Come, lie with me, my sister.’”
Tamar begs him not to commit such wickedness, but:
“He would not listen to her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.”
After raping her:
“Then Amnon hated her exceedingly.”
This is one of the clearest rape narratives in the Bible involving the son of Prophet David عليه السلام according to Biblical tradition.
The Story of Oholah and Oholibah
The chapter describes two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, using explicit sexual language and imagery:
“Their flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and their emission is like the emission of horses.”
The chapter repeatedly discusses:
- prostitution,
- sexual lust,
- exposed nakedness,
- lovers,
- breasts,
- fornication,
- and graphic sexual imagery.
The language is so explicit that many Christians themselves are uncomfortable reading the chapter publicly in church.
“You Were Not Satisfied”
You multiplied your whoring also with the trading land of Chaldea, and even with this you were not satisfied.”
The chapter repeatedly uses prostitution imagery in explicit terms.
David and Bathsheba
“The woman was very beautiful to behold.”
He sends for her:
“And he lay with her.”
She later informs David that she became pregnant.
The broader Biblical narrative later describes David arranging the death of her husband Uriah.
In Islam, prophets are protected from major disgraceful sins such as adultery and deliberate murder schemes of this nature. The Biblical portrayal differs sharply from the Islamic understanding of prophetic integrity.
David and Abishag
“They sought for a beautiful young woman.”
Abishag lies beside him to keep him warm.
The Bible explicitly emphasizes her beauty and physical closeness.
Lot and His Daughters
“Let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him.”
Both daughters then sleep with him on consecutive nights and become pregnant by him.
In Islam, Prophet Lut عليه السلام is a prophet of Allah and is not accused of incest with his daughters.
Judah and Tamar
“Come now, let me come in unto thee.”
Tamar later becomes pregnant from him.
The chapter later identifies Perez and Zerah as the offspring of this union.
According to the genealogy in Matthew 1, these descendants are included in the ancestry of Jesus according to the Biblical account.
Absalom Sleeps With His Father’s Concubines Publicly
“Go in unto thy father’s concubines.”
Then:
“Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.”
The act is public and political.
Reuben Sleeps With His Father’s Concubine
“Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine.”
This concerns one of the sons of Jacob according to the Biblical narrative.
Bread Baked With Dung
“Bake it with human dung.”
Later:
“I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung.”
Moses and the Midianite Virgins
But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.”
Critics debate the implications of this passage and its treatment of captive girls.
Samson Visits a Prostitute
“Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her.”
Samson is nevertheless praised elsewhere in the Bible.
Onan “Spills His Seed”
“When he went in unto his brother’s wife, he spilled it on the ground.”
This is the origin of the term “Onanism.”
Ruth Uncovers Boaz’s Feet
“Uncover his feet, and lay thee down.”
The passage has been interpreted differently, though many scholars recognize its intimate undertones.
The Double Standard
The Bible contains:
- rape narratives,
- incest stories,
- prostitution imagery,
- sexual humiliation,
- public intercourse,
- intoxication,
- and morally troubling depictions involving major Biblical figures.
Yet many critics speak as though only Islamic texts contain difficult passages.
Islamic View of the Prophets
Muslims do not believe:
- Prophet Lut عليه السلام committed incest,
- Prophet Dawud عليه السلام committed adultery and orchestrated murder,
- or prophets behaved as sexually immoral figures.
Rather, the prophets are noble examples chosen by Allah.
Conclusion
Muslims believe revelation should elevate and honor the prophets, not depict them in degrading and scandalous ways.