How Does Islam Address Sexual Abuse and Healing?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
What are the spiritual diseases that can lead someone to commit sexual abuse, to deny it, and to feel no remorse?
How can a survivor begin to heal, especially when those closest to them do not believe them?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate
I am deeply sorry for what you have endured. In Islam, the blame for abuse is always on the abuser, never on the one harmed.
Abuse is a serious sin. It takes away another person’s dignity and sanctity. In Islam, this is called oppression (zulm).
Feeling pain, confusion, anger, or grief does not mean your faith is weak. These are natural feelings after being hurt. Allah Most High sees you with complete mercy.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) reported that Allah Most High said, “O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.” [Muslim]
Allah Most High says, “Do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire touch you” [Quran, 11:113].
The Quran is clear and does not blame those who have been wronged.
The Spiritual Diseases That Lead to Abuse and Denial
Only Allah Most High truly knows what is in a person’s heart. We cannot be certain about anyone, but our scholars have described the spiritual diseases that can lead to such actions.
Imam Ghazali (Allah have mercy on him) maps them in his Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya’ Ulum al-Din):
Hardness of heart (qaswat al-qalb), which loses sensitivity to Allah, to accountability, and to the pain of others.
Unrestrained desire (shahwa), which lets lust override sacred limits, dignity, and mercy.
Arrogance (kibr) is the feeling of being entitled to another person’s body, silence, or submission.
Absence of God-consciousness (taqwa), which forgets that every hidden act will be brought forth.
Self-deception (ghurur), which lies until sin is normalized.
The most serious warning sign is when someone feels no remorse. True repentance (tawba) means admitting the wrong, stopping it, feeling regret, and trying to make things right.
Denial can occur because of pride, fear of what might happen, manipulation, or a heart that has grown accustomed to doing wrong.
None of these reasons excuses the abuser. In Islam, the more power someone has over another, the more responsibility they have before Allah Most High.
You Are Not to Blame
You did not do anything wrong by being harmed. You do not have to make others believe you for your pain to be real.
Allah Most High saw what others denied. He knows what happened, what was hidden, and what you have gone through.
When family or those close to you do not believe you, it can feel like being hurt again. Their disbelief does not change the truth.
You do not have to keep explaining yourself to people who dismiss, shame, or pressure you. Be careful about whom you trust.
How Healing Begins
Healing usually needs both spiritual care and support from others. Here are five steps you might find helpful:
First, focus on your safety. If the abuser still has access to you or others, protecting yourself is most important.
Reach out to people you trust, local authorities, or safeguarding services if you need to. Islam does not expect you to stay in a harmful situation.
Second, get help from someone who is trained and trustworthy. A qualified professional or counselor can support you as you deal with what has happened.
Taking practical steps is part of trusting Allah (tawakkul); it does not go against it.
Allah Most High says, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity” [Quran, 2:286]. He also gives you the means to regain your strength.
Third, try to rebuild your relationship with Allah Most High gently. After such harm, some survivors find it hard to pray, read the Quran, or even trust.
Do not blame yourself for this. Start with small steps: make one sincere supplication (du’a), pray once at a time, remember Allah briefly (dhikr), or just say, “O Allah, help me.” Any of these is a good start.
Fourth, set clear boundaries. You do not have to keep explaining your experience to people who hurt you by not believing you. Try to be with people who are safe, wise, and kind.
Fifth, remember that true justice belongs to Allah, even if it takes time in this world.
Allah Most High says, “Do not think Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do.” [Quran, 14:42] This is not a call to passivity; it is a reminder that no hidden oppression escapes Him.
Practical Next Steps
Choose one safe person or trained professional to speak to, ideally someone with experience in trauma or safeguarding. If it helps, write down what happened and what support you need, but only if writing does not overwhelm you.
Protect yourself from the abuser and from anyone who pressures you into silence. Keep this supplication on your tongue:
“O Allah, heal what was wounded, protect me from harm, restore my dignity, and bring me to safety.”
Justice Belongs to Allah, and So Does Healing
No hidden oppression escapes Allah Most High. No wound is beyond His healing.
Take one step today: name a safe person you can speak to, and say one short prayer for yourself. The path forward is built one small act at a time, by the Mercy of the One who never overlooks a wronged servant.
May Allah Most High heal you completely, restore your peace, surround you with people of truth and mercy, and bring justice in the best way.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
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Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
