the Christians devised; it is no part of Islam. Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every nation has its monasticism, and the monasticism of my nation [أ/ق 58] is jihad in the cause of Allah.” (1) (2)

He counted the use of wholesome, lawful pleasures in the service of what is right (3) as a righteous deed. Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in an authentic hadith, “In the sexual act of each of you there is charity.” They asked, “Does one of us satisfy his desire and receive a reward for it?” He replied, “If he were to satisfy it unlawfully, would he not bear a burden of sin?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Why, then, do you count it against yourselves when it is unlawful, yet not count it in your favor when it is lawful?” (4)

Ahmad narrated in his Musnad, as did Ibn Khuzayma in his Sahīh, from Ibn Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah loves that His dispensations be accepted, just as He hates that acts of disobedience against Him be committed.” (5) (6)