Among the manifestations of ignorance, then, is the spread of speaking about religion without knowledge—that is, speaking without authority from Allah; and Allah’s authority is His Book. Among the manifestations of the spread of unlawful sexual intercourse is the spread of sodomy. Although it has its own distinct name, it is the worse of the two forms of unlawful sexual intercourse. The spread of sinful appetites relating to the belly and the private parts is what most commonly leads people into the Fire, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned in the report recorded in the two Sahīhs from Abū Hurayrah. He said that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The person who commits unlawful sexual intercourse is not a believer while committing it; the thief is not a believer while stealing; and the person who drinks wine is not a believer while drinking it. Yet repentance remains open afterward.”

Theft concerns wealth, which is the chief object of consumption. Hence, taking it is described as “consuming” it, as in the words of the Most High:

“Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly.”

[Surah al-Baqarah 188]

These three offenses are those for which the jurists establish chapters on prescribed punishments: the chapter on the prescribed punishment for unlawful sexual intercourse, the chapter on the prescribed punishment for theft, and the chapter on the prescribed punishment for drinking wine. Together with the fourth—the chapter on the prescribed punishment for falsely accusing someone of unlawful sexual intercourse—they fall within the scope of what lies between a person’s jaws and between their legs.