owes a separate expiation. On this basis, the distinction in the rulings becomes clear between someone who allows an indecent act to be committed upon him and someone who yields concerning his own person.

In short, committing an indecent act is forbidden and is never permissible under any circumstances. It does not become permissible through what is claimed to be necessity. This differs from a person yielding concerning his own person, for conduct of this kind is permissible; indeed, this is what ‘Ammār did, whereas the former course was that of the foremost Companions.

Al-Bukhārī and Muslim both narrated in their Sahīh collections that Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt said:

“We complained to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was in a cloak of his in the shade of the Kaaba. We said, ‘O Messenger, will you not seek help for us? Will you not supplicate for us?’

“He replied, ‘Among those who came before you, a man would be seized, a hole dug for him in the ground, and he would be placed in it. A saw would then be brought and placed upon his head, and he would be cut in two. His flesh and sinews would be raked with iron combs down to the bone, yet that would not turn him away from his religion. By Allah, Allah will surely bring this matter to completion, until a rider travels from San‘ā’ to Hadramawt fearing none but Allah, and fearing only the wolf for his sheep. But you are a people who are impatient.’”