adopts it as a religious practice is astray, resembling the polytheists and Christians. Whoever does it while acknowledging that it is a sin or an act of disobedience is sinful or defiantly disobedient. Likewise, forming a bond of brotherhood with “a woman outside the permanently prohibited degrees of marriage,” such that he is alone with her and sees parts of her body that he is not entitled to see, is forbidden by Muslim consensus. Adopting this as a religion and a spiritual path is disbelief and misguidance. Money taken for condoning these people’s conduct and facilitating conversation with a beardless youth is akin to a procurer’s fee. Their demanding his companionship is akin to holding a wedding founded on fornication.

Allah, glorified be He, has permitted marriage, not promiscuity or the taking of secret lovers. A promiscuous woman commits fornication with whoever happens to be available to her; likewise, a promiscuous man commits fornication with whoever happens to be available to him. Taking a secret lover, by contrast, means that a man has a mistress or a woman has a lover. Thus, a beardless youth who becomes the lover of one of these men is akin to a woman taken as a mistress. Likewise, the fees and money taken for this are akin to a prostitute’s earnings, a procurer’s fee, and the like.

As for their “dispute proceedings,” when two men quarrel in word or deed, their case must be handled justly. Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, stand firmly for justice as witnesses for Allah.”

And He says:

“Stand firmly for Allah as witnesses in justice.”

And He says:

“If two groups of believers fight, make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, fight the transgressing group until it returns to Allah’s command.”

The verse continues.