Virginity has long been associated with religiousness in a way that brings unreasonable shame to women who have had sexual intercourse, whereas men seem to be absolved of that treatment, simply because their genitals are designed differently. People of all Abrahamic faiths have collectively fallen to that patriarchal agenda of religion, some of them more intense than others, treating women as usable goods that could be ‘unboxed’, losing considerable value after taking off their seal.
Consensual sex becomes a self inflicted crime that leaves a mark on women, who may then become vulnerable to eternal accusations of sinfulness that sabotage their social dignity and mental well-being. To have a better grasp of this cooked patriarchal recipe for a dystopian society, it is essential to understand that premarital sex is not a sin, it is simply Nikah which is the Quranic noun for sex/sexual relationship. If you are unfamiliar with that fact, please check out this article as a prerequisite, which explains how the fabricated term ‘fornication’ came to be.
All of this is baseless in the Scriptures of God, but they’ve all been over-translated and linguistically tailored to fit in the same misogynistic scheme that glorifies virginity for women and frowns upon those who ‘lose’ it. However, the Quran makes no mention of virginity per se, but rather uses the word ‘vitalized’ (محصنات) to describe the status of some women in specific circumstances. Muslim scholars manipulated interpretations and made it so that the word means different things in different circumstances, when it shouldn’t. Collectively analyzing the verses that mention the word proves it has nothing to do with virginity, but is rather a circumstantial description given to women depending on their current civil status.
The Meaning of Vitalized (محصن) in the Quran
The same word appears in several forms in the Quran and has been used to describe several subjects. It is used for instance to describe fortified towns (59.14), defensive weapons (59.2), and stored food (12.48). Even the contemporary ‘Virgin Mary’ (مريم العذراء) is a phrase spun off by humans from how God actually describes Mary, the mother of Jesus, all to unreasonably glorify and encourage virginity, and enforce it on unsuspecting, God-revering women.
Even though Mary was technically a virgin within our contemporary patriarchal terms, God never used the word virgin to describe her, but rather described her as “she who has vitalized her orifice”, in contrast to being vitalized herself, which is how God refers to committed or married women in other verses.
وَالَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَاهَا وَابْنَهَا آيَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٩١﴾ {الأنبياء}
And she who has vitalized her orifice, so we blew into her from our spirit, and we made her and her son a miracle for the world (21.91)
And in another verse:
وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ ﴿١٢﴾ {التحريم}
And Mary the daughter of Imran who vitalized her orifice, so we blew into it from our spirit, and she believed in the words of her Lord and his books and was of the devout. (66.12)
It is important to understand that the word “vitality” (حصن) in itself is a descriptive word, and has nothing to do with virginity, that’s just what misogynistic fabricators of religion wanted us to believe. God didn’t create us sexist, and he never asked women to vitalize their orifices like Mary, but he equally encourages men and women to be pious and guard (حفظ) their orifices from sin, both in the same manner:
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٣٥﴾ {الأحزاب}
Surely, Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, devout men and devout women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, charitable men and charitable women, fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their orifices and the women who guard theirs, and the men who remember God much and the women who remember him; for them, God has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. (33.35)
This absolves vitality from all the nonsensical ‘virginity’ claims, and proves the circumstantiality and sexual neutrality when it comes to believers guarding their privates.
Vitalized Women (المحصنات)
Vitalized women are those who abide by some set Quranic terms in their sexual relationships. It is a special status given to women depending on their concurrent civil status. The condition for preserving the vitalized status is to simply abide by the Quranic rules of the book or ‘Kitab’ (كتاب) in their sexual encounters.
The Book (الكتاب)
The book laws, which is essentially a schedule, ensures that vitalized women remain involved with only one man at a time, and that they fulfill the waiting period between different sexual partners. The Quran tells men who are seeking divorced women to wait until the book fulfills the appointed period.
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّا أَن تَقُولُوا قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ - 2:235
And there is no sin on you in what you exaggerated about in your speech to women, or concealed within yourself. God knew you would remember them, but don’t date them in secret, except that you speak in a kind manner. And do not attempt to tie the bondedness knot until the book reaches its term. And know that God knows what is within yourselves, so beware him. And know that God is the most forgiving, forbearing. (2:235)
The book keeps the woman vitalized by committing one partner and fulfilling her waiting periods. Therefore, men are prohibited from approaching vitalized women bound by the book; who are either already involved with a man or fulfilling a waiting period. The next verse also makes an exception for women who may choose to break their vitality by being right hand possessions.
وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۖ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ ۚ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَاضَيْتُم بِهِ مِن بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا - 4:24
And (also prohibited) are the vitalized women - except whom your right hand possesses - God's book upon you. All (women) beyond what has been mentioned have been permitted for you to seek through your wealth, vitalizing them, not spilling them. So, for what you have enjoyed of them, give them their dues, it is an obligation. And there is no sin on you in what you mutually agree upon after (fulfilling) the obligation. Surely, God is all knowing and wise. (4.24)
This verse makes it clear that only vitalized women who are currently bound by "God's book upon" someone are prohibited, which means they are either still involved with someone, or fulfilling a book period after being divorced from that someone. But vitalized women who are not subject to concurrent book laws, who are single and not recently divorced, are obviously approachable. However, the verse makes an exception for right hand possessions, who in their choice to be so might not want to abide by the book, and hence become approachable by their possessor, and if they do engage with him they lose their vitalized status.
Book’s (كتاب) waiting periods
Divorced women who wish to remain vitalized need to fulfill the book. There is a different period for each case, but it's important to note that if the couple had no intercourse, they’re free to break up without any waiting periods.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نَكَحْتُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ فَمَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ عِدَّةٍ تَعْتَدُّونَهَا ۖ فَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا - 33:49
O you who believe, if you bonded (sexually) with believing women, and then divorced them before you have had intercourse with them, then they have no obligation of any waiting period for you that you may count. So, please them and release them a delightful release. (33:49)
If the couple did have intercourse, the man and the women both have periods to fulfill. Men are told to wait for four months without nearing their to be divorced women.
لِّلَّذِينَ يُؤْلُونَ مِن نِّسَائِهِمْ تَرَبُّصُ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ ۖ فَإِن فَاءُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ * وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا الطَّلَاقَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ - 2:226 - 2:227
For those who wish to leave their women is a waiting time of four months, but if they revert (their decision) - then indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful. And if they resolve to divorce, God is all hearing, knowing. (2:226-227)
A divorced woman should then wait for three menstrual periods to fulfill the book requirements before she leaves.
وَالْمُطَلَّقَاتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَاثَةَ قُرُوءٍ ۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ فِي أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُوا إِصْلَاحًا ۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ - 2:228
Divorced women should keep themselves waiting for three (menstrual) periods, and it is not permissible for them to conceal what God has created in their wombs, if they believe in God and in the Last Day. Their husbands are best entitled to take them back in the meantime, if they want a settlement. To the women is similar (rights) to what they owe in a kind manner. And to men (in that) is a step above women, and God is Mighty, Wise. (2:228)
If the man left his woman (wife) before his four months waiting period are fulfilled, the divorced woman should instead wait a period of four months and ten days.
وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَاجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِي أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ - 2:234
Those of you who depart and leave wives, they (the wives) keep themselves waiting for four months and ten days. So, when they have reached (the end of) their waiting period, there is no sin on you in what they do to themselves in a kind manner. And God is well aware of what you do. (2:234)
Retaining vitality
Women who lose their vitalized status are those who have sex with a man they’re not in a relationship with, like their right hand possessor, or someone other than their current partner without fulfilling the book period. If you’re unfamiliar with the term right hand possession, please get yourself familiar with the topic by checking out this article. It is crucial that you do, because much like vitality, the term has been falsely used to demean women, when it has nothing to do with women or even sex.
Women who have right hand possessors but are not involved in a sexual relationship with them are obviously vitalized because they’re simply uninvolved with anyone. Female right hand possessions who choose to have sex with their provider, although their sexual relationship is licit, they lose their vitalized status because it becomes a sexual relationship without partnership; as right hand possessions are free to leave their provider whenever they want to, with no book period obligations whatsoever. However, they do become vitalized again once they decide to commit to book laws in their relationships, which is what the Quran calls Nikah, and it requires nothing but a permissible partner and mutual consent. You can read more about Nikah laws in this article.
Right hand possessions don’t abide by book laws in their existing relationship and hence can be approached by men who are interested in them. However, to retain their vitality and move to partnership (Nikah), men seeking non vitalized right hand possessions need to inform the possessor/provider currently involved with the woman they’re seeking.
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنْكُمْ طَوْلًا أَنْ يَنْكِحَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ فَمِنْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ مِنْ فَتَيَاتِكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَانِكُمْ ۚ بَعْضُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ ۚ فَانْكِحُوهُنَّ بِإِذْنِ أَهْلِهِنَّ وَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مُحْصَنَاتٍ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحَاتٍ وَلَا مُتَّخِذَاتِ أَخْدَانٍ ۚ ... ﴿٢٥﴾ {النساء}
And whoever could not get in bondedness with vitalized women, then (he may seek) from what your right hand possesses from your believing females. And God knows (what’s within) your right hands. Each of you from the other. So, bond with them with the permission of their family, and give them their dues with kindness, vitalized, not spilled, nor taken for an affair. ... (4.25)
This is also the only case where the permission of the family is required; when a non vitalized right hand possession is involved. Since non vitalized right hand possessions are engaged sexually with their providers, a provider needs to know that she’s sexually seeking another man. It is also important that the man vitalizes that woman through proper Nikah with book (waiting period) laws, to prevent non vitalized right hand possessions being abused between lustful partners or having their marital rights stripped off.
In another verse, God instructs providing people to marry their right hand possessions to prospecting men who pursue the book with them, but not to compel their girls into marriage just to relieve themselves from having to provide for them, if their girls wanted to keep themselves vitalized; that is single.
وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا ۖ وَآتُوهُمْ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا لِتَبْتَغُوا عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۚ وَمَنْ يُكْرِهْهُنَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ﴿٣٣﴾ {النور}
And those who don’t find (sexual) bondedness should forbear until God enriches them by his grace. And those (men) who seek the (commitment) book from your right hand possessions, then write them (to each other) if you think there’s good in them, and give them out of the wealth of God that he has given to you. And do not compel your girls to find temporary partners if they want to be vitalized so that you seek the temporary benefit of the worldly life. And If one compels them, then God after their being compelled, is all forgiving, merciful. (24.33)
Since God asked those who provide for their right hand possessions not to force them to find sexual relationships to save money if they wanted to remain vitalized - which means that those girls either want to remain single to stay vitalized, or find a relationship that vitalizes them; a partner not a possessor.
These verses demonstrated what the word ‘vitalized’ (محصنة) refers to, and the fact that it has nothing to do with virginity, but rather the current civil status of the woman. It encourages women to remain vitalized looking for real relationships, and if they lose their status they get it back by simply seeking a relationship by the book. Although intercourse without abiding by the book laws is technically not forbidden in Islamic law due to right hand possession, the woman is still better off keeping her vitalized status by waiting for a man who cares for them and is seeking a committed relationship with them.
Virginity is utter nonsense, it vilifies faith and falsely encourages discrimination in the name of God. Priests, rabbis and Islamic scholars are a shame to religion, and responsible believers should educate themselves to get back on track, give women their due respect and dignity, and make it up for them after seizing their rights for the entire history of Earth.
