Heba Kotb
Encyclopedia
Dr. Heba Kotb is a certified sex therapist and host of The Big Talk, a sexual advice show in Egypt
. The first licensed sexologist in the country, Kotb bases her methods on the teachings of the Qur'an
, which she says encourages strong marital life including healthy sexual relationships between husband and wife.
. She attended medical school at Cairo University
, writing a thesis named "Medicolegal Implications of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Sexually abused Children." While writing her thesis, she realized that she had very little idea about normal sexuality. As a result, she began researching the topic, eventually coming across a passage in the Qur'an discussing sexual relations between husbands and wives that she saw as speaking to the woman's sexual rights. Of the experience, she said:
In 2003, she became the first licensed sexologist in Egypt, graduating with a degree in clinical sexology
from Maimonides University. She continued her studies, eventually earning a Ph.D
with her thesis, entitled
"Sexuality in Islam
".
and foreplay
. Although Kotb states that she is open to most questions, as part of her proposal she agreed to not discuss sex outside of marriage
and also refuses to discuss topics which are haram
, or prohibited by Islam
, such as sex during a woman's menses and anal sex
.
Although Kotb's show is extremely popular, it has drawn its share of conservative critics. Sheik Youssef al-Badri, a conservative cleric noted for his support of female circumcision, has criticized her show for "increas[ing] the number of sex perverts".
("The Cow"), the longest passage of the Qur'an
, as her inspiration for understanding human sexuality, noting that it speaks about the daily life of a man and woman and commands the man to provide pleasure to his wife. She argues that Islam in general and the Qu'ran in particular is very permissive of sex, and that discussion of the topic is suppressed not by religion but by culture.
While this stance is seen as extremely liberal in Egypt, Kotb's beliefs about sexuality tend to be conservative by Western standards. She has called homosexuality
a "disorder ... an acquired thing", and compared homosexuals to "the alcoholics and the drug-takers". Although she has called for women to explore their bodies, she has also stated that women do not need to masturbate, discouraging the practice by saying that "a woman has to remain blank until she gets married and by masturbating she's forming her sexuality."
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The first licensed sexologist in the country, Kotb bases her methods on the teachings of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, which she says encourages strong marital life including healthy sexual relationships between husband and wife.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Egypt, Kotb grew up wanting to be a surgeonSurgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
. She attended medical school at Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
, writing a thesis named "Medicolegal Implications of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Sexually abused Children." While writing her thesis, she realized that she had very little idea about normal sexuality. As a result, she began researching the topic, eventually coming across a passage in the Qur'an discussing sexual relations between husbands and wives that she saw as speaking to the woman's sexual rights. Of the experience, she said:
In 2003, she became the first licensed sexologist in Egypt, graduating with a degree in clinical sexology
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
from Maimonides University. She continued her studies, eventually earning a Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
with her thesis, entitled
"Sexuality in Islam
Sexuality in Islam
Sexuality in Islam is largely described by the Qur'an, the sayings of Mohammed , and the rulings of religious leaders' as being confined to marital relationships between men and women...
".
The Big Talk
Kotb's show, The Big Talk, is a call-in show broadcast on Al-Mehwar, an Egyptian satellite channel, where she answers questions about common sexual topics including masturbationMasturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
and foreplay
Foreplay
In human sexual behavior, foreplay is a set of intimate psychological and physically intimate acts between two or more people meant to create desire for sexual activity and sexual arousal. Either or any of the sexual partners may initiate the foreplay, and they may not be the active partner during...
. Although Kotb states that she is open to most questions, as part of her proposal she agreed to not discuss sex outside of marriage
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
and also refuses to discuss topics which are haram
Haraam
Haraam is an Arabic term meaning "forbidden", or "sacred". In Islam it is used to refer to anything that is prohibited by the word of Allah in the Qur'an or the Hadith Qudsi. Haraam is the highest status of prohibition given to anything that would result in sin when a Muslim commits it...
, or prohibited by Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, such as sex during a woman's menses and anal sex
Anal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
.
Although Kotb's show is extremely popular, it has drawn its share of conservative critics. Sheik Youssef al-Badri, a conservative cleric noted for his support of female circumcision, has criticized her show for "increas
Beliefs about sexuality
Kotb cites Al-BaqaraAl-Baqara
Sura al-Baqarah is the second and longest chapter of the Qur'an. It is a Medinan sura and comprises 286 verses, including the single longest verse in the Qur'an...
("The Cow"), the longest passage of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, as her inspiration for understanding human sexuality, noting that it speaks about the daily life of a man and woman and commands the man to provide pleasure to his wife. She argues that Islam in general and the Qu'ran in particular is very permissive of sex, and that discussion of the topic is suppressed not by religion but by culture.
While this stance is seen as extremely liberal in Egypt, Kotb's beliefs about sexuality tend to be conservative by Western standards. She has called homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
a "disorder ... an acquired thing", and compared homosexuals to "the alcoholics and the drug-takers". Although she has called for women to explore their bodies, she has also stated that women do not need to masturbate, discouraging the practice by saying that "a woman has to remain blank until she gets married and by masturbating she's forming her sexuality."