Why it is Halal for Married Couples to Make Love While Fasting
C.J Ahmed-09.04.2023
There is nothing haram for married couples to make love while fasting during month of Ramadan or otherwise because in the hadith narrated by Aisha, the prohet (sal) had sexual relations with her while she was fasting . There is a huge misunderstanding that having sex or masturbation is haram while fasting and this argument has no basis in Islam.The view that sex or masturbation breaks the fast is based on a few hadiths. The hadiths are as follows.
“Abu Hurayrah (Rali) said: The Messenger of Allaah (Sal) said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be given a ten-fold reward, up to seven hundred. Allaah says: ‘Except fasting, for it is for me, and I shall reward for it, for he gives up his desire and his food for my sake”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim) and in another hadith the prophet (Sal) said
"Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink”. (Bukhari).
The word “desire” and evil deeds are used to come up with an opinion that sex or masturbation invalidates fasting. This argument is totally wrong because the word “desire” or evil actions” are speaking in general terms and not in specific terms. Desire could mean anything so does evil actions. Taking a word that is general and giving your own interpretation based on implications and assumptions are arguments that have no basis in Islam. The most important point to note is that there is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah to prove that masturbation will break your sawm (Fast) and only intercourse when the man inserts his penis inside the vagina is what will invalidate the fast.
Hadith Proof-1
Sheikh Albani (Raheemahullah) clearly explains this in his book “Tamaam al minnah” pages 418-420, with all the authentic evidence that masturbation does not invalidate fast. In a hadith,
Narrated by Aisha (Rali), “The prophet (Sal) would do Mubaasharaah (having sexual relations) when he was Fasting, and would place a cloth between him and her, meaning over the private part.”
(Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh. Its Isnad is Good (Jayyid)).
Hadith Proof -2
In another hadith,
“He (the Prophet, Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to kiss when fasting, touch when fasting, and was the most in control of his desires”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others).
The above hadiths prove from the actions of the prophet (Sal) that having sexual relations during Ramadan is not haram. These hadiths prove clearly that doing anything other than sexual intercourse even if you ejaculate semen or other female secretion, would not invalidate the fast and there is no kaffara for this.
Hadith Proof -3
Proofs that masturbation while fasting is halal is further strengthened with the below narration of Aisha (Rali) in response to someone who asked her:
“What is Halaal (permissible) for a man to do with his wife when he is fasting?”
She said, “Everything except intercourse.”
(This was reported by ‘Abdir-Razzaaq in his Musannaf (4 / 190/8439) with a Saheeh (authentic) chain).
Hadith Proof -4
The word “Mubaasharaah” in these hadiths are used to interpret that the meaning is to kiss.
This is a false argument because this is not the meaning as explained in the below hadith.
“If one of us was menstruating, and Allah’s Messenger (Sal) wanted to touch us (Mubaasharah), he would command her to wrap a cloth around her area of menstruation, then touch her. She then said, and who amongst you is capable of controlling his desires [like him]?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim).
The meaning in this hadith for “Mubaasharah” is the same as quoted in the above hadith of Ahmed and Ibn Khuzaymah. The meaning for Mubaasharaah is not kissing. It is to touch. This is what was understood by the companions of the prophet (Sal) Like Aisha (Rali) and others.
There is a wonderful benefit when masturbating or having sex while fasting during the month of Ramadan or non obligatory fasts is that you can double control your desires by both by fasting and having sex.
From the hadiths of the prophet (sal) and the understanding of the companions, it is very clear that having sexual relations is allowed with your wife while fasting.
There is nothing haram for married couples to make love while fasting during month of Ramadan or otherwise because in the hadith narrated by Aisha, the prohet (sal) had sexual relations with her while she was fasting . There is a huge misunderstanding that having sex or masturbation is haram while fasting and this argument has no basis in Islam.The view that sex or masturbation breaks the fast is based on a few hadiths. The hadiths are as follows.
“Abu Hurayrah (Rali) said: The Messenger of Allaah (Sal) said: “Every deed of the son of Adam will be given a ten-fold reward, up to seven hundred. Allaah says: ‘Except fasting, for it is for me, and I shall reward for it, for he gives up his desire and his food for my sake”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim) and in another hadith the prophet (Sal) said
"Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink”. (Bukhari).
The word “desire” and evil deeds are used to come up with an opinion that sex or masturbation invalidates fasting. This argument is totally wrong because the word “desire” or evil actions” are speaking in general terms and not in specific terms. Desire could mean anything so does evil actions. Taking a word that is general and giving your own interpretation based on implications and assumptions are arguments that have no basis in Islam. The most important point to note is that there is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah to prove that masturbation will break your sawm (Fast) and only intercourse when the man inserts his penis inside the vagina is what will invalidate the fast.
Hadith Proof-1
Sheikh Albani (Raheemahullah) clearly explains this in his book “Tamaam al minnah” pages 418-420, with all the authentic evidence that masturbation does not invalidate fast. In a hadith,
Narrated by Aisha (Rali), “The prophet (Sal) would do Mubaasharaah (having sexual relations) when he was Fasting, and would place a cloth between him and her, meaning over the private part.”
(Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh. Its Isnad is Good (Jayyid)).
Hadith Proof -2
In another hadith,
“He (the Prophet, Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to kiss when fasting, touch when fasting, and was the most in control of his desires”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others).
The above hadiths prove from the actions of the prophet (Sal) that having sexual relations during Ramadan is not haram. These hadiths prove clearly that doing anything other than sexual intercourse even if you ejaculate semen or other female secretion, would not invalidate the fast and there is no kaffara for this.
Hadith Proof -3
Proofs that masturbation while fasting is halal is further strengthened with the below narration of Aisha (Rali) in response to someone who asked her:
“What is Halaal (permissible) for a man to do with his wife when he is fasting?”
She said, “Everything except intercourse.”
(This was reported by ‘Abdir-Razzaaq in his Musannaf (4 / 190/8439) with a Saheeh (authentic) chain).
Hadith Proof -4
The word “Mubaasharaah” in these hadiths are used to interpret that the meaning is to kiss.
This is a false argument because this is not the meaning as explained in the below hadith.
“If one of us was menstruating, and Allah’s Messenger (Sal) wanted to touch us (Mubaasharah), he would command her to wrap a cloth around her area of menstruation, then touch her. She then said, and who amongst you is capable of controlling his desires [like him]?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim).
The meaning in this hadith for “Mubaasharah” is the same as quoted in the above hadith of Ahmed and Ibn Khuzaymah. The meaning for Mubaasharaah is not kissing. It is to touch. This is what was understood by the companions of the prophet (Sal) Like Aisha (Rali) and others.
There is a wonderful benefit when masturbating or having sex while fasting during the month of Ramadan or non obligatory fasts is that you can double control your desires by both by fasting and having sex.
From the hadiths of the prophet (sal) and the understanding of the companions, it is very clear that having sexual relations is allowed with your wife while fasting.