4 Proofs Why Group Sex with Wives is Halal in Islam
C.J Ahmed-18.03.2023
Having sexual intercourse with two or more of your wives in the same bed is not haram in Islam because there is no evidence proving that it is haram. Some scholars forbid this practice without any evidence from the Quran or Sunnah. Ibn Qadamah said the following,
“If two wives agree to live together in one house, that is permissible, because they each have the right to their own house, but they may give up that right. Similarly they may agree to let him sleep between them in one bed. But if they agree to let him have intercourse with one of them when the other one is looking, that is not permissible, because it is vile and despicable and is not appropriate, and it does not become permissible even if they agree to it” (al-Mughni, 8/137)
Sheikh Salih al Uthaymin was also against group sex and he said the following,
“It is very strange that he limited himself to describing it as makrooh. This covers two issues. The first is having intercourse where the awrahs of both partners can be seen. Undoubtedly limiting oneself to saying that this is makrooh is a mistake, because it is obligatory to cover the ‘awrah. If it is in a place where anyone can see their ‘awrahs, this is undoubtedly haraam, and what this author says is not correct at all.
The second is having intercourse in a place where the ‘awrah cannot be seen. Limiting oneself to saying that this is makrooh is also subject to further discussion. For example, if they are covered with a blanket and he starts to have intercourse with her, and the movements can be seen. This is undoubtedly more likely to be haraam, because it is not appropriate for a Muslim to lower himself to such a level.
This may also provoke desire in the person who sees this, and that may lead to evil consequences.
The correct view concerning this matter is that it is haraam to have intercourse with a woman in view of anyone, unless the onlooker is a child who does not understand what is happening; in this case it does not matter. But if the child understands what is happening then intercourse should not take place where he can see, even if he is a child, because a child may speak about what he has seen unintentionally. “
(Sharh Kitaab al-Nikaah min Zaad al-Mustanqi-tape 17)
All of the arguments by scholars who say that having sex in one bed with multiple wives is haram argue that the awrah of the two wives when having sex is visible and they can look at the awrah. First of all the awrah for a female in front of another female is only her private parts.
1.The awrah for a woman in front of another woman
Awrah for women in front of women is only the private parts. A girl who has attained puberty need not cover any other area apart from the private parts.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (sal) said: A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover.
(Abu Dawud-authenticated by Albani)
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
(Sahih Muslim)
Some scholars say by using the above hadiths that the awrah of a women is between the naval and the knee but this is not what is mentioned in these hadiths. Its only the private parts that are mentioned. Sheikh Salih Al Uthaymin said:
"With regard to her mahrams what she may uncover is the same as that which she may uncover in front of other women, so she may uncover her head, neck, feet, hands, forearms and calves, etc. But she should not make her clothes short".
(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 12/276, 277)
The above fatwa of Imam Uthaymin is only his opinion and there is no evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah to prove that a woman cannot wear a short dress in front of another woman.
2.False arguments that sexual movements can entice the women to do haram acts
When a husband has sexual intercourse with one of his wives while the other wife or wives are watching, generally the penis when it enters the vagina covers the private part of the woman and in most cases the awrah of the woman gets covered. If you do not like engaging in sex bare naked, you can simply put a sheet and engage in intercourse.
1False argument that sexual movements below the sheets is haram
The argument that the bed sheets that cover the wife and husband would still show the sexual movements and it is haram is a famous argument by some scholars. There is no evidence whatsoever from the Quran or Sunnah stating so and is nothing but the plain opinion of the scholars.
4 Why Necessity Dictates Exception
According to the Shariah even the forbidden becomes halal due to necessity. Eventough looking at the private parts is generally haram, the wives can look at each other’s privates because sexual satisfaction is important being uncomfortable when having sex could cause other forms of distress and due to this reason it is not haram for the wives to look at each other’s awrah. Allah says in the Quran,
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allaah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”
(6:119)
And
"He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, and swine, and that which has been consecrated to any other than Allah. But who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. For Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(2:173)
And again
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”
(16:106)
The above verses clearly explain that things which are haram become halal for a necessity If there is no transgression. In this instance, the wives looking at each other’s private parts when having sex with their husband cannot be regarded as transgression. There are many hadiths which proves that even major sins are halal when there is a necessity and this is the basic Asl (Principle).
Conclusion
It is not haram for a husband to have sex with multiple wives in one bed. Group sex is not haram in Islam.
Having sexual intercourse with two or more of your wives in the same bed is not haram in Islam because there is no evidence proving that it is haram. Some scholars forbid this practice without any evidence from the Quran or Sunnah. Ibn Qadamah said the following,
“If two wives agree to live together in one house, that is permissible, because they each have the right to their own house, but they may give up that right. Similarly they may agree to let him sleep between them in one bed. But if they agree to let him have intercourse with one of them when the other one is looking, that is not permissible, because it is vile and despicable and is not appropriate, and it does not become permissible even if they agree to it” (al-Mughni, 8/137)
Sheikh Salih al Uthaymin was also against group sex and he said the following,
“It is very strange that he limited himself to describing it as makrooh. This covers two issues. The first is having intercourse where the awrahs of both partners can be seen. Undoubtedly limiting oneself to saying that this is makrooh is a mistake, because it is obligatory to cover the ‘awrah. If it is in a place where anyone can see their ‘awrahs, this is undoubtedly haraam, and what this author says is not correct at all.
The second is having intercourse in a place where the ‘awrah cannot be seen. Limiting oneself to saying that this is makrooh is also subject to further discussion. For example, if they are covered with a blanket and he starts to have intercourse with her, and the movements can be seen. This is undoubtedly more likely to be haraam, because it is not appropriate for a Muslim to lower himself to such a level.
This may also provoke desire in the person who sees this, and that may lead to evil consequences.
The correct view concerning this matter is that it is haraam to have intercourse with a woman in view of anyone, unless the onlooker is a child who does not understand what is happening; in this case it does not matter. But if the child understands what is happening then intercourse should not take place where he can see, even if he is a child, because a child may speak about what he has seen unintentionally. “
(Sharh Kitaab al-Nikaah min Zaad al-Mustanqi-tape 17)
All of the arguments by scholars who say that having sex in one bed with multiple wives is haram argue that the awrah of the two wives when having sex is visible and they can look at the awrah. First of all the awrah for a female in front of another female is only her private parts.
1.The awrah for a woman in front of another woman
Awrah for women in front of women is only the private parts. A girl who has attained puberty need not cover any other area apart from the private parts.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (sal) said: A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover.
(Abu Dawud-authenticated by Albani)
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
(Sahih Muslim)
Some scholars say by using the above hadiths that the awrah of a women is between the naval and the knee but this is not what is mentioned in these hadiths. Its only the private parts that are mentioned. Sheikh Salih Al Uthaymin said:
"With regard to her mahrams what she may uncover is the same as that which she may uncover in front of other women, so she may uncover her head, neck, feet, hands, forearms and calves, etc. But she should not make her clothes short".
(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 12/276, 277)
The above fatwa of Imam Uthaymin is only his opinion and there is no evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah to prove that a woman cannot wear a short dress in front of another woman.
2.False arguments that sexual movements can entice the women to do haram acts
When a husband has sexual intercourse with one of his wives while the other wife or wives are watching, generally the penis when it enters the vagina covers the private part of the woman and in most cases the awrah of the woman gets covered. If you do not like engaging in sex bare naked, you can simply put a sheet and engage in intercourse.
1False argument that sexual movements below the sheets is haram
The argument that the bed sheets that cover the wife and husband would still show the sexual movements and it is haram is a famous argument by some scholars. There is no evidence whatsoever from the Quran or Sunnah stating so and is nothing but the plain opinion of the scholars.
4 Why Necessity Dictates Exception
According to the Shariah even the forbidden becomes halal due to necessity. Eventough looking at the private parts is generally haram, the wives can look at each other’s privates because sexual satisfaction is important being uncomfortable when having sex could cause other forms of distress and due to this reason it is not haram for the wives to look at each other’s awrah. Allah says in the Quran,
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allaah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”
(6:119)
And
"He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, and swine, and that which has been consecrated to any other than Allah. But who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. For Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(2:173)
And again
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”
(16:106)
The above verses clearly explain that things which are haram become halal for a necessity If there is no transgression. In this instance, the wives looking at each other’s private parts when having sex with their husband cannot be regarded as transgression. There are many hadiths which proves that even major sins are halal when there is a necessity and this is the basic Asl (Principle).
Conclusion
It is not haram for a husband to have sex with multiple wives in one bed. Group sex is not haram in Islam.