Why Premarital Sex Is Halal in Islam: 5 Strong Reasons
By C J Ahmed
11/09/2019 Updated-26/07/2020
Premarital sex is generally having sex before getting married. The acceptance of premarital sex in society depends on how a particular society is culturally or religiously conservative and there is no set definition for premarital sex. Al tough Islam frowns upon adultery and fornication, Islam never forbade premarital sex.
The very sentence "premarital sex" would give goosebumps or a shrug by most Muslim brothers and sisters but if we look closer in to the Shariah, we will realize that it is still possible to engage in sex outside of marriage or in other words "premarital sex" under certain situation and conditions that are halal or would not be haram in Islam. Normally in Islam, having sexual relations outside marriage is haram but this prohibition applies only for physical relationships with another person. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
"And those who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors." (Al Quran-23.5-7 )
Some people have wrongly misunderstood that sex means only to have any physical intimate act or relationship with another person. The truth is, sex is a relative thing and sex for one person could mean another thing for another person. You can have sex with yourself,with objects and even toys. Premarital sex is a broad term and the definition of sex is given in the Merriam Webster dictionary as follows
Sex-"sexually motivated phenomena or behavior"
If you have a closer look in to what Islam teaches about premarital sex or sex outside marriage, you will find out that Islam is very easy and flexible and Allah azza wa jal does not want to burden man beyond his capabilities. In this article, I'll explain five reasons why premarital sex is halal in Islam. You can watch my video explaining why premarital sex is halal in Islam in the video below.
11/09/2019 Updated-26/07/2020
Premarital sex is generally having sex before getting married. The acceptance of premarital sex in society depends on how a particular society is culturally or religiously conservative and there is no set definition for premarital sex. Al tough Islam frowns upon adultery and fornication, Islam never forbade premarital sex.
The very sentence "premarital sex" would give goosebumps or a shrug by most Muslim brothers and sisters but if we look closer in to the Shariah, we will realize that it is still possible to engage in sex outside of marriage or in other words "premarital sex" under certain situation and conditions that are halal or would not be haram in Islam. Normally in Islam, having sexual relations outside marriage is haram but this prohibition applies only for physical relationships with another person. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
"And those who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors." (Al Quran-23.5-7 )
Some people have wrongly misunderstood that sex means only to have any physical intimate act or relationship with another person. The truth is, sex is a relative thing and sex for one person could mean another thing for another person. You can have sex with yourself,with objects and even toys. Premarital sex is a broad term and the definition of sex is given in the Merriam Webster dictionary as follows
Sex-"sexually motivated phenomena or behavior"
If you have a closer look in to what Islam teaches about premarital sex or sex outside marriage, you will find out that Islam is very easy and flexible and Allah azza wa jal does not want to burden man beyond his capabilities. In this article, I'll explain five reasons why premarital sex is halal in Islam. You can watch my video explaining why premarital sex is halal in Islam in the video below.
1. When there is fear or if there is a necessity
There are situations where man could fall in to fornicating or adultery due to certain fears or necessity. Islam has facilitated ease on this occasion and committing fornication or adultery won't be considered a sin or something that is forbidden due to the fact that the individual has a valid reason of necessity. This is how Allah(Swt) explains the principal of necessity.
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allah’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?”
(Al-Quran-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."
(Al-Quran-2:173)
These verses give a clear picture that proves that something that is already made haram will become halal due to a necessity if there is no transgression. Allah(Swt) explains in theses verses when mentioning about meat which are forbidden and also says that although meat like carrion and swine are haram, it becomes halal under necessity. Let me give you another example.
A woman was brought to ‘Umar bin al Khattab May Allah be pleased with him who had been extremely thirsty, and had passed by a shepherd and asked him to give her something to drink; he had refused to give her something to drink unless she let him have his way with her. (Umar) consulted with the people as to whether he should have her stoned. ‘Ali May Allah be pleased with him said, ‘She was forced to do it, you should let her go.’ So he did so."
(Sunan Baihaqi-authenticated by Albani in Irwa al Ghaleel 7/341)
Now, look carefully at this hadith. In this hadith a woman who had committed adultery was let go because she committed adultery because she was thirsty. Umar (Rali) did not admonish her for committing adultery for water rather, he let her go. This is clear evidence that you can indulge in sex outside marriage if it is for a necessity.
"Narrated Anas (Rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In this hadith, the prophet(Sal) allowed Abdur Rahman bin auf and Zubair bin Awwam to wear silk because they had an itch. Generally wearing silk is haram for men except for embroidary but the prophet (Sal) allowed silk for the two sahabi due to a reason. When it comes to force and fear, the next reason is rape. The prophet (Sal) said,
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih by Albani )
Rape is to force someone to have sex and this is not the fault of the victim.
Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr,
"When a woman went out in the time of the Prophet (Sal) for prayer, a man attacked her and overpowered (raped) her. She shouted and he went off, and when a man came by, she said: That (man) did such and such to me. And when a company of the Emigrants came by, she said: That man did such and such to me. They went and seized the man whom they thought had had intercourse with her and brought him to her. She said: Yes, this is he. Then they brought him to the Messenger of Allah (Sal). When he (the Prophet) was about to pass sentence, the man who (actually) had assaulted her stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, I am the man who did it to her. He (the Prophet) said to her: Go away, for Allah has forgiven you. But he told the man some good words (Abu Dawud said: meaning the man who was seized), and of the man who had had intercourse with her, he said: Stone him to death. He also said: He has repented to such an extent that if the people of Medina had repented similarly, it would have been accepted from them.
(Abu Dawud-Graded Hasan Sahih by Albani)
In this hadith, a woman was raped, and the prophet(Sal) did not admonish her or blame her because she was forced to have sex. Unfortunately nowadays if a girl or woman is sexually assaulted, foolish and ignorant Muslims are quick to blame the innocent victim.
2. Having sex with sex dolls,robots and sex toys
Everyday, with the help of Allah (Swt), technology is advancing and it won't be long before people can have sex with robots. Sex with a doll or a robot is another wonderful way to have halal premarital sex. As technology advances new forms of ways would be invented to have sex and if they are gadgets or robots, then it is definitely halal. There is no evidence to prove that having sex or sexual intercourse with robots or sex dolls is haram. Islam is silent on this issue and silence is a mercy fro Allah(Swt). The Prophet (sal) said,
“Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” (Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122)
Sex dolls are a good alternative for Muslims who want to be chaste and is a good replacement for real human sex. Nowadays, sex dolls are available in male,female,transgender and many more varieties of color and size. The other way Muslims can have sex is by using sex toys like rabbit vibrators,dildos and other forms of sex toys. Some Muslims might be offended or would become defensive when promoting sex dolls,robots,sex toys and other technologies but what they need to realize is that , what Islam does not clearly forbid cannot be forbidden by anyone.
3. Masturbation
Masturbation could be regarded as one of the most easiest forms of premarital sex. Masturbation is a form of sex and in that context masturbation could be regarded as a form of having sex out of marriage if you are not happen to be married. Islam never forbade masturbation. It is some scholars who have given wrong fatwas by misunderstanding verses and hadiths which have no relation to masturbation. Islam is silent on the topi of masturbation and that is very clear to prove that masturbation is completely halal. Masturbation is a form of mercy and the The Prophet (sal) said,
“Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” (Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122)
I have written a detailed article defending masturbation and why it is not haram in Islam. Please click here https://cjislam.weebly.com/why-masturbation-is-not-haram.html to read the full article.
4. Having sex before maturity.
In Islam, a person's deeds are not recorded until he or she attains puberty.
Ali ibn Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“The pen is lifted from three people: a sleeping person until he awakens, a child until he becomes an adult, and an insane person until he regains his sanity.”
In another narration, the Prophet said, “A young boy until he reaches puberty.”
(Tirmidhi and graded Sahih by Albani)
From this hadith it is clear that a person who commits any sin including sex will not be a sinner because the angels will not record the sins of the person because of his immaturity. This does not mean that a person who has not matured should be allowed to be promiscuous, what is meant here is that the person who has not yet attained puberty will not carry the burden of sin if he or she engages in sex or sexual intercourse. The other reason is when a person is insane. If the person has committed sex while not having sense will also not be liable for a sin in Islam. If a young person who has not attained puberty engages in such acts, then telling him or her about the sin of zina and it's punishment will help the person not commit such acts after attaining puberty.
5. Having sex with slaves.
Islam never banned slavery and the concept of slavery in Islam is different from that of the the western world. Slaves during the time of colonization in the western world were treated like farm animals and their rights were completely violated. The Islamic concept of slavery is based on mercy,kindness and rights for the slave.
Narrated by Al-Ma'rur: At Ar-Rabadha,
"I met Abu Dhar who was wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a similar one. I asked about the reason for it. He replied, "I abused a person by calling his mother with bad names." The Prophet said to me, 'O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them.'
(Bukhari)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (Sal) as saying: "When the slave of anyone amongst you prepares food for him and he serves him after having sat close to (and undergoing the hardship of) heat and smoke, he should make him (the slave) sit along with him and make him eat (along with him), and if the food seems to run short, then he should spare some portion for him (from his own share) - (another narrator) Dawud said:" i. e. a morsel or two".
(Sahih Muslim)
Another clear proof that premarital sex is halal is certain circumstances is the circumstance of having sex with your slaves. Islam forbids force and always teaches to be gentle even when having sex. The prophet (Sal) advised Jabir (Rali) by saying,
‘Slow down, and enter at night, so that she who has not combed may comb her hair, and she who has not shaved may shave her private area.’ Then he said to me, ‘When you enter upon her, then be wise and gentle.’”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
"O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by force"
(Al-Quran-4:19)
Islam has allowed sexual relations with ones slaves and this does not require marriage. Allah(Swt) says,
"And those who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame
(Al Quran-23.5-7)
A Muslim can have sex with a slave women if she is not pregnant but if she happens to be pregnant, then Intercourse is forbidden until she gives birth.
Ruwayfi’ ibn Thaabit al-Ansaari said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sal) say on the day of Hunayn:
“It is not permissible for any man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to irrigate the crop of another else – meaning to have intercourse with a woman who is pregnant. And it is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to have intercourse with a captured woman until he has established that she is not pregnant"
(Abu-Dawud-graded Sahih by Albani)
Now, the question might rise that there are no slaves nowadays in this modern world. This is not true because you can still find slaves in many parts of the world like in India,Bangladesh,Africa and other parts of the world.
From all these facts and evidence from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah, it is clear that premarital sex is not fully haram and under certain reasons. Not all forms of pre-marriage or premarital sex is haram in Islam.
There are situations where man could fall in to fornicating or adultery due to certain fears or necessity. Islam has facilitated ease on this occasion and committing fornication or adultery won't be considered a sin or something that is forbidden due to the fact that the individual has a valid reason of necessity. This is how Allah(Swt) explains the principal of necessity.
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allah’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?”
(Al-Quran-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."
(Al-Quran-2:173)
These verses give a clear picture that proves that something that is already made haram will become halal due to a necessity if there is no transgression. Allah(Swt) explains in theses verses when mentioning about meat which are forbidden and also says that although meat like carrion and swine are haram, it becomes halal under necessity. Let me give you another example.
A woman was brought to ‘Umar bin al Khattab May Allah be pleased with him who had been extremely thirsty, and had passed by a shepherd and asked him to give her something to drink; he had refused to give her something to drink unless she let him have his way with her. (Umar) consulted with the people as to whether he should have her stoned. ‘Ali May Allah be pleased with him said, ‘She was forced to do it, you should let her go.’ So he did so."
(Sunan Baihaqi-authenticated by Albani in Irwa al Ghaleel 7/341)
Now, look carefully at this hadith. In this hadith a woman who had committed adultery was let go because she committed adultery because she was thirsty. Umar (Rali) did not admonish her for committing adultery for water rather, he let her go. This is clear evidence that you can indulge in sex outside marriage if it is for a necessity.
"Narrated Anas (Rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In this hadith, the prophet(Sal) allowed Abdur Rahman bin auf and Zubair bin Awwam to wear silk because they had an itch. Generally wearing silk is haram for men except for embroidary but the prophet (Sal) allowed silk for the two sahabi due to a reason. When it comes to force and fear, the next reason is rape. The prophet (Sal) said,
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih by Albani )
Rape is to force someone to have sex and this is not the fault of the victim.
Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr,
"When a woman went out in the time of the Prophet (Sal) for prayer, a man attacked her and overpowered (raped) her. She shouted and he went off, and when a man came by, she said: That (man) did such and such to me. And when a company of the Emigrants came by, she said: That man did such and such to me. They went and seized the man whom they thought had had intercourse with her and brought him to her. She said: Yes, this is he. Then they brought him to the Messenger of Allah (Sal). When he (the Prophet) was about to pass sentence, the man who (actually) had assaulted her stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, I am the man who did it to her. He (the Prophet) said to her: Go away, for Allah has forgiven you. But he told the man some good words (Abu Dawud said: meaning the man who was seized), and of the man who had had intercourse with her, he said: Stone him to death. He also said: He has repented to such an extent that if the people of Medina had repented similarly, it would have been accepted from them.
(Abu Dawud-Graded Hasan Sahih by Albani)
In this hadith, a woman was raped, and the prophet(Sal) did not admonish her or blame her because she was forced to have sex. Unfortunately nowadays if a girl or woman is sexually assaulted, foolish and ignorant Muslims are quick to blame the innocent victim.
2. Having sex with sex dolls,robots and sex toys
Everyday, with the help of Allah (Swt), technology is advancing and it won't be long before people can have sex with robots. Sex with a doll or a robot is another wonderful way to have halal premarital sex. As technology advances new forms of ways would be invented to have sex and if they are gadgets or robots, then it is definitely halal. There is no evidence to prove that having sex or sexual intercourse with robots or sex dolls is haram. Islam is silent on this issue and silence is a mercy fro Allah(Swt). The Prophet (sal) said,
“Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” (Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122)
Sex dolls are a good alternative for Muslims who want to be chaste and is a good replacement for real human sex. Nowadays, sex dolls are available in male,female,transgender and many more varieties of color and size. The other way Muslims can have sex is by using sex toys like rabbit vibrators,dildos and other forms of sex toys. Some Muslims might be offended or would become defensive when promoting sex dolls,robots,sex toys and other technologies but what they need to realize is that , what Islam does not clearly forbid cannot be forbidden by anyone.
3. Masturbation
Masturbation could be regarded as one of the most easiest forms of premarital sex. Masturbation is a form of sex and in that context masturbation could be regarded as a form of having sex out of marriage if you are not happen to be married. Islam never forbade masturbation. It is some scholars who have given wrong fatwas by misunderstanding verses and hadiths which have no relation to masturbation. Islam is silent on the topi of masturbation and that is very clear to prove that masturbation is completely halal. Masturbation is a form of mercy and the The Prophet (sal) said,
“Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” (Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122)
I have written a detailed article defending masturbation and why it is not haram in Islam. Please click here https://cjislam.weebly.com/why-masturbation-is-not-haram.html to read the full article.
4. Having sex before maturity.
In Islam, a person's deeds are not recorded until he or she attains puberty.
Ali ibn Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“The pen is lifted from three people: a sleeping person until he awakens, a child until he becomes an adult, and an insane person until he regains his sanity.”
In another narration, the Prophet said, “A young boy until he reaches puberty.”
(Tirmidhi and graded Sahih by Albani)
From this hadith it is clear that a person who commits any sin including sex will not be a sinner because the angels will not record the sins of the person because of his immaturity. This does not mean that a person who has not matured should be allowed to be promiscuous, what is meant here is that the person who has not yet attained puberty will not carry the burden of sin if he or she engages in sex or sexual intercourse. The other reason is when a person is insane. If the person has committed sex while not having sense will also not be liable for a sin in Islam. If a young person who has not attained puberty engages in such acts, then telling him or her about the sin of zina and it's punishment will help the person not commit such acts after attaining puberty.
5. Having sex with slaves.
Islam never banned slavery and the concept of slavery in Islam is different from that of the the western world. Slaves during the time of colonization in the western world were treated like farm animals and their rights were completely violated. The Islamic concept of slavery is based on mercy,kindness and rights for the slave.
Narrated by Al-Ma'rur: At Ar-Rabadha,
"I met Abu Dhar who was wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a similar one. I asked about the reason for it. He replied, "I abused a person by calling his mother with bad names." The Prophet said to me, 'O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them.'
(Bukhari)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (Sal) as saying: "When the slave of anyone amongst you prepares food for him and he serves him after having sat close to (and undergoing the hardship of) heat and smoke, he should make him (the slave) sit along with him and make him eat (along with him), and if the food seems to run short, then he should spare some portion for him (from his own share) - (another narrator) Dawud said:" i. e. a morsel or two".
(Sahih Muslim)
Another clear proof that premarital sex is halal is certain circumstances is the circumstance of having sex with your slaves. Islam forbids force and always teaches to be gentle even when having sex. The prophet (Sal) advised Jabir (Rali) by saying,
‘Slow down, and enter at night, so that she who has not combed may comb her hair, and she who has not shaved may shave her private area.’ Then he said to me, ‘When you enter upon her, then be wise and gentle.’”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
"O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by force"
(Al-Quran-4:19)
Islam has allowed sexual relations with ones slaves and this does not require marriage. Allah(Swt) says,
"And those who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame
(Al Quran-23.5-7)
A Muslim can have sex with a slave women if she is not pregnant but if she happens to be pregnant, then Intercourse is forbidden until she gives birth.
Ruwayfi’ ibn Thaabit al-Ansaari said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sal) say on the day of Hunayn:
“It is not permissible for any man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to irrigate the crop of another else – meaning to have intercourse with a woman who is pregnant. And it is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to have intercourse with a captured woman until he has established that she is not pregnant"
(Abu-Dawud-graded Sahih by Albani)
Now, the question might rise that there are no slaves nowadays in this modern world. This is not true because you can still find slaves in many parts of the world like in India,Bangladesh,Africa and other parts of the world.
From all these facts and evidence from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah, it is clear that premarital sex is not fully haram and under certain reasons. Not all forms of pre-marriage or premarital sex is haram in Islam.