A detrimental practice that significantly impacts women’s physical and emotional health

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Indeed Allah is not shy of the truth. Do not approach women in their back passages”. [Sahih Al-Jami 1852]

Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Shyness in the presence of Allah is that you avoid doing what is prohibited and what you have been told to avoid, as well as not failing to perform the mandatory and obligatory deeds. Similarly, one should be shy when it comes to Allah’s rights. He should also be shy of people within the confines of the Shariah, and this must be proven through deeds. In relation to this shyness, women are not to be approached through the back passage (i.e. sexual intercourse in the anus is forbidden) because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Cursed is the one who approaches a woman in her back passage”. The Prophet condemned this and declared it a major sin due to the fact that it is neither the place to put the semen nor where offspring should be sought. (1)

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “The back passage is a place of filth, serving as an excrement escape. If Allah prevents (a husband) from engaging in sexual activity with a wife who is menstruating because of the impurity in her private area, then how about engaging in sexual activity in the location [i.e. the anus] from where severe impurity exits”. (2)

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

The vagina is where offspring is sought. Regarding the anus, not one Prophet among the Prophets has said that it is permissible! Imam Abu Dawud, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported in his Sunan from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Cursed is the one who has sexual intercourse with his wife in the anus”. [Abu Dawud. Hadeeth Number 2162]

When it is the fact that Allah forbids sexual activity through the vagina because of apparent harm (i.e. menstruation or post-partum bleeding), then what about the anus, which is a location for the permanent disposal of harmful things (feces)?! To engage in sexual relations with a wife through the anus is a violation of her right to be satisfied by her husband. Anal sex neither satisfies her sexual needs nor accomplishes its goal. The vagina is the natural location equipped for sexual encounters; neither was the anus created nor equipped for this purpose.

Due to the fact that it is exceedingly bizarre and distant from sound, innate natural human inclination, sexual activity through the anus is damaging for both men and women. Because it leads to Allah’s wrath and curse, it is among the major causes of punishment and blessings being withheld. Additionally, it takes away the person’s shyness because shyness provides life to the heart (i.e. helps it to hate and turn away from repulsive behaviors). However, if the heart is stripped of its shyness, it begins to beautify disgusting behaviour and declare good behaviour to be disgusting, thus strengthens and normalizes corruption. (3)

What is permissible and free from superstition

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: The Quraish and the Ansar used approach their women from the back (i.e. sexual intercourse in the vigina whilst the wife is not lying down on her back), so the Yahud rebuked them for that. Allah, The Mighty and Majestic, revealed: [نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ  – Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth (i.e. have sexual relations with your wives in any manner as long as it is in the vagina and not in the anus), when or how you will]. [2:223] [4]

In the Sahihayn [Bukhari and Muslim] it has been reported from Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Yahud used to say, “If one has sexual intercourse with his wife from the back, she will deliver a squint-eyed child.” So Allah (The Mighty and Majestic) revealed: [نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ  – Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth (i.e. have sexual relations with your wives in any manner as long as it is in the vagina and not in the anus), when or how you will]. [5]

The Messenger, people and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Having intercourse (with one’s wife) is a charity”. [6]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: In this there is perfect enjoyment, kindness towards a beloved wife, seeking reward, gaining reward equivalent to giving Sadaqah, exhilaration of the soul, expelling bad thoughts, lighten the soul, expel her strain (and yours), lighten her body and balancing her temperament (and yours). If this (sexual relations) take place in a good manner, with gentleness and a lot of passion, complete desire and seeking reward, there will not be any enjoyment equal to it. [7]

We ask Allah:

اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well°

[1] at-Taleeqaat al-Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. 1/66

[2] Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 32/267

[3] An Excerpt from “Bada’i at-Tafsir Al-Jami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim 1/176-177

[4] An Excerpt from Bada’i at-Tafsir Al-Jami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim 1/176-177

[5] Bukhaari. Number: 4528

[6] Muslim. Number 1674

[7] An Excerpt from Rawdatul Muhibbeen. Page 187