Can husband and wife see their private parts in Islam? Islam has a perfect guideline for an ideal marital life. Muslim couples can have a happy life by following those guidelines.
Just as Islam instructs husbands and wives on how to have a practical relationship, it also gives them the criteria of halal and haram physical relations.
One such issue is – Can husband and wife see their private parts in Islam? Is it halal or haram?
This blog discusses the answer to that question in detail. Hopefully, this will be beneficial for Muslim couples.
Can husband and wife see their private parts in Islam?
Yes, husband and wife can see their private parts In Islam, whether it is during intercourse, the bath, or any other situation.
No reliable Shari’ah document forbids husband and wife from looking at each other’s private parts. On the contrary, there are vital documents that give it legitimacy.
This is the opinion of the majority of Fukahaye Keram. (Al-Mawsu’at al-Fiqhiyat al-Kuwaitiyah – 32/69)
Husband and wife can have sex with each other in each other’s bodies, whether that intercourse is by sexual intercourse or in any other way.
And for sexual intercourse, one has to reveal one’s private parts in front of others. So there is no such thing as aura between husband and wife.
And since it is permissible for a husband and wife to be completely naked in front of each other, it is also acceptable for them to show each other’s whole bodies, whether it is a secret.
Can husband and wife see their private parts in Hadith
Aisha – Radiyallahu Anha – Narrated –
Translation: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and I used to bathe using water from a pot. Then he used to use water before me. I even said keep it for me. Please keep it for me.
He said – they were both Junubi. That is, in the state of the obligatory bath after intercourse. (Sahih Bukhari)
In the Holy Quran, Allah Ta’ala says:
Translation: ‘They (women) wear you and you wear them.’ (Surat al-Baqara)
Islamic scholars have offered several interpretations of this verse.
1. Husbands and wives look at each other’s private parts but do not listen to each other, just as clothing looks at people’s private parts but does not tell them to anyone.
2. Just as clothing makes people comfortable in winter and summer, husband and wife address happiness and comfort for each other.
3. Husbands and wives do not have to hide their private parts from each other, just as they cannot hide their details from clothing.
The opinion of the Imams
Imam Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Dawoodi (may Allah have understanding on him) – The Hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned above proves that it is permissible for a husband and wife to look at each other’s private parts.
This answer is supported by a hadith Ibn Hibban narrated from Sulaiman Ibn Musa. There, it is mentioned that Sulayman ibn Musa was asked about a man who looked at his wife’s genitals.
Then Sulayman ibn Musa said: I asked this question to Ata (may Allah have mercy on him). Ata said that when I asked Aisha the same question (may Allah be pleased with her), she recited the above Hadith.
That is, the Hadith discussed above this month is the main proof. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) can’t take a bath with water from the same vessel at the same time, but they will not see each other’s private parts.
It is narrated on the authority of Mu’awiyah ibn Haider in Sunan al-Tirmidhi that he said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, where shall I reveal our Awrah and where shall I cover it?
He said, “Protect your aura from the eyes of everyone except your wife and maid.”
Hafiz Ibn Hazar said that the meaning of his words proves that it is permissible to look at the genitals of a woman. (Fathul Bari – 1/38)
Opinion of Hanafi
Ibn Kudama said –
Husband and wife can see each other’s full-bodied. Can touch. Because sexual intercourse with the wife is valid for him, it is also legal to see and feel it. (Al-Mughni)
Sharhul Kabir’s commentary in Hashiye Dasuki says that it is lawful for husband and wife to see each other’s private parts. And there is no basis for what is said that a blind child will be born if you look at the genitals.
Imam Ibn Hazam Zahiri said that it is lawful for a man to look at his wife’s private parts. In the same way, a wife can see her husband’s private parts. It is not Makrooh.
This proves that it is valid – all the hadiths narrated from Aisha, Umm Salama, and Maimuna – Radiyallahu Anhunna. They used to bathe with water from the same vessel with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
An answer
Many husbands and wives feel that they cannot see each other’s private parts. The answer to this question is given in Al-Muhalla – how strange it is that many people say that it is permissible to have intercourse with one’s wife, but it is not acceptable to see her private parts.
This verse is enough to prove it valid where Allah Ta’ala says,
(وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إَلَّا عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ َْوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ
Translation: And those who guard their private parts against all women except their wives and captives, they are not to be blamed.
Allah Ta’ala is commanded to guard the place of shame against all except his wife and handmaid, so there is no difficulty in opening the business of embarrassment in front of his wife and handmaid.
And it is also permissible to show it in front of the person whose place of shame is valid.
Dasuki said, “I have not seen any strong document forbidding it.” Except for a description of a stranger.
In a narration from Ibn Majah Sharif, Umm al-Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I have never seen the private parts of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). (Al-Muhalla: 10/33)
The reality is that the Hadith is fabricated. Proof of this cannot be presented because the narrator’s identity is unknown.