Does Islam Permit Watching Spousal Indecency?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I like to watch women defecate, and I also like topics related to female defecation. Is it permissible in Islam, and can a married man see his wife defecate?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
Dear Questioner,
What you describe is deeply troubling and indicative of a spiritual and psychological illness. You must understand with absolute clarity: this is not permissible in Islam.
Allah Most High says:
“…He permits for them what is pure and forbids them from what is filthy…” [Quran, 7:157]
This desire stems from a fascination with filth (khaba’ith), something Allah has made unlawful. Islam commands believers to love purity and distance themselves from that which is base and debasing. Allah also says: “Indeed, Allah loves those who constantly repent and those who purify themselves.” [Qur’an, 2:222]
And the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Purity is half of faith.” [Muslim]
Reflect on this: how can one claim closeness to Allah while finding pleasure in what Islam deems disgusting? A sound heart inclines toward what is clean, noble, and dignified. What you describe is neither.
As for a husband observing his wife in such a state: while nothing of the body is technically ʿawra between spouses, it is utterly inappropriate and goes against the adab and fitra (natural disposition) that Islam honors. Love and intimacy in marriage are built on respect, not degradation.
Please seek the company of the pious and the scholars of Tazkiya, to learn and practise cleansing of the heart from them. You must turn to Allah in tawba (repentance), seek professional help if needed, and occupy your heart with what pleases Him.
May Allah purify our hearts, protect our gazes, and grant us sincere repentance.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
