Is Marital Intimacy Allowed in Private Places Like Showers?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Is it permissible for a married couple to be intimate in places like a shower or bath?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

There is nothing in the Sacred law, as per the Hanafi school, that would legally prohibit spouses from being intimate in the shower or bath or in any private place where it is certain that no one can be privy to this private union. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

However, it would be remiss not to mention the strong encouragement in the Sacred Law towards modesty, based on the texts of the Quran and the Sunna of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).

The noble companion, Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him), narrated saying,

“The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was more modest than a virgin girl in her private quarters. When he would dislike something, we would see it in his face.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.