Ruling about Reading Reading Kama Sutra Books

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health.

Islam allows married couples to engage in bedroom intimacy in any physical position they mutually choose, provided it is vaginal sex and not anal sex which is forbidden. It will be left to the couple to decide taking into account mutual physical comfort and satisfaction.

”Your womenfolk are a fertile tillage for you, so have unto your tillage from wherever you wish. And send ahead for yourselves, and fear Allah” [Qur’an 2:223]

Books have been written about sexual intimacy throughout history, one of them is Kama Sutra, which was written almost 2,000 years ago, the Kama Sutra deals with all aspects of sexual life, including the principles and techniques of sexual pleasure and how to best achieve ecstatic union.

These type of books will have illustrations, sometimes graphic and in detail. Therefore, it will be impermissible to read from these type of books which have graphic detail unless they are in 1) silhouette images and 2) viewed with one’s spouse.

“It is He Who created you from a single soul, and out of him created his wife, in order that he may find comfort in her. So when he covers her with himself, she bears a light burden and carries it about. [Quran, 7:189-190]

The verse “When he covers her with himself” indicates the position of the husband lying over his wife, covering her completely with his body.

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: ”When a man sits amidst her [i.e. the wife] four parts and then exerts pressure on her, a ritual bath (ghusl) becomes obligatory upon him.” [Muslim]

The above is explained that the wife lies on her back with her legs drawn up toward her chest and her knees raised high, while the husband enters her in almost a sitting or squatting posture.

“The scholars have differences of opinion about the intended meaning of the “four parts (shu’ab al-arba’). Some said that it means the arms and the legs, while others have said that it refers to the legs and thighs, and others said it means the legs and the edge of the pubic area. Qaqi ‘Iyad chose the meaning of the four areas surrounding the vagina.”

[Nawawi, Al-Minhaj Sharh Muslim]

In summary, any act which is done in the spirit of Quranic guidance and prophetic teachings is a blessing. However, there is nothing wrong with couples having intimacy in various positions, and it does not contradict religious decorum or decency.

Linked Answer
Which Sexual Practices Are Permissible in Islam? (seekersguidance.org)
Marital Relations: The Legal Status of Oral and Other Forms of Sexual Gratification – SeekersGuidance
Islamic Guide to Sexual Relations – White Thread Press (book)

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)

I pray this helps answer your question.

Wassalam,

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.

He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His personal interest is the love of books and gardening.