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Is a Ghusl Necessary When My Menstruation Begins Immediately Following Intercourse?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

If a woman discovers her menstrual cycle has begun immediately following intercourse, is ghusl still necessary?

To clarify: the period had not visibly begun prior to engaging in intercourse.

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

No, a ritual bath (ghusl) isn’t necessary right away in the case that a lady’s menstrual cycle begins immediately after intercourse. The ritual bath is still necessary, but it may be fulfilled by bathing at the end of the menstrual period. Obviously, if she wants to bathe before then for cleanliness or the like, this is fine, but she’d need to bathe again at the end of her menstruation.

Please also see: The Ritual Bath (ghusl): Obligatory, Recommended, and Disliked Acts

And Allah Most High knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

When Is It Permitted to Engage in Sexual Intercourse With One’s Wife Following the End of Her Period?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

I have found in a Hanafi Fiqh book that the Husband is not allowed to have intercourse with his wife right when the period ends. Is this an absolute ruling?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

When it would be permitted to engage in sexual intercourse with one’s wife following the end of her period would depend on when it ends:

1. If the period lasts ten days, which is the maximum period, then it would be permitted to engage in sexual relations without the need for a ritual-bath (ghusl) or the passing of a prayer time.

2. If the period lasts less than ten days but ends after the wife’s habit, it would be permitted to engage in sexual relations only after she takes a ritual-bath (ghusl) or tayammum [i.e. if she has an excuse to do so] or a prayer time passes.

3. If the period ends before her habit then sexual relations would not be permitted until she completes her habit.

[Birgivi, Dhukhr al-Muta’ahilin]

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.

Is My Fast of the Last Ten Days of Dhul Hijja Valid After Having an Intercourse?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaikum

Is my second fast of the last ten days of dhul hijja valid after having an intercourse? I have not eaten anything or drunk anything.

Do I have to make an expition if this fast is invalid?

Answer:Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

If you intentionally had intercourse after the entrance of Fajr time, you would need to make up that fast. If you did so forgetfully, it would not affect the validity of your fast.

There is no expiation (kaffara) for fasts deliberately vitiated outside the month of Ramadan.

Please also see: Accidental & Forgetful Breaking of the Fast: What Is the Difference? and: The Complete Guide to Fasting

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam was born and raised in Ipswich, England, a quiet town close to the east coast of England. His journey for seeking sacred knowledge began when he privately memorized the entire Qur’an in his hometown at the age of 16. He also had his first experience in leading the tarawih (nightly-Ramadan) prayers at his local mosque. Year after year he would continue this unique return to reciting the entire Quran in one blessed month both in his homeland, the UK, and also in the blessed lands of Shaam, where he now lives, studies and teaches.

Problems In the Bedroom Affecting Many Muslim Marriages

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Problems in the bedroom department play a huge part in the failure of many marriages.

Sexual relations in marriage are a form of worship in Islam and are critical in strengthening our marital relationships, says Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam Al-Kawthari in this very detailed seminar. The more pious we are the better intimate relationships we will have with our spouses. Hence, we should make a sincere effort in following the teachings of Islam and making our spouses the sole focus of our sexual desires.  Our thanks to Darul Iftaa and Rayyan Institute for this recording.

sexual relations in marriage

Resources on Muslim Marriages and Sexual Relations

Cover photo by Azlan DuPree.

Is There an Expiation for Masturbation During Fasting? (Shafi’i)

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Answered by Shaykh Shuaib Ally

Question: Should a man having an intercourse after breaking his fast through masturbation perform an expiation for this broken fast?

Answer: Assalamu ‘alaykum,

I pray that you are well.

The Legal Ruling

If a male were in an obligatory fast in Ramadan, and then were to masturbate and ejaculate, followed by having intercourse with any woman, his wife or otherwise, there would be no obligatory expiation for the broken fast. This is because the expiation is specifically for a fast that is broken by means of intercourse, not by masturbation.

If one is remorseful and wishes to pay the expiation along with performing the obligatory make up fast, he can do so as a form of voluntary charity, seeking the forgiveness of God.

Breaking a Fast in Ramadan

Breaking your fast by any means without just cause is sinful, whether or not there is an associated expiation. The Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, is reported to have said, “Whoever breaks a day of fast in Ramadan, without a permissible dispensation or illness, fasting an eternity, were he to do so, would not make it up” [Tirmidhi; Nasa’i].

God knows best.

Shuaib Ally

What Should I Do After Breaking a Make-up Fast Because of My Husband?

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Answered by Shaykh Umer Mian

Question: Assalam’aleykum

I was fasting today with the intention of making up my Ramadan fast but my husband broke my fast by having intercourse with me and told me that it will be ok because it is not Ramadan. Will I have to make up today’s fast also?

Answer: Wa alaikum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

You only have to make up the Ramadan fast. When you started that makeup fast, your intention was not to initiate a new fast, but rather to make up a fast that was already upon you. Hence, when the makeup fast was invalidated, the obligation of making up the original fast remains and no additional obligation is added. Also, there is no kaffarrah (expiation) for invalidating fasts outside the month of Ramadan.

However, please be aware that the permissibility of invalidating a fast one has started (what your husband may have been thinking of) is only for nafl (supererogatory) fasts. Qada (makeup) of missed Ramadan fasts is not nafl, but rather it is fard (obligatory). Hence, if one is fasting a qada of a Ramadan fast, it would be makruh tahreeman (prohibitively disliked) to invalidate the fast (e.g. by eating, drinking, or having intercourse).

Similarly, the right of the husband to prohibit his wife from fasting extends to nafl fasts only. If the wife has qada fasts that need to be done, the husband has no right to prevent her from performing these fasts. It is mustahabb (recommended) to perform such makeups as soon as possible because they are an obligation owed to Allah Most High.

لَا يُكْرَهُ فِطْرُهُ لَوْ صَائِمًا غَيْرَ قَضَاءِ رَمَضَانَ (الدر المختار عن الأشباه)
[ قَوْلُهُ لَوْ صَائِمًا غَيْرَ قَضَاءِ رَمَضَان ] أَمَّا هُوَ فَيُكْرَهُ فِطْرُهُ لِأَنَّ لَهُ حُكْمُ رَمَضَانَ كَمَا فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ (رد المحتار)

لِلزَّوْجِ أَنْ يَمْنَعَ زَوْجَتَهُ عَنْ كُلِّ مَا كَانَ الْإِيجَابُ مِنْ جِهَتِهَا كَالتَّطَوُّعِ وَالنَّذْرِ وَالْيَمِينِ دُونَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ جِهَتِهِ تَعَالَى كَقَضَاءِ رَمَضَانَ (رد المحتار عن بحر الرائق)

Wassalam,
Umer

Photo: Emmanuel Huybrechts

What If Menstruation Begins During Intercourse?

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Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: My wife and I became intimate and had sexual intercourse without realizing that she had begun menstruating. As soon as it became apparent (by seeing blood) that she was menstruating, we immediately stopped. Is an expiation due in this case?

Answer: Walaikum assalam,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.

In such a case, nothing is due and no ‘rectification’ is required.

First: We are only responsible to the extent of our reasonable ability and awareness. Allah Most High makes it clear that, “Allah does not make a soul responsible beyond its capacity” [Qur’an, 2.286]. This is part of the broader Divine Promise that, “He has placed no hardship for you in religion” [Qur’an, 22.78].

Second: It is understood from the Qur’an and Sunna, as the jurists explain, that, “Accidents are ascribed to the nearest time” [Ibn Nujaym, al-Ashbah wa’l Nadha’ir; Majalla]. Thus if you see bleeding, you assume that it just came out—and that it wasn’t present before. The assumption would be that the intercourse was initiated in a state of purity.

Third: You responded in the right manner, Alhamdulillah. If the couple realizes that menstrual bleeding has begun, they are obligated to end intercourse, immediately [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar].

Fourth: Your concern for caution and upholding proper conduct is commendable. The best way of upholding caution is to root one’s understanding and practice in sound knowledge—and to never hesitate to ask. The Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him & his folk) said, “The only cure for confusion is to ask” [Related by Imam Ahmad, Ibn Maja, and others].

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

Please see also: Confusion About Different Opinions Regarding What is Considered Menstruation

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani

Photo: garycycles8

Is Sex in the Month of Ramadan Permissible?

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Answered by Ustadh Shuaib Ally

Question: Assalam ‘aleykum,

I have been married recently.

Can we have intercourse during Ramadan?

Answer: Assalam’aleykum,

May Allah have mercy on your father, and keep your family together.

I pray that the following is useful in answering your questions and alleviating some of your concerns:

Intercourse is one of the things that one must abstain from while fasting, during the daytime hours of Ramadan. Engaging in intercourse while fasting is impermissible and a major sin.

It is permissible and not in any way blameworthy for a person to have sex with one’s spouse during the nights of the month of Ramadan.
Permissibility is established by the verse: “You are permitted to lie with your wives during the night of the fast. They are garments to you, as you are to them. God was aware that you were betraying yourselves, so He turned to you in mercy and pardoned you: now you can lie with them, and seek what God has ordained for you…” [Qur’an, 3.187].

Shuaib Ally

What Should I Do after Having Intercourse While Fasting?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: I have broken my fast two times by having a sexual relation. What should I do?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

You need to do two things:

(1) Repent for your mistake, [see: A Reader on Tawba (Repentance)]

(2) and makeup the two fasts in which you had intercourse.

If either of these was Ramadan, you need to perform an expiation which is sixty consecutive fasts.

Please see: How Many Expiations Are Required For Multiple Broken Fasts?

And Allah alone gives success.

wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Making Ghusl After Continual Exiting of Sexual Fluids

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Answered by Ustadha Shaista Maqbool

Question: I understand that if one has an orgasm, a ghusl is required each time something exits from one’s private parts after intimate relations. However, because it is normal for most women to have discharge all day long even without any relations, how does one know whether what is coming out is sexual fluid or everyday discharge? When do the ghusls stop?

For example:

Husband and wife are intimate at 2 AM.
Wife experiences exiting of fluids afterwards.
She does ghusl before fajr at 5 AM.
Wife experiences the exiting of fluid all day thereafter.
It could be sexual fluid but it could also be her usual discharge.

Please help clarify this as its becoming a huge source of waswasa and hardship for me.

JazakAllahu khair,
Wasalaam

Answer: Wa’alaikum assalaam warahmatu Allah,

If a woman urinates after intercourse, if semen exits from her thereafter, she is only required to do wudu, not ghusl. Therefore she would only take one ghusl after intercourse.

If she has discharge after this, she does wudu if she is certain or predominantly believes the fluid exiting is semen. If she is uncertain (for example 50/50), she would consider it to be normal female discharge.

And Allah knows best.

Wasalaam,

Shaista Maqbool

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani