Question:
I have a question. My wife and I are expecting inshallah in couple of months. My question is, am I allowed to be in the delivery room with my wife? Our midwife had asked that one person assist my wife. The midwife also stated that she needed to register some-one’s name for this. Can you please get back at your earliest convenience? Thanks.
Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Thank you for your question. I would like to congratulate you and your wife on your upcoming child “mabrook”. May Almighty Allah bless all of you as a family. May Almighty Allah make the process of the child coming to this world with ease. May Almighty Allah make the child a source of blessings for you and others. May Almighty Allah make the child the coolness of your eyes.
To answer your concern, please note that you as a husband are permitted according to Islamic guidelines to be in the delivery room. There is no objection in this. The husband is to be a support for his wife.
I presume you are also concerned regarding the exposing of the ‘awrah’ (private areas of the body that must be covered). During the delivery your wife’s ‘awrah’ may be exposed, however there is no objection if your glances as a husband happen to see the ‘awrah’. Just as in marital intercourse, there is no ‘awrah’ between lawful husband and wife. As for the midwife, this is a state of necessity, hence during the delivery the midwife is permitted to be exposed to the ‘awrah’ of your wife during the delivery.
This is a time when your wife needs your support. This is a great opportunity to be at the side of your wife as she becomes the mother of your child.
Please refer to the following references:
“They (wives) are Libas (body cover/clothing) for you and you (husbands) are the same for them” (Holy Quran 2:187)
Aisha (ra) states, “I used to bathe with the Prophet (pbuh) from a single container of water which was placed between us, such that our hands collided inside it” (Bukhari)
“Live together with them correctly and courteously” (Holy Quran 4:19)
Abu Hurayra (ra) stated, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their women.” (Tirmidhi)
And Allah knows best.
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Hadith of the Day Imam
Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto and Director of Mathabah institute
