Question:
Can husband and wife masturbate each other if they have sexual desire and due to monthly cycle, or sick or any other reason they cannot perform intercourse?
Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Thank you for your question.
In an authentic hadith in Ibn Majah, It was narrated from Anas Ibn Malik that the Jews would not sit with a menstruating woman in a house, nor eat with her, nor drink with her. That was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) and then Allah revealed the words: “They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: that it is harm, therefore keep away from women during menses.” The Messenger of Allah said that this means you can do everything with each other except sexual intercourse.
Therefore, mutual masturbation is included in that which is halal between husband and wife as everything is permissible unless proven otherwise. The only thing off limits between husband and wife is anal sex and intercourse during her period.
This is as Allah says:
Your spouses are a tilth for you, so approach your tilth (ie. Sexually) when or how you will. (Quran 2:223)
And Allah knows best.
Answered by Shaykh Omar Suleiman
Hadith of the Day Imam
Director – Islamic Learning Foundation
