Ads by Muslim Ad Network

Can Spouse Sleep in One Bed while Fasting?

29 March, 2024
Q I need to know if a fasting wife is allowed to sleep next to her fasting husband without the intention of sexual intercourse.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

If you are sure that you are in control of yourself and have no fear of getting carried away by your desires and thus invalidating your fast, then you are certainly allowed to sleep in the same bed with your spouse while fasting.


Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Ads by Muslim Ad Network

There is nothing wrong with you sharing the bed with your spouse while both of you are fasting—unless, of course, you fear you won’t be able to control your desires and will thus end up nullifying your fasts through sexual intercourse, in which case you are best advised against it.

We read in the traditions that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked by a man whether he could kiss his wife while fasting, to which he replied, “No,” but when another man asked him the same question, he told him, “Yes.”

Explaining the divergent responses, Ibn Abbas, one of the eminent Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), said, “The first was a young man (and the Prophet presumed he would be carried away by his desires), while the second was an elderly person.” (At- Tabarani, al-Bayhaqi and others)

Similarly, we also read the statement of Aishah, the beloved wife of the Prophet, who said that the Prophet used to kiss his wives while fasting, but then added, “But who among you can restrain his desire like the Prophet used to?” (Ibn Hibban)

Based on the above considerations, if you are sure that you are in control of yourself and have no fear of getting carried away by your desires and thus invalidating your fast, then you are certainly allowed to sleep in the same bed with your spouse while fasting.

Almighty Allah knows best.