Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

It is true that during fasting one should not engage in sexual intercourse rather Sexual intercourse is forbidden during fasting. How about foreplay? Is foreplay permissible during fasting.

Jazakallah Khair. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Kissing cuddling during fasts

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ….It is true that during fasting one should not engage in sexual intercourse rather Sexual intercourse is forbidden during fasting.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 187:

187 Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach (for sexual intercourse) to your wives. They are your garments. And ye are their garments. Allah Knows what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and seek what Allah hath ordained for you and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.

Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: "I am destroyed, O Messenger of Allah (saws)!" The Prophet (saws) asked: "What has destroyed you?" He said, "I had intercourse with my wife during a day of (while fasting in) Ramadan." The Prophet (saws) asked: "Are you able to free a slave?" He said, "No". The Prophet (saws) asked: "Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?" He said, "No." The Prophet (saws) asked: "Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?" He said, "No." The Prophet (saws) said: "Then sit." A basket of dates was brought to the Prophet (saws) and he said to the man: ‘Give this in charity.’ The man said: "To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than us!" The Prophet (saws) laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and said: "Go and feed your family with it!"

Related by the Muslim and Bukhari.

It is permissible in Shariah Law for a believing couple united in the sacred bond of marriage to enjoy sexual relations during the nights (or non-fasting hours) of Ramadan; but it is strictly prohibited for a believing couple to conjugate while fasting in Ramadan.

Your Question: ….how about foreplay? Is foreplay permissible during fasting.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.149 Narrated by Aisha

The Prophet (saws) used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he (saws) was fasting, and he had more power to control his desires than any of you.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2450 Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab

Umar asked the Messenger of Allah (saws): ‘Can one observing fast kiss (his wife)?’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) said to him: ‘Ask her (Umm Salamah (r.a., the Prophet’s (saws) wife)). She informed him that the Messenger of Allah (saws) did that, whereupon he (Umar (r.a.)) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws), Allah pardoned thee all thy sins, the previous and the later ones.’ Upon this the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘By Allah, I am the most God-conscious among you and I fear Him most among you.’

Islam has absolutely prohibited conjugal relations between a believing husband and wife during the fasting hours, if one or both amongst them are fasting. But there is no harm and no sin if one embraces or kisses one’s wife, for that does not invalidate the fast; but one should strive to fear Allah and not exceed the boundaries.

Although the act of foreplay or kissing one’s wife by itself does not legally invalidate one’s fast, the believers should fear Allah their Lord, control their desires, and abstain from indulging with their wives in passionate kissing or hugging during fasting hours….for if Allah forbid, they were to transgress the limits of the Lord and indulge in sexual intercourse, or one were to have a full sexual discharge, etc.; not only would such a thing invalidate their fasts, but they would have violated the sanctity of the blessed month of Ramadan, transgressed the Bounds of Allah and thus become guilty of committing a grave and heinous sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

If one sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, they should control, save and conserve their desire and their passion until the fasting hours of the day are over.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan