❖ Ruling on Intercourse with One’s Wife During Iʿtikāf
Source: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling if a man has intercourse with his wife during Iʿtikāf?
❖ Answer:
Engaging in sexual intercourse with one’s wife during Iʿtikāf is ḥarām (forbidden).
If a person intentionally engages in intercourse with his wife while in the state of Iʿtikāf, then his Iʿtikāf becomes invalid.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence:
﴿وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah: 187)
"Do not approach your wives sexually while you are in Iʿtikāf in the mosques. These are the limits set by Allah, so do not approach them. Thus Allah makes His verses clear to the people so that they may become righteous."
❖ Scholarly Consensus:
❀ Imam al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله (d. 671 AH) said:
"أجمع أهل العلم على أن من جامع امرأته وهو معتكف عامدا لذلك فى فرجها أنه مفسد لاعتكافه."
"The scholars are unanimously agreed that if someone, while in Iʿtikāf, intentionally engages in sexual intercourse with his wife in the private area, then his Iʿtikāf is invalidated."
(Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī: 2/332)
✔ Summary:
Sexual intercourse during Iʿtikāf is strictly forbidden. If done knowingly and intentionally, it invalidates the Iʿtikāf. This ruling is based on clear Qur’anic injunction and the consensus of scholars. The person must repent and, if possible, make up the invalidated Iʿtikāf later.