Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani حفظ اللہ
When may a man resume intimacy with his wife after childbirth?
Question:
How many days after the birth of a child can a man approach his wife?
Answer:
It is narrated from Umm Salamah رضی اللہ عنہا:
“Women experiencing postpartum bleeding during the time of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would remain (in a state of seclusion) for forty days.”
[Musnad Ahmad 6/300; Abu Dawood, Book of Purification: Chapter on the time of Nifas 1/3]
Imam Tirmidhi رحمتہ اللہ علیہ said:
“There is consensus among the scholars that women experiencing postpartum bleeding leave prayer for forty days, except if she becomes pure before that time. Then she should perform Ghusl and offer her prayers.”
This makes it clear that after childbirth, a woman will not pray for forty days, nor will the husband engage in sexual relations with her during this period. If the blood stops before forty days and she enters a state of purity, she should perform Ghusl. Once the blood has ceased and she has performed Ghusl, her husband may have sexual relations with her. The ruling for Nifas (postpartum bleeding) is the same as that for menstruation.
When may a man resume intimacy with his wife after childbirth?
Question:
How many days after the birth of a child can a man approach his wife?
Answer:
It is narrated from Umm Salamah رضی اللہ عنہا:
“Women experiencing postpartum bleeding during the time of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم would remain (in a state of seclusion) for forty days.”
[Musnad Ahmad 6/300; Abu Dawood, Book of Purification: Chapter on the time of Nifas 1/3]
Imam Tirmidhi رحمتہ اللہ علیہ said:
“There is consensus among the scholars that women experiencing postpartum bleeding leave prayer for forty days, except if she becomes pure before that time. Then she should perform Ghusl and offer her prayers.”
This makes it clear that after childbirth, a woman will not pray for forty days, nor will the husband engage in sexual relations with her during this period. If the blood stops before forty days and she enters a state of purity, she should perform Ghusl. Once the blood has ceased and she has performed Ghusl, her husband may have sexual relations with her. The ruling for Nifas (postpartum bleeding) is the same as that for menstruation.
