❖ Concept, Ruling, and Hadith-Based Clarification on ʿAzl (Coitus Interruptus)
By: Imran Ayub Lahori
✿ Definition of ʿAzl (Coitus Interruptus)
The word ʿAzl (عزل) is derived from the verb عَزَلَ يَعْزِلُ (Baab Darb), meaning "to separate."
[Al-Munjid, p. 554]
In technical (Islamic legal) terms, ʿAzl refers to the act whereby a man engages in intercourse with his wife but, upon approaching ejaculation, withdraws his sexual organ from her private part and ejaculates outside.
❖ Legal Status of ʿAzl in Islamic Law
The term “unlawful” (ناجائز) here refers to it being discouraged (makruh)—meaning that avoiding ʿAzl is preferable.
This is because while some narrations prohibit it, others permit it. Therefore, the prohibitive narrations are interpreted to mean dislike (karāhah), rather than absolute prohibition.
✿ Hadiths Indicating Prohibition
➊ Narration of Ḥaḍrat Jadhāmah bint Wahb (RA):
Some people asked the Prophet ﷺ about ʿAzl, and he said:
ذَٰلِكَ الْوَأْدُ الْخَفِيُّ
“It is a form of hidden infanticide.”
[Muslim: 1442; Abu Dawood: 3882; Tirmidhi: 2076; Ibn Majah: 2011; Ahmad: 6/361; Nasa’i: 6/106; Muwatta: 2/607; Darimi: 2/146; Ibn Hibban: 4196; Bayhaqi: 7/465]
→ Since this is not actual infanticide, it is not considered haram.
➋ Statement of Ḥaḍrat ʿUmar (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited ʿAzl with a free woman unless her permission is obtained.
[Weak: Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 2007; Ahmad: 1/31; Ibn Majah: 1928]
✿ Hadiths Indicating Permission
➊ Narration of Ḥaḍrat Jābir (RA):
“We used to perform ʿAzl during the time of the Prophet ﷺ while the Qur’an was being revealed.”
[Bukhari: 5209; Muslim: 1440; Abu Yaʿlā: 2193; Tirmidhi: 1137; Ahmad: 3/377; Bayhaqi: 7/228]
➋ Another narration states:
This act (of practicing ʿAzl) reached the Prophet ﷺ but he did not prohibit it.
[Muslim: 1440; Abu Dawood: 2173; Abu Yaʿlā: 2255; Ibn Hibban: 4195; Tahawi: 3/35; Bayhaqi: 7/228]
➌ Some companions asked the Prophet ﷺ about ʿAzl. He said:
"There is no harm if you do not do it. However, the souls destined to be born until the Day of Judgment will surely come into existence regardless.”
[Bukhari: 2542; Muslim: 1438; Abu Dawood: 2172; Ahmad: 3/98; Muwatta: 2/594; Ibn Hibban: 4193]
➍ A man said to the Prophet ﷺ:
“I practice ʿAzl with my slave woman because I dislike that she conceives. The Jews claim that ʿAzl is a form of minor infanticide.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“The Jews lie! If Allah intends to create a child, nothing can prevent it.”
[Authentic: Sahih Abu Dawood: 1903; Abu Dawood: 2171; Ahmad: 3/151]
✿ Scholarly Commentary
➤ Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) explains:
The Prophet ﷺ rejected the Jewish claim that ʿAzl prevents conception entirely, which is false.
If Allah wills creation, ʿAzl cannot prevent it. The phrase “hidden infanticide” used in the hadith of Jadhāmah refers to the intention of avoiding conception, not actual infanticide.
Infanticide involves both intention and direct action, while ʿAzl involves only intention—hence it is called وَأْدٌ خَفِيٌّ (hidden burial).
[Zād al-Maʿād: 5/145]
➤ Shawkāni (رحمه الله) said:
This reconciliation by Ibn al-Qayyim is strong and sound.
[Nayl al-Awtār: 4/286]
➤ Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله) held the view that:
ʿAzl is haram.
[Al-Muḥallā: 10/70–71]
➤ Imām Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (رحمه الله) claimed consensus (ijmāʿ) that ʿAzl with a free wife requires her permission.
However, this claim is disputed, because according to the Shāfiʿī school, ʿAzl is generally permissible without conditions.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 10/385]
Final Ruling (Rājiḥ Opinion):
**ʿAzl is neither haram nor absolutely impermissible. Rather, it is merely disliked (makrūh).
