❖ Source:
This fatwa is taken from the book “500 Questions & Answers for Women”, based on the legal verdicts of the scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.✿ Question:
What is the Islamic ruling on engaging in anal intercourse (i.e., intercourse through the wife’s back passage)? Does such an act necessitate expiation (kaffārah)?✿ Answer:
Engaging in anal intercourse with one's wife is counted among the major sins (kaba’ir) and among the worst forms of disobedience, because it is authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:«ملعون من أتى امرأته في دبرها»
“Cursed is the one who approaches his wife from her back passage (anus).”
[Ḥasan – Sunan Abī Dāwūd, ḥadīth no. 2162]
And the Prophet ﷺ also said:
«لا ينظر الله إلى رجل أتى رجلًا أو امرأة في دبرها»
“Allah will not look (with mercy) at the one who engages in anal intercourse with a man or a woman.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ – Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb: 3122]
Anyone who has committed this act must immediately perform sincere repentance (tawbah). This includes:
① Desisting from the act entirely.
② Recognizing the greatness of Allah and fearing His punishment.
③ Feeling remorse for the sin committed.
④ Making a firm intention never to return to this sin.
⑤ Striving to increase in righteous deeds.
Whoever truly repents, Allah accepts his repentance and forgives his sin, as Allah says:
﴿وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ﴾
“Indeed, I am most Forgiving to the one who repents, believes, and does righteous deeds, then remains steadfast.”
[Sūrat Ṭā Hā: 82]
And Allah also says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ...﴾
“And those who do not invoke any other deity with Allah, nor kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except by right, nor commit adultery...”
[Sūrat al-Furqān: 68]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«الإسلام يهدم ما كان قبله، والهجرة تهدم ما كان قبلها»
“Islam wipes out what came before it, and Hijrah (migration) wipes out what came before it.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth no. 121]
There are many other similar verses and hadiths.
Furthermore, according to the sounder of two scholarly views, the one who engages in such an act is not required to pay expiation (kaffārah), and his wife does not become unlawful for him as a result. She remains within the bounds of his marriage.
However, it is impermissible for a woman to obey her husband in such a sinful act. In fact, she must refrain and demand that he repents. If he refuses to abandon this sin, she is entitled to seek annulment (faskh) of the marriage.
We ask Allah to protect us from such evil acts.
[Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāz رحمه الله]