Is it ok to pleasure your husband/wife with your mouth?

Oral sex between a husband and wife is considered as Makruh Tahrimi by the%0D%0Ajurists, since there is strong possibility that by ejaculation, Mazi occurs%0D%0Aand enters the mouth of the partner. There is consensus amongst the Fuqahaa%0D%0Athat Mazi is Najis (impure)%0D%0A%0D%0AORAL SEX%0D%0AMan has been created as a bearer of high and noble attributes. In him he%0D%0Amirros the attributes of divinity (Sifaat-e-Ilaahiyya) such as life,%0D%0Aknowledge, power, will, sight, hearing, speech, love, etc. In the%0D%0Aauthoritative Tafseer of the aforementioned Aayat, it is said that Insaan%0D%0A(man) has been adorned with the Noor of Aql (the light of intelligence).%0D%0AThis celestial faculty of intelligence creates in Insaan the capacity for%0D%0Athe manifestation of the lofty and divine attributes of Allah Ta%E3la. By%0D%0Avirtue of the Noor of Aql man becomes incandescent by being a mirror for%0D%0Athese lofty attributes and manifestation (Tajalliyaat-e-Zilliyah and%0D%0ASifaat-e-Zaatiyyah). As a direct consequence of this lofty pedestal which%0D%0AInsaan occupies in the Divine Scheme, the mantle of Khilaafah (vicegerency)%0D%0Ahas been conferred on him. Stating this fact, the Qur%E3n declares: 'Verily I%0D%0Ashall be creating on earth a Khaleefah.'%0D%0AIn the Tafseer of the Aayat mentioned at the beginning, it is also said that%0D%0Ain relation to all the species of life, man has been endowned with the most%0D%0Abeautiful form. All other animals have been created in a lowly form with%0D%0Atheir heads downwards. Their faces constantly pointing downwards to the%0D%0Aearth indicate their low rank in relation to man. In contrast, man has been%0D%0Acreated upright and he eats his food by means of raising it with his hands%0D%0Aunlike the lowly beasts with faces downwards.%0D%0A%0D%0AHIS DEBASEMENT%0D%0AIn the Tafseer of the Aayat, it is said that when man willingly destroys his%0D%0Anatural ability to progress to the pedestals of elevation, he degenerates%0D%0Aand falls from his lofty mansion. He then falls to levels lower than the%0D%0Alevel of dogs, pigs and even Shayaateen.%0D%0A%0D%0ASUPERIORITY%0D%0AAccording to the authentic Tafaseer, prior to the creation of Aadam (%C1layhis%0D%0Asalaam), the Malaaikah (angels) entertained the opinion that Allah Ta%E3la%0D%0Awill not create any being superior to them. Allah Ta%E3la negates this opinion%0D%0Aof the Malaaikah by creating Aadam (%C1layhis salaam) and making him a%0D%0Amanifestation of divine attributes. To illustrate Insaan's superiority over%0D%0Aall pecies of creation, Allah Ta%E3la commanded the Malaaikah to make Sajdah%0D%0A(prostration) to him (Nabi Aadam (%C1layhis salaam). The superiority of man is%0D%0Awell emphasised by the statement of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi%0D%0AWasallam): 'Allah created Aadam in His (Allah's) form.' Insha Allah, this%0D%0AHadith will be explained in greater detail in some future issue of 'the%0D%0AMajlis'. Here it is sufficient to mention the interpretation of the%0D%0Aauthorities intelligence, sight, hearing, etc. These lofty attributes are%0D%0Alocated in that part of the human body called head. It is for this reason%0D%0Athat Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) forbade striking or slapping%0D%0Athe face of any human being or even an animal. In the Tafseer of the Qur%E3nic%0D%0AAayat which permits husbands to beat wives in cases of necessity, it is%0D%0Asaid: 'The face shall not be slapped'. Explaining the reason for the%0D%0Aprohibition of slapping the face, Imaam Nawawi (RA) says in his Sharhul%0D%0AMuslim, 'Because the face is the embodiment of man's beauty in addition to%0D%0Ait being of sublime nature.'%0D%0A%0D%0ATHE LATAA-IF-E-SITTAH%0D%0AIn man there are six metaphysical or non-material or spiritual faculties%0D%0Aknown as the Lataa-if-e-sittah. Two of these lofty faculties, viz. Lateefah%0D%0AKhaafi and Lateefah Akhfa are located in the head. The Lateefah Akhfah is%0D%0Alocated in the centre of the brain while the location of Lateefah Khafi is%0D%0Abetween the eyebrows. The functions of these faculties are the highest%0D%0Astates of reflection and contemplation, progressing from the high state of%0D%0AFana to Fanul Fana. These are spiritual or Roohani stages which shall not be%0D%0Adiscussed in this article.%0D%0A%0D%0APATHWAY FOR QUR%C3N%0D%0AIn the Ahaadith, the following narration appears.%0D%0A'Verily, your mouths are pathways of the Qur%E3n, therefore purify your mouths%0D%0Awith Miswaak'.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Makhaarij or places from whence Qur%E3nic huroof (letters) emanate are%0D%0Alocated in the mouth. The high Ibaadat of Tilaawat of the Qur%E3n shareef is%0D%0Aeffected via the mouth, hence the Hadith describes the mouth as the 'pathway%0D%0Aof the Qur%E3n'. Since it is, literally speaking, the channel for the%0D%0Arecitation of the Qur%E3n shareef, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam)%0D%0Aemphasised much the maintainance of its purity. The emphasis on the purity%0D%0Aof the mouth could be gauged from the many times Rasulullah (Sallallaahu%0D%0A%C1layhi Wasallam) would use the Miswaak everyday to clean his mouth. The%0D%0Apractice of Miswaak is strongly stressed by the Shari%E1h. In one Hadith,%0D%0ARasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) said, 'When the servant of Allah%0D%0Auses the Miswaak and then performs Salaat, an angel stands behind him,%0D%0Alistening attentively to the recitation of the Qur%E3n. The angels draws%0D%0Acloser and closer to the reciter and places his mouth on the mouth of the%0D%0Areciter. Thus every word emanating from the mouth of the Musalli enters the%0D%0Aangel's mouth. Therefore, maintain your mouth pure and clean for the Qur%E3n.%0D%0A%0D%0AZIKRULLAH%0D%0AThe actual purpose underlying the creation of man is Zikrullah or the%0D%0Aremembrance of Allah Ta%E3la. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) ordered%0D%0AMuslims to maintain their tongues fresh with the Zikr of Allah Ta%E3la.%0D%0AThe facts mentioned above will indicate that Insaan is Ashraful Makhlukaat%0D%0A(the noblest of creation) and the noblest part of his body is his head which%0D%0Ais the location for lofty faculties and attributes which earn for him the%0D%0Adesignation of 'the form of Allah'. In order that he maintains his lofty%0D%0Arank and progresses continuously towards loftier mansions and closer Divine%0D%0AProximity, it is essential that man exercises restraint over his physical%0D%0Aand animal qualities. If he fails in this respect, he will descend to a%0D%0Alevel below the lowly beasts. Allah Ta%E3la has endowed man with intelligence,%0D%0Awill-power and shame. He must employ these attributes to subdue his animal%0D%0Aand carnal desires and refrain from indulgence in the excesses of lust. If%0D%0Ahe fails in this achievement he will annihilate himself spiritually and%0D%0Adegenerate to sub-animal levels.%0D%0AThe sublimity of Islam is of such a lofty degree that it exhorts its%0D%0Aadherence to adopt dignity, deportment and propriety in even sexual%0D%0Arelationship. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) advised his Ummah to%0D%0Aabstain from total nudity when indulging in sex and not to behave 'like%0D%0Aasses'. Since Islam is a culture of transcendental values calculated to%0D%0Aensure maximum remembrance of Allah Ta%E3la, a Muslim should not debase%0D%0Ahimself to a sub-animal level by resorting to the vile practice of oral sex.%0D%0AThe mouth of Insaan is the pathway of the Qur%E3n, his tongue has been%0D%0Acommanded to remain fresh with Zikrullah; his mouth is situated in the%0D%0Anoblest part of his body; the functions of his mouth are noble and lofty;%0D%0Ahis mouth is a passageway for transference of the recited Qur%E3n into the%0D%0Amouth of the listening angel. He cannot, therefore, debase and dishonour%0D%0Ahimself so disgracefully by resorting to the revolting practice of oral sex.%0D%0AA Muslim should not dishonour that head and face which the Shari%E1h of Islam%0D%0Acommands to be honoured. Allah Ta%E3la honoured the human head with noble%0D%0Aqualities, the highest being the Noor of Aql, but man debases that lofty%0D%0Apart of his body by indulging in an act of bestiality not even committed by%0D%0Athe lowly beasts. It does not behove man in general, and a Muslim in%0D%0Aparticular to degrade himself in this manner.%0D%0AThe Mu'min's link with Allah Ta%E3la is so strong or ought to be so strong%0D%0Athat the Shari%E1h has prescribed a particular Du%E1 to be recited even when a%0D%0Aman approaches his wife for sexual relations. Even at the moment of reaching%0D%0Aclimax and ejaculation, the Muslim is required to read in his mind (without%0D%0Amoving the lips) a special Du%E1 so that he remains protected from any%0D%0AShaitaani interference. We learn from the Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu%0D%0A%C1layhi Wasallam) that Shaytaan attempts to interfere with man even while he%0D%0Aindulges in lawful sex, hence the wording of the special Du%E1 for this%0D%0Aoccasion is: 'O Allah! Protect us from Shaytaan and protect the offspring%0D%0Ayou grant us from Shaytaan'.%0D%0AAllah Ta%E3la has honoured man highly, hence the Qur%E3n says, 'Verily, we have%0D%0Ahonoured the sons of Aadam.' He is therefore not allowed to debase himself%0D%0Awith the bestial acts which even the lowly beasts do not commit.%0D%0AThe mouth is an honoured part of the physical body. It is not a receptacle%0D%0Aof impurity. The Shari%E1h emphasises the maintainance of its purity. Even in%0D%0Athe developing foetus, Allah Ta%E3la has arranged for the maintainance of the%0D%0Apurity of the mouth. The umbilical cord connects the developing embryo to%0D%0Aits mother. It is the passageway in which exchange of nutrient and waste%0D%0Amaterials with the circulatory system of the mother takes place. In man the%0D%0Aumbilical cord arises at the navel below which is the location of the%0D%0Arebellious Nafs which reduces man to sub-animal levels if not restrained.%0D%0AWhy does Allah Ta%E3la not create the foetus with the umbilical cord attached%0D%0Ato its mouth so that its nutrition reaches it in the normal way, viz. Via%0D%0Athe mouth? Right until the very last moments prior to its emergence into the%0D%0Aexternal world, the baby's nutrition is via the umblical cord. Immediately%0D%0Aon reaching the outside world its nourishment reaches it from the mouth.%0D%0ASince the umbilical cord is also the passageway for impure waste matter, its%0D%0Aconnection is near to the location of the lowly nafs. The mouth has thus%0D%0Abeen guarded against impurities.%0D%0AThe facts presented in this article should be sufficient to convey to%0D%0AMuslims that their Imaan and the spirit of the teachings of Islam do not%0D%0Apermit them to grovel in the dregs of debasement and perpetrate moral%0D%0Ainjustice by utilising the mouth for deriving sexual pleasure. This is not%0D%0Athe function of the mouth. It is a misappropriation of an amaanat (trust).%0D%0AAll parts of the body are Amaanat which have to be utilised in accordance%0D%0Awith the instructions of Allah Ta%E3la. Such contamination and moral pollution%0D%0Aas entailed by oral sex are most unbecoming the dignity and rank of man,%0D%0Aespecially if the Insaan appears to be a follower of the illustrious Shari%E1h%0D%0Aof Muhammad (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam). Allah Ta%E3la states in the Noble%0D%0AQur%E3n, 'Verily, Allah loves those who purify themselves.'%0D%0A%0D%0AExtracted from 'The Majlis' Vol. 6 No. 8%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd Allah Ta%E3la Knows Best.%0D%0A%0D%0AWas salaam%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A