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Fatwa CenterRuling on sexual intercourse if it makes one late for the congregational prayer
Question
Is it permissible to have sexual intercourse between Athaan and Iqaamah? Please cite evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, if there is any.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
It is permissible for a man to have intercourse with his wife between Athaan and Iqaamah if there is sufficient time so that he can reach the congregational prayer because the principle is permissibility and there is no evidence that this is prohibited.
The matter is bound to attending the congregational prayer because it is obligatory on men to offer prayers in Masjids according to the most correct opinions of scholars. Whatever is necessary for fulfilling an obligation is in itself obligatory.
The exception is in case the time is limited and the heart of the man was preoccupied by intercourse and he yearned for it so that it is most likely that he would not be able to achieve humble submission in prayer and he would be distracted. Thus, this may be compared to serving food or having the urge to relieve oneself from urine or stool. Therefore, intercourse is permissible for him even if it leads to missing the congregational prayer. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “No prayer can be (rightly performed) when the food is served (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.” [Muslim]
The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: "When supper is brought and the prayer begins, one should start with food." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The wording of Al-Bukhari reads: "If supper is served to any one of you and the prayer also begins, first take supper, and do not make haste (for prayer) till you have taken the food." Food used to be served for Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah Be Pleased with him, when the prayer began; so he did not use to pray till he had finished eating though he heard the recitation of the Imaam. An-Nawawi, may Allaah Have mercy upon him, said in Sharh Saheeh Muslim: “The same applies to what preoccupies the heart and affects perfect submissiveness.”
Allaah Knows best.
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