Sexual intercourse in the last ten nights of Ramadan

25/07/2010| IslamWeb

Question 

Is it permissible for a man to have sexual intercourse with his wife in the last ten nights of Ramadan? Would this decrease his reward for fasting, or does it imply that one is not applying the Sunnah? Please advise. An immediate answer would be highly appreciated. May Allah reward you.

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

It is permissible for a man to have sexual intercourse with his wife in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.}[Quran 2: 187]

This does not decrease the reward of fasting or the night voluntary prayers during Ramadan. The Prophet used to avoid sexual intercourse with his wives during the last ten days of Ramadan and perform I‘tikaaf (ritual seclusion in the Mosque). The best thing is to do this following the example of the Prophet; otherwise, one is not blameworthy for not doing this but has nonetheless missed out on something good. Some of the Companions would perform I‘tikaaf, while others did not. However, none of them criticized the other.   

And Allah Knows best.