Islamic views on anal sex

Anal sex in Sunni Islam is prohibited,[1] and is controversial among Islamic scholars and disputes over anal sex also appear in premodern sources [2] because of Ahadith of Sahih Bukhari [3] and Usul al-Kafi. It is practiced by some Muslims to avoid having too many children on the authority of above cites sources.[4]. However in modern times, it is overwhelmingly considered taboo.[5]

Anal sex and Quran

The Quran says "Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will, and send (good deeds, or ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring) for your ownselves beforehand. And fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give good tidings to the believers." (Al-Baqarah: 223)

In the foregoing verse the word Harth (tilth) indicates that only vaginal sex is permissible in Islam, because it is from this place children are produced. The semen lodged in the womb from which offsprings come is likened to the seeds that are planted in the ground, bringing vegetation. Both of them are substances from which something else is produced.

Narratives on the Prohibition of Anal Sex

All Muslim jurists agree that anal sex is Haram, based on the Hadith: "Do not have anal sex with women." (Reported by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa'i, and Ibn Majah.)

Khuzaymah Ibn Thaabit also reports that the Messenger of Allah, said: "Allah is not too shy to tell you the truth: Do not have sex with your wives in the anus." (Reported by Ahmad, 5/213.)

Ibn `Abbaas narrates: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Allah will not look at a man who has anal sex with his wife." (Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah, 3/529, and At-Tirmidhi classified it as an authentic Hadith, 1165.)

Further, it is reported that Muhammed referred to such an act as "minor sodomy." (Reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i.)

Anal sex and Sunni Islam

However, there are Ahadith which allows (anus, in Arabic Dubur: “ فِي الدُّبُر ” ) sex, one in Sunni sect and two in Shia sect. In Sunni sect, a high rated Hadith Book Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60: Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet), Hadith No. 50, [6] allows it, its authenticity and anal sex concept is conformed by a Hadith of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11: Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Hadith Number 2159 [7], whereas the said Hadith itself disapproves along with many other Ahadith in other books except Sahih Bukhari.[8]

Ijma & Bukhari Hadith

Narrated Nafi': Whenever Ibn 'Umar recited the Qur'an, he would not speak to anyone till he had finished his recitation. Once I held the Qur'an and he recited Surat-al-Baqara from his memory and then stopped at a certain Verse and said, "Do you know in what connection this Verse was revealed? " I replied, "No." He said, "It was revealed in such-and-such connection." Ibn 'Umar then resumed his recitation. Nafi added regarding the Verse:--"So go to your tilth when or how you will" Ibn 'Umar said, "It means one should approach his wife in .." (Volume 6, Book 60, Number 50), http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/060.sbt.html#006.060.050.

Anal Sex and Shia Islam

In Shia Islam, a high rated Hadith Book “Usool al- Kafi, i.e., The Bukhari of Shi'ism” says that anal sex with woman is totally haram. The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani says that anal sex is haram in Islam (Haram). [9], [10].

Imam Malik View

In Sunni Islam Imam Malik[11], along with Imam Bukhari [12] was convinced of Anal Sex being allowed and he himself practiced it also and Imam Shaafi was in favor of it. Haifz Ibn Hajr has also copied a dialogue of Imam Shaafi on this topic, with Imam Azam’s student named Imam Muhammad. In the Shia sect, Abu Abdullah allows it.

In other reference, Imam Malik said that anal intercourse is haram (prohibited), but enjoyment of the rear (anus: dubur) without penetration (eelaaj) is licit. [13]. It is lawful to place a finger on the anus as foreplay as long as it does not penetrate. [14].

Quran Commentators View

There are enough authentications from both the commentators and Hadith for the existence of Anal Sex Hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari. Imam Al-Bukhari recorded the following (see image below) interpretation of Sura 2:223. Ibn Umar the son of the second caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab allowed engaging in anal sex. This definitely explains why Ibn Abbas declares that Ibn Umar misunderstood the meaning of this specific text of Sura 2:223.[15].

Ibn Kathir View

The anal sex concept of Sahih Bukhari was denied later on by other scholars such as by "Ibn Kathir" in "Tafsir Ibn Kathir" - Quran Tafsir – “The Reason behind revealing Allah's Statement Your Wives are a Tilth for You”.[16].

Some forbid anal-sex as an obligatory precaution.[17].

Anal sex and Tafseer Tabari

Imam Tabari cites as:

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو قِلَابَةَ قَالَ : ثنا عَبْد الصَّمَد , قَالَ : ثني أَبِي , عَنْ أَيُّوب , عَنْ نَافِع , عَنْ ابْن عُمَر : { فَأْتُوا حَرْثكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ } قَالَ : فِي الدُّبُر

Hadith No. 3468 .[18]

Translation of Arabic Text: It was narrated by Abu Kilaba, narrated by Abdel Samad, who said that it was narrated by his father who narrated from Ayub, narrated from Nafi’, narrated by Ibn Umar who said that (Sura 2:223), ‘Your wives are as a tilth unto you: so approach your tilth when or how you will,’

Anal Sex and Sahih Bukhari

In Sahih Bukhari Hadith & Urdu translation of the Hadith by renowned Ahle Hadith scholar Waheed-uz-Zaman, it is clearly written in bracket, that is, “in Anus” , in Arabic, “ فِي الدُّبُر ”.

File:Interpretation of Holy Quran Verse by Sahih Bukhari Hadith.JPG

Interpretation of Holy Quran Verse by Sahih Bukhari Hadith & Urdu translation of the Hadith by renowned Ahle Hadith scholar Waheed-uz-Zaman, it is clearly written in bracket, that is, “in Anus” , in Arabic, “ فِي الدُّبُر ”.

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:

Ibn Umar misunderstood (the Qur'anic verse, "So come to your tilth however you will") --may Allah forgive him. The fact is that this clan of the Ansar, who were idolaters, lived in the company of the Jews who were the people of the Book. They (the Ansar) accepted their superiority over themselves in respect of knowledge, and they followed most of their actions. The people of the Book (i.e. the Jews) used to have intercourse with their women on one side alone (i.e. lying on their backs). This was the most concealing position for (the vagina of) the women. This clan of the Ansar adopted this practice from them. But this tribe of the Quraysh used to uncover their women completely, and seek pleasure with them from in front and behind and laying them on their backs.

When the muhajirun (the immigrants) came to Medina, a man married a woman of the Ansar. He began to do the same kind of action with her, but she disliked it, and said to him: We were approached on one side (i.e. lying on the back); do it so, otherwise keep away from me. This matter of theirs spread widely, and it reached the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).

So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur'anic verse: "Your wives are a tilth to you, so come to your tilth however you will," i.e. from in front, from behind or lying on the back. But this verse meant the place of the delivery of the child, i.e. the vagina.

Anal Sex and Tafseer of Sahih Bukhari Hadith

In Bukhari Hadith Tafseer, it is clearly written “in Anus” , in Arabic, “ فِي الدُّبُر ”.

Image: Urdu translation of Anal Sex and Tafseer of Sahih Bukhari Hadith. It is clearly written “in Anus” , in Arabic, “ فِي الدُّبُر ”.

Anal sex and Hanafi sect

For the Hanafi view, read the Arabic Text, the English translation & the image in Arabic and Urdu below:

The Arabic Text:

وفي المغني ج7ص225 : ( ورويت إباحته عن ابن عمر وزيد بن أسلم ونافع ومالك ، وروي عن مالك أنه قال : ما أدركت أحد أقتدي به في ديني يشك في أنه حلال . وأهل العراق من أصحاب مالك ينكرون ذلك واحتج من أجله بقول الله عز وجل {نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ}(البقرة/223) وقوله سبحانه {وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلاَّ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ}(المؤمنون/5-6) ) .

File:Anal Sex and Hanafi Sect.JPG

Anal Sex and Hanafi Sect, in Arabic & Urdu translation. It is clearly written “in Anus” , in Arabic, “ فِي الدُّبُر ”.

Image: Anal Sex and Hanafi Sect, in Arabic & Urdu translation. It is clearly written “in Anus” , in Arabic, “ فِي الدُّبُر ”.

Contradiction in Hadith Literature

This article appears to contradict itself, because of contradiction in Hadith literature itself.

Sahih Bukhari book 60 Hadith No. 50 has mentioned derectly of Anal Sex and is not refering to the same matter as Hadith No. 51. The reasoning that the Arabic text of Hadith has left the word blank is valid. Other references are as:

An-Nasa'i reported that Ka`b bin `Alqamah said that Abu An-Nadr said that he asked Nafi`, "The people are repeating the statement that you relate from Ibn `Umar that he allowed sex with women in their rear (anus). He said, "They have said a lie about me. But let me tell you what really happened. Ibn `Umar was once reciting the Qur'an while I was with him and he reached the Ayah:

(Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will,) He then said, `O Nafi`! Do you know the story behind this Ayah' I said, `No.' He said, `We, the people of Quraysh, used to have sexual intercourse with our wives from the back (in the vagina). When we migrated to Al-Madinah and married some Ansari women, we wanted to do the same with them. They disliked it and made a big issue out of it. The Ansari women had followed the practice of the Jews who have sex with their women while they lay on their sides. Then, Allah revealed: (Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will,) This has an authentic chain of narrators.

Abu Muhammad `Abdullah bin `Abdur-Rahman Darimi reported in his Musnad that Sa`id bin Yasar Abu Hubab said: I said to Ibn `Umar, "What do you say about having sex with women in the rear He said, "What does it mean I said, "Anal sex. He said, "Does a Muslim do that This Hadith has an authentic chain of narrators and is an explicit rejection of anal sex from Ibn `Umar.

Abu Bakr bin Ziyad Naysaburi reported that Isma`il bin Ruh said that he asked Malik bin Anas, "What do you say about having sex with women in the anus He said, "You are not an Arab Does sex occur but in the place of pregnancy Do it only in the Farj (vagina). I said, "O Abu `Abdullah! They say that you allow that practice. He said, "They utter a lie about me, they lie about me. This is Malik's firm stance on this subject. It is also the view of Sa`id bin Musayyib, Abu Salamah, `Ikrimah, Tawus, `Ata , Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, Mujahid bin Jabr, Al-Hasan and other scholars of the Salaf (the Companions and the following two generations after them). They all, along with the majority of the scholars, harshly rebuked the practice of anal sex and many of them called this practice a Kufr.

See also

Shabbir Ahmed (writer)

Oral sex in Islamic law

External links

• The Islamic Sexual Morality (2) Its Structure

• Narratives on the Prohibition of Anal Sex