Question:
Assalammualikum warahmatullah
I’ve read that it is disliked for a couple to have sex while totally nude.
I would like to know how much of their body they should keep covered.
Can they engage In foreplay while topless?
Can they see each others prive parts while under a single sheet?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, husband and wife are permitted to glance at any part of each other’s bodies, including the private parts. This can be understood from the following hadith.
حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزُ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ جَدِّي، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَوْرَاتُنَا مَا نَأْتِي مِنْهَا وَمَا نَذَرُ قَالَ ” احْفَظْ عَوْرَتَكَ إِلاَّ مِنْ زَوْجَتِكَ أَوْ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ (رواه الترمذي:2769)
Translation: Bahz bin Hakim narrates that my father narrated to me from my grandfather, who said: ‘I said: “O Messenger of Allah! Regarding our ‘Awrah, what of it must we cover and, what of it may we leave?” He said: “Protect your ‘Awrah except for your wife or what your right hand possesses. (Tirmidhi: 2769)
However, despite the permissibility, it is considered from superior manners and modesty to cover one’s nakedness—even during intercourse generally. It is stated in the same hadith:
. قُلْتُ وَالرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ خَالِيًا . قَالَ ” فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُسْتَحْيَا مِنْهُ. ”
Translation:I said: “What about a man when he is alone?” He said: “Allah is most deserving of being shy from Him.
It is thus advisable that the couple place a cover or sheet over themselves during intercourse.
