All You Need to Know About Sexual Intercourse During Ramadan

With Ramadan upon us, there are numerous questions and concerns about fasting during this holy month. One of the top concerns many Muslims have is sexual intercourse during Ramadan. In this article, we will tackle both sides of the topic: the physical aspect and the religious one.

 

Not only will this article include information based on studies that observe the physiological changes related to sexual health during fasting, but it also includes all relevant concerns of sexual contact between spouses as stated on the website of Dar Al Ifta Al Missriyyah.

 

Sexual desire, hormones, and erection during Ramadan

 

A study was conducted at Hammad General Hospital in Doha on 45 men – with normal erectile function without the aid of drugs – to assess whether Ramadan fasting affects erectile function and sexual desire. The study stated that the physiological changes that happen during fasting and the decrease in energy levels resulted in a significant decrease in desire, thus affecting the frequency of intercourse.

 

Another study took blood samples from 52 males to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on the secretion of sex hormones testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Four samples were taken from each; the first was taken two days before Ramadan and the other three were taken during Ramadan on three different weeks. The results showed that testosterone levels were remarkably lower by the end of Ramadan. While there was no noticeable change in LH level, an increase in FSH level was recorded on the third test which was done on the 20th of Ramadan.

 

However, another study related to the secretion of sex hormones found different results. Blood samples were taken from 32 males on the day before Ramadan, the first day of Ramadan, and the last day of Ramadan. Unlike the previous results, in this study testosterone level increased in the second and third samples while the FSH level decreased in the same two samples. However, no change was noticed in the LH level. Moreover, according to a questionnaire conducted among the participants, there was a decrease in the frequency of morning erection and an increase in the frequency of nocturnal ejaculation.

 

Religiously speaking

 

In Islamic sharia, husbands and wives are prohibited from engaging in sexual intercourse during the fasting hours of Ramadan. While this is the main rule, we understand that there are many related questions that require answers from a reliable source.

 

What if a married couple engaged in sexual intercourse during fasting hours?

 

If the two partners were fasting,  having intercourse breaks their fast and the husband is supposed to resort to a maximum kaffara: make up the fast, as well as fast for 60 consecutive days. However, the woman is only required to make up the fast of that day. If one of them was not fasting, he/she is not obliged to do any sort of kaffara.

 

Can husband and wife kiss, hug, or touch in Ramadan?

 

Those intimate acts might vitiate fasting if semen or any other sexual fluid was ejaculated. In this case, making up the missed fasting day is required. However, if semen resulted because of a sexual thought without direct skin-to-skin contact, the fast is still valid. That’s why spouses are asked to refrain from such acts during fasting hours because they might have no control over their sexual desire.

 

Does having wet dream invalidate fasting?

 

A person having a wet dream can still continue fasting. However, they are asked, if possible, to take a shower and wash their entire body, before sunset.

 

Further reading:

• How to have sex with your COVID-19 positive husband
• Sex Ed Series: I’m Tired and Don’t Want to Have Sex With My Husband
• Fasting while pregnant: Is it safe to fast during pregnancy?

 

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Sources used in this article:

• The Effect of Fasting on Erectile Function and Sexual Desire on Men in the Month of Ramadan – PUB Med
• Effect of Ramadan fasting on secretion of sex hormones in healthy single males – WHO
• Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Sexual Desire: The Role of Hormones or Neocortex? – Journal of Guilan University of Medical Sciences  
• The kaffara for engaging in sexual intercourse during the fasting hours – Dar Al Ifta Al Missriyyah
• Is a husband’s fast affected if he kisses his wife during the fasting hours? And does having a wet dream during fasting invalidate fasting? – Dar Al Ifta Al Missriyyah
• Hugging my wife in Ramadan daylight, is my fasting ruined? – Dar Al Ifta Al Missriyyah

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