Performing intercourse with all four wives simultaneously

If one has completed his nikkah successfully with four women, is he allowed to perform sexual intercourse with all four of them simulatneously.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is unlawful for a man who has two or more wives to have intimate relation with them simultaneously, even if they both give their consent to it.

This is due to two reasons:

Firstly, it is impermissible for a woman to look at the awra (private aspects) of another woman even if she is her co-wife. Consider the following:

عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَا يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ، وَلَا الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ، وَلَا يُفْضِي الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ، وَلَا تُفْضِي الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ

صحيح مسلم (338)

Hazrat Abd al-Rahman, the son of Hazrat Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiallahu anhuma), reported from his father: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman. Moreover, a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering. (Muslim: 388) 

Furthermore, the awra of a woman in front of other Muslim women is from her navel up to and including her knees.^[1]

Secondly, intimate relations are to be kept private between the two people involved. Islam prohibits the husband and wife from discussing the details of their sexual behaviour with others. Consider the following:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ مِنْ أَشَرِّ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ اللهِ مَنْزِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، الرَّجُلَ يُفْضِي إِلَى امْرَأَتِهِ، وَتُفْضِي إِلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ يَنْشُرُ سِرَّهَا

 صحيح مسلم (1437)

Hazrat Abu Saeed al-Khudri (radiallahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

The most wicked among the people in the eye of Allah on the Day of Judgment is the men who goes to his wife and she comes to him, and then he divulges her secret. (Muslim: 1437)

Revealing the details of one’s intimate behaviour could not be more direct than actually having the intimate in front of another person. As such, this practice is unlawful and sinful.

Furthermore, it is stated in the famous Hanafi book “Al-bahr Al-Raīq” by Allāmah ibn Nujaim Al-Misri (rahimahullah):”It is prohibitively disliked [i.e. not permitted] to have sexual relation with ones wife in the presence of another person. So much so that if the husband demands that she has sexual relation with him [in the other’s presence], she does not have to make herself available, and by refusing she is not considered a rebellious wife.”[2]

Some Muslim couples are very careless in this regard and display their sexual acts openly in front of people. Islam is very clear when it comes to public display of affection. It prohibits the display of intimacy and other sexual acts as well, such as kissing, hugging and caressing before others.

In addition, doing such things openly is contrary to modesty and decency. Islam teaches its followers to be dignified, and prohibits them from engaging in any action that would lead to an immoral atmosphere.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was a practical example of modesty and bashfulness. Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (radiallahu anhu) narrates:

عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ أَبِي عُتْبَةَ، يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَشَدَّ حَيَاءً مِنَ الْعَذْرَاءِ فِي خِدْرِهَا وَكَانَ إِذَا كَرِهَ شَيْئًا عَرَفْنَاهُ فِي وَجْهِهِ

صحيح مسلم (2320)

Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (radiallahu anhu) narrates:

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was more bashful than a virgin girl behind her curtain [or in her private quarters], and when he disliked something, we recognised it from his face. (Muslim: 2320)

As such, it is Haraam (strictly prohibited) to have intimate relation with more than one spouse simultaneously. Intimate relation between the husband and each wife needs to be in their mutual privacy.[3]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Asim Patel

Student Darul Iftaa
Venda, South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net