Is it permissible to use an external (clitoral) vibrator on one’s wife during intercourse?
ANSWER
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Sexual relations between the spouses are vital and one of the most important aspects of marriage. It purifies and prevents one from falling into fornication and the unlawful. As such, the spouses may fulfil their sexual needs in any way they desire as long as it does not violate any injunction of Shariah.
Islam also generally abstained from placing too many restrictions with regards to bedroom behaviour; rather (with the exception of certain harmful and unhealthy practices) it left it to the spouses as how they should enjoy one another in their sexual relations.
From the various forms of pleasing one another, the usage of sex toys/aides, such as vibrators, dildos, lubricants, etc has become (or is becoming) a common phenomenon. Islamically, there is nothing wrong in using such toys provided the following conditions are met:
1) The toy must not be harmful in any way to the spouses, for inflicting harm upon your self is unlawful,
2) The toy must not have an animate figure to it,
3) It should not be inserted into the inner-private part of the women; rather only such toys should be used that stimulate the outer private parts, such as the clitoris.
If the above conditions are taken care of, coupled with the permission and consent of the spouse, then there seems no hindrance from employing such toys.
Having said that, it must be remembered that, it is unlawful to use such toys alone to alleviate one’s loneliness, etc, for this would be considered a form of masturbation, which is unlawful (haram) and sinful.
Therefore, if there is a fear that by using these aides/toys during intercourse with one’s spouse, one may be tempted to employ them when alone, then they must be avoided altogether.
And Allah Knows Best
[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK