Is Oral Sex Permissible in Islam?
Oral sex (fellatio and cunnilingus) is permissible in Islamic law, according to Muslim scholars as there is nothing to explicitly suggest that oral stimulation within a lawful relationship is forbidden by Allah or His Messenger (peace be upon him).
The permissibility of oral sex is explicitly stated in classical texts of fiqh (Islamic law) by premodern jurists. Hanbali texts mention kissing genitals, Shāfi’ī texts mention sucking the clitoris, Hanafi texts mention the permissibility of oral stimulation, and Mālikīs talk about licking the wife's genitalia – all doing so in the context of permissibility (halal) in a lawful relationship i.e. marriage.
Premodern scholars said genital kissing is permissible, however many modern Indo-Pak and Arab scholars say it's prohibited or disliked as they viewed it as "disgusting" and "shameful." Interestingly, many African scholars from early Islam held a different attitude towards oral sex. For example, the east African jurist Ata ibn Abu Rabah (d. 732) who studied under the Companions, said oral sex is permissible. Egyptian scholar Asbagh (d. 840), who developed the Maliki school in North Africa said, "it is allowed to lick the vulva with the tongue."
The permissibility of oral sex is explicitly stated in classical texts of fiqh (Islamic law) by premodern jurists. Hanbali texts mention kissing genitals, Shāfi’ī texts mention sucking the clitoris, Hanafi texts mention the permissibility of oral stimulation, and Mālikīs talk about licking the wife's genitalia – all doing so in the context of permissibility (halal) in a lawful relationship i.e. marriage.
Premodern scholars said genital kissing is permissible, however many modern Indo-Pak and Arab scholars say it's prohibited or disliked as they viewed it as "disgusting" and "shameful." Interestingly, many African scholars from early Islam held a different attitude towards oral sex. For example, the east African jurist Ata ibn Abu Rabah (d. 732) who studied under the Companions, said oral sex is permissible. Egyptian scholar Asbagh (d. 840), who developed the Maliki school in North Africa said, "it is allowed to lick the vulva with the tongue."
Statements from scholars on oral sex
Salaf (pious predecessors)
"It is permissible to kiss the wife's genitalia before intercourse, but it's disliked after that." - The African scholar Ata ibn Abu Rabah mentioned this, according to al-Qadhi in al-Jami' [al Insaaf, Kitab an-Nikah]
Maliki school of law:
The Andalusian Maliki jurist, al-Qurtubi (d. 1273) reported the permissibility of oral stimulation in his tafsir (commentary of the Qur'an). Andalusian Maliki scholar, Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi (d. 1148) who mentioned the permissibility of licking one’s wife’s genitals in his tafsir, Ahkam al-Qur’an.
Hanafi school of law
“If a man inserts his penis in his wife’s mouth, it is said that it is disliked (makruh), and others said that it is not disliked.” (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya) - a collection of legal rulings by Hanafi scholars from India.
Shafi' school of law
Al-Fattani from the Shafi' legal scholars said, "it is permissible for the husband to enjoy every part of his wife's body, except the anus. He is even allowed to suck her clitoris."
The Shafi'i text Fath al-Mu'in by Indian scholar Ahmad Zayn al-Din al-Malibari Zainuddin (d. 1583) stated, "It is permissible for the husband to enjoy his wife in every way except for her anus, even if by sucking her clitoris or having her manually stimulating him to orgasm."
Hanbali school of law
Kashshaf al-Qina' by Mansur ibn Yunus al-Buhuti was an Egyptian jurist of the Hanbali school, who mentioned the permissibility of kissing a wife’s genitals before intercourse, and consider it disliked afterward.
Shia school of law:
Musa al-Kazim was once asked, "Can a man kiss his wife's genitalia?" Musa replied "It's okay to do it." [Wasa'il ul-Shi'a by Muhammad al-Hurr al-Amili in thr 17th century]
Ali ibn Jafar reported: I once asked Abu Hassan about a man who kissed his woman's genitals, and Abu Hassan said "There is no problem with it." [Wasa'il ul-Shi'a by Muhammad al-Hurr al-Amili in thr 17th century]
Modern scholars
Following European colonisation of the Arab-Muslim world in the 19th century, several Muslim cultures became increasingly prudish. This is reflected in the decline of erotic literature and legal rulings (fatwas) of scholars in the post-colonial era. Unlike their predecessors, many modern scholars viewed oral stimulation to be an "disgusting," "immodest" and "filthy" act. Scholars blamed the West and the adult industry for the prevalence of oral sex. Oral sex is particularly disliked among Indo-Pak and Arab scholars for what appears to be social-cultural reasons.
British-Indian scholar Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam described oral sex as "a totally shameful act" and "against the proper conduct of a Muslim," but he did not declare it to be haram (forbidden).
American-Pakistani scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi said oral intimacy is disliked and a habit that Muslims picked up in the non-Eastern cultures. He then quoted a scholar from al-Azhar (Dr. Sabri Abdul Ra'ouf) who said oral sex is not prohibited but it is not the normal choice for committed Muslim, as oral sex is "completely disgusting and does not conform to the pure taste and decency of a Muslim's personality."
South African-Indian scholar Mufti Ebrahim Desai said oral sex goes "against the dictates of shame and modesty that the same limb of the body [i.em tongue] which recites the Qur’an and remembers God for such an act. Desai ruled that oral sex is highly reprehensible.
Saudi Salafi scholar Abdul Aziz ibn Baz ruled that oral sex is haram (forbidden).
Albanian Salafi scholar Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani said kissing the private parts of a woman is "the action of dogs."
Saudi-trained Salafi scholar Assim al-Hakeem claimed Muslims learned about oral sex from non-Muslims and that Muslims should refrain from it as it is a "filthy thing." However he did not declare it to be haram (prohibited)
Al-Azhar-trained scholar Dr. Muhammad Salah said "oral sex is disgusting and an easy way to transmit diseases." However, he declared that there is no direct reference to say it is prohibited.
Egyptian scholar Dr. Yusuf al-Qardawi (d. 2022) said "Muslim jurists are of the opinion that it is lawful for the husband to perform cunnilingus on his wife, or a wife to perform the similar act for her husband (fellatio) and there is no wrong in doing so. But if sucking leads to releasing semen, then it is makruh (blameworthy), but there is no decisive evidence (to forbid it)."
White American scholar Shuaib Webb said, "oral [sex] in Islam is a commendable act, even viewed as virtuous because it brings an increase in romance and pleases either spouse." The al-Azhar jurist added, "oral sex is permissible between husband and wife as long as neither swallow semen or vaginal fluid. Also, this should be done with the mutual permission of both spouses."
Black American scholar Mufti Muhammad ibn Muneer said oral sex is permissible, as there is nothing which states it is haram from the Qur'an and Sunnah. Muneer adds oral sex could be recommended, depending on the spouse's need and the couple's custom.
British-Muslim scholar Mohammed Nizami declared that oral sex is permissible as there is nothing to explicitly suggest that oral sex is forbidden by God.
Salaf (pious predecessors)
"It is permissible to kiss the wife's genitalia before intercourse, but it's disliked after that." - The African scholar Ata ibn Abu Rabah mentioned this, according to al-Qadhi in al-Jami' [al Insaaf, Kitab an-Nikah]
Maliki school of law:
The Andalusian Maliki jurist, al-Qurtubi (d. 1273) reported the permissibility of oral stimulation in his tafsir (commentary of the Qur'an). Andalusian Maliki scholar, Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi (d. 1148) who mentioned the permissibility of licking one’s wife’s genitals in his tafsir, Ahkam al-Qur’an.
Hanafi school of law
“If a man inserts his penis in his wife’s mouth, it is said that it is disliked (makruh), and others said that it is not disliked.” (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya) - a collection of legal rulings by Hanafi scholars from India.
Shafi' school of law
Al-Fattani from the Shafi' legal scholars said, "it is permissible for the husband to enjoy every part of his wife's body, except the anus. He is even allowed to suck her clitoris."
The Shafi'i text Fath al-Mu'in by Indian scholar Ahmad Zayn al-Din al-Malibari Zainuddin (d. 1583) stated, "It is permissible for the husband to enjoy his wife in every way except for her anus, even if by sucking her clitoris or having her manually stimulating him to orgasm."
Hanbali school of law
Kashshaf al-Qina' by Mansur ibn Yunus al-Buhuti was an Egyptian jurist of the Hanbali school, who mentioned the permissibility of kissing a wife’s genitals before intercourse, and consider it disliked afterward.
Shia school of law:
Musa al-Kazim was once asked, "Can a man kiss his wife's genitalia?" Musa replied "It's okay to do it." [Wasa'il ul-Shi'a by Muhammad al-Hurr al-Amili in thr 17th century]
Ali ibn Jafar reported: I once asked Abu Hassan about a man who kissed his woman's genitals, and Abu Hassan said "There is no problem with it." [Wasa'il ul-Shi'a by Muhammad al-Hurr al-Amili in thr 17th century]
Modern scholars
Following European colonisation of the Arab-Muslim world in the 19th century, several Muslim cultures became increasingly prudish. This is reflected in the decline of erotic literature and legal rulings (fatwas) of scholars in the post-colonial era. Unlike their predecessors, many modern scholars viewed oral stimulation to be an "disgusting," "immodest" and "filthy" act. Scholars blamed the West and the adult industry for the prevalence of oral sex. Oral sex is particularly disliked among Indo-Pak and Arab scholars for what appears to be social-cultural reasons.
British-Indian scholar Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam described oral sex as "a totally shameful act" and "against the proper conduct of a Muslim," but he did not declare it to be haram (forbidden).
American-Pakistani scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi said oral intimacy is disliked and a habit that Muslims picked up in the non-Eastern cultures. He then quoted a scholar from al-Azhar (Dr. Sabri Abdul Ra'ouf) who said oral sex is not prohibited but it is not the normal choice for committed Muslim, as oral sex is "completely disgusting and does not conform to the pure taste and decency of a Muslim's personality."
South African-Indian scholar Mufti Ebrahim Desai said oral sex goes "against the dictates of shame and modesty that the same limb of the body [i.em tongue] which recites the Qur’an and remembers God for such an act. Desai ruled that oral sex is highly reprehensible.
Saudi Salafi scholar Abdul Aziz ibn Baz ruled that oral sex is haram (forbidden).
Albanian Salafi scholar Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani said kissing the private parts of a woman is "the action of dogs."
Saudi-trained Salafi scholar Assim al-Hakeem claimed Muslims learned about oral sex from non-Muslims and that Muslims should refrain from it as it is a "filthy thing." However he did not declare it to be haram (prohibited)
Al-Azhar-trained scholar Dr. Muhammad Salah said "oral sex is disgusting and an easy way to transmit diseases." However, he declared that there is no direct reference to say it is prohibited.
Egyptian scholar Dr. Yusuf al-Qardawi (d. 2022) said "Muslim jurists are of the opinion that it is lawful for the husband to perform cunnilingus on his wife, or a wife to perform the similar act for her husband (fellatio) and there is no wrong in doing so. But if sucking leads to releasing semen, then it is makruh (blameworthy), but there is no decisive evidence (to forbid it)."
White American scholar Shuaib Webb said, "oral [sex] in Islam is a commendable act, even viewed as virtuous because it brings an increase in romance and pleases either spouse." The al-Azhar jurist added, "oral sex is permissible between husband and wife as long as neither swallow semen or vaginal fluid. Also, this should be done with the mutual permission of both spouses."
Black American scholar Mufti Muhammad ibn Muneer said oral sex is permissible, as there is nothing which states it is haram from the Qur'an and Sunnah. Muneer adds oral sex could be recommended, depending on the spouse's need and the couple's custom.
British-Muslim scholar Mohammed Nizami declared that oral sex is permissible as there is nothing to explicitly suggest that oral sex is forbidden by God.