Oral Sex in Islam, According to Scholars
Oral sex refers to the sexual stimulation of the genitals with the mouth.
Oral stimulation of the male genitalia is called fellatio. Oral stimulation of the female genitalia is called cunnilingus.
There is no explicit Qur’anic verse or authentic hadith which prohibits oral sex.
Oral sex is permissible between married couples in Islam, according to scholars.
The permissibility of oral sex seems frank and explicit in the Sunni schools of law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali). Some modern-day scholars say it is prohibited or disliked.
In marital sexual relations everything is deemed halal (permissible) unless it has been explicitly forbidden.
Oral sex refers to the sexual stimulation of the genitals with the mouth.
Oral stimulation of the male genitalia is called fellatio. Oral stimulation of the female genitalia is called cunnilingus.
There is no explicit Qur’anic verse or authentic hadith which prohibits oral sex.
Oral sex is permissible between married couples in Islam, according to scholars.
The permissibility of oral sex seems frank and explicit in the Sunni schools of law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali). Some modern-day scholars say it is prohibited or disliked.
In marital sexual relations everything is deemed halal (permissible) unless it has been explicitly forbidden.
Oral Sex Is Permissible in Islam, According to Scholars (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali)
Maliki school
Thirteenth century Andalusian Maliki scholar Imam al-Qurtubi said oral sex is allowed. He cited legal opinions (fatwas) from Maliki scholars on the permissibility of oral stimulation in his commentary (tafsir) of Qur’an 24:31: { And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent...}.
Al-Qurtubi said,
•“The scholars have two positions concerning the permissibility of the man looking at the woman’s genitalia. One is that it is licit, because if it is licit for him to enjoy it then a fortiori to look at it. It was also said that it is impermissible because of the hadith of [our Mother] ʿA'isha when she mentioned her state with the Messenger of Allah (saw): "Neither did I see that part of him nor he of me." The more correct position is the first one while the latter is understood as good manners (adab). Ibn al-ʿArabi [al-Maliki] cited Asbagh - one of our scholars - as saying: “It is permissible for him to lick it [the female genitalia] with his tongue.”
Hanbali school
Qadi Abu Ya'la, the Hanbali scholar of the 11th century from Baghdad, said, "A man may kiss the genitalia of his wife before intercourse without it being disliked [in Islamic law], but after intercourse it is disliked (makruh). The same applies for a woman, she may kiss the man's organ with passion. He said this is the position of Ata ibn Abu Rabah"
Shafi'i school
Shafi'i scholar Shaykh al-Malibari said in Fath al-Mu’in,
يَجُوزُ لِلزَّوْجِ كُلُّ تُمَتَّعُ مِنْهَا بِمَا سِوَى حَلَقَةِ دُبُرِهَا وَلَوْ بِمَصِّ بَظَرِهِ
“It is permissible for a husband to sexually enjoy his wife’s body, except the anus, even if it is by sucking her clitoris.”
In his commentary on the text, al-Dimyati said, “meaning, even if he was to take pleasure from her by sucking her clitoris it will be permissible.”
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said:
“The clitoris (بَظَر) is the piece of flesh that remains on the vulva after female circumcision (removal of the clitoral hood).”
Hanafi school
Al-Fatäwa al-Hindiyya, a book on legal opinions from Indian scholars of the Hanafi school states:
إذا أدخل الرجل ذكره في فم امرأته قد قيل يكره (الفتاوى الهندية 5/372)
فتاوى محمودية 29/142
احسن الفتاوى 8/45
“If a man inserts his penis into his wife’s mouth, it has been said that it is disliked (makrūh), [and others hold that it is not disliked.]”
Modern day scholars
Many modern-day scholars, especially from India and Arabia, say that oral sex is "disgusting" but not haram. They say that it is an act done by dogs and not befitting of a Muslim. Some say that Muslims learnt about oral sex from the West and pornography. However, the aforementioned quotes from classical scholars demonstrate that premodern Muslims were well aware of oral sex and some scholars said it was permissible. It appears that many modern-day Muslims have adopted a more puritanical view of sexual intimacy whereby, certain sexual practices are deemed "filthy" for cultural reasons.
Conclusion - Oral Sex Is Permissible (Halal)
There is no explicit Qur'anic verse or authentic hadith of the Prophet (saw) that states oral sex is prohibited (haram) in Islam. Many classical scholars stated it is allowed, some said it is disliked. Therefore, oral sex is permissible (halal) in Islam.
And God knows best.
Maliki school
Thirteenth century Andalusian Maliki scholar Imam al-Qurtubi said oral sex is allowed. He cited legal opinions (fatwas) from Maliki scholars on the permissibility of oral stimulation in his commentary (tafsir) of Qur’an 24:31: { And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent...}.
Al-Qurtubi said,
•“The scholars have two positions concerning the permissibility of the man looking at the woman’s genitalia. One is that it is licit, because if it is licit for him to enjoy it then a fortiori to look at it. It was also said that it is impermissible because of the hadith of [our Mother] ʿA'isha when she mentioned her state with the Messenger of Allah (saw): "Neither did I see that part of him nor he of me." The more correct position is the first one while the latter is understood as good manners (adab). Ibn al-ʿArabi [al-Maliki] cited Asbagh - one of our scholars - as saying: “It is permissible for him to lick it [the female genitalia] with his tongue.”
Hanbali school
Qadi Abu Ya'la, the Hanbali scholar of the 11th century from Baghdad, said, "A man may kiss the genitalia of his wife before intercourse without it being disliked [in Islamic law], but after intercourse it is disliked (makruh). The same applies for a woman, she may kiss the man's organ with passion. He said this is the position of Ata ibn Abu Rabah"
Shafi'i school
Shafi'i scholar Shaykh al-Malibari said in Fath al-Mu’in,
يَجُوزُ لِلزَّوْجِ كُلُّ تُمَتَّعُ مِنْهَا بِمَا سِوَى حَلَقَةِ دُبُرِهَا وَلَوْ بِمَصِّ بَظَرِهِ
“It is permissible for a husband to sexually enjoy his wife’s body, except the anus, even if it is by sucking her clitoris.”
In his commentary on the text, al-Dimyati said, “meaning, even if he was to take pleasure from her by sucking her clitoris it will be permissible.”
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said:
“The clitoris (بَظَر) is the piece of flesh that remains on the vulva after female circumcision (removal of the clitoral hood).”
Hanafi school
Al-Fatäwa al-Hindiyya, a book on legal opinions from Indian scholars of the Hanafi school states:
إذا أدخل الرجل ذكره في فم امرأته قد قيل يكره (الفتاوى الهندية 5/372)
فتاوى محمودية 29/142
احسن الفتاوى 8/45
“If a man inserts his penis into his wife’s mouth, it has been said that it is disliked (makrūh), [and others hold that it is not disliked.]”
Modern day scholars
Many modern-day scholars, especially from India and Arabia, say that oral sex is "disgusting" but not haram. They say that it is an act done by dogs and not befitting of a Muslim. Some say that Muslims learnt about oral sex from the West and pornography. However, the aforementioned quotes from classical scholars demonstrate that premodern Muslims were well aware of oral sex and some scholars said it was permissible. It appears that many modern-day Muslims have adopted a more puritanical view of sexual intimacy whereby, certain sexual practices are deemed "filthy" for cultural reasons.
Conclusion - Oral Sex Is Permissible (Halal)
There is no explicit Qur'anic verse or authentic hadith of the Prophet (saw) that states oral sex is prohibited (haram) in Islam. Many classical scholars stated it is allowed, some said it is disliked. Therefore, oral sex is permissible (halal) in Islam.
And God knows best.
Fatwa on Oral Sex
From Sheikh Yusuf Abdullah Al-Qaradāwi (from IslamOnline):
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. I was asked about oral sex in America and Europe when I began to travel to these countries in the early 70s. We are not used to be asked these questions in our Muslim countries. Those Western people are accustomed to stripping naked during sexual intercourse. These are communities of nakedness, and from the licentiousness of the woman that she wears nothing to screen her body in her daily life. So they are in need of more excitements during copulation. However, men in our Muslim societies see nothing in the Muslim woman that can excite them on the basis of her wearing either Hijab (veil) or Niqab (face cover). But concerning whether being in complete nakedness during practicing copulation is lawful or not, the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said, "Guard your private parts except from your wife or your slaves." Muslim jurists are of the opinion that it is lawful for the husband to perform cunnilingus on his wife, or a wife to suck her husband's penis (fellatio) and there is no wrong in doing so. But if sucking leads to releasing semen, then it is Makrooh (blameworthy), but there is no decisive evidence (to forbid it). These parts are not dirty like anus, but it is normally disgusting to man. But there is no decisive evidence to make it unlawful, especially if the wife agrees with it or gets her ecstasy by practicing it. Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, says:
"And who guard their modesty, save from their wives or the slaves, that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, but Who so craveth beyond that, such are transgressors." (Al Mu'minoon: 5-7)
Allah Almighty knows best.
From Sheikh Yusuf Abdullah Al-Qaradāwi (from IslamOnline):
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. I was asked about oral sex in America and Europe when I began to travel to these countries in the early 70s. We are not used to be asked these questions in our Muslim countries. Those Western people are accustomed to stripping naked during sexual intercourse. These are communities of nakedness, and from the licentiousness of the woman that she wears nothing to screen her body in her daily life. So they are in need of more excitements during copulation. However, men in our Muslim societies see nothing in the Muslim woman that can excite them on the basis of her wearing either Hijab (veil) or Niqab (face cover). But concerning whether being in complete nakedness during practicing copulation is lawful or not, the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said, "Guard your private parts except from your wife or your slaves." Muslim jurists are of the opinion that it is lawful for the husband to perform cunnilingus on his wife, or a wife to suck her husband's penis (fellatio) and there is no wrong in doing so. But if sucking leads to releasing semen, then it is Makrooh (blameworthy), but there is no decisive evidence (to forbid it). These parts are not dirty like anus, but it is normally disgusting to man. But there is no decisive evidence to make it unlawful, especially if the wife agrees with it or gets her ecstasy by practicing it. Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, says:
"And who guard their modesty, save from their wives or the slaves, that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, but Who so craveth beyond that, such are transgressors." (Al Mu'minoon: 5-7)
Allah Almighty knows best.
Imam al-Shafi`i said that apart from anal sex, “(sexual) enjoyment of the whole female body regardless of vaginal penetration is permissible.“
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti said, "Concerning the man’s sexual relations with a woman in other than the vagina" there is no explicit mention of oral sex other than the vague general statement in its first sentence: “There is no disagreement that sex between a man and a woman is permissible - except for anal sex - in all her folds and her entire body.”
Asbagh said, “It is permissible for him to lick it (vulva) with his tongue.”
“‘Umsus bazr” (“Suck the clitoris!”) – Ancient Arab insult said by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq to an enemy of Islam who insulted the companions.
Sheikh al-Islam Zakariyya al-Ansari in Asna’ al-Matolib stated:
وَالتَّلَذُّذُ بِالدُّبُرِ بِلَا إيلَاجٍ جَائِزٌ
“Enjoying (sexually) at the anus is permissible without the involvement of the penetration of (penis).”
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti said, "Concerning the man’s sexual relations with a woman in other than the vagina" there is no explicit mention of oral sex other than the vague general statement in its first sentence: “There is no disagreement that sex between a man and a woman is permissible - except for anal sex - in all her folds and her entire body.”
Asbagh said, “It is permissible for him to lick it (vulva) with his tongue.”
“‘Umsus bazr” (“Suck the clitoris!”) – Ancient Arab insult said by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq to an enemy of Islam who insulted the companions.
Sheikh al-Islam Zakariyya al-Ansari in Asna’ al-Matolib stated:
وَالتَّلَذُّذُ بِالدُّبُرِ بِلَا إيلَاجٍ جَائِزٌ
“Enjoying (sexually) at the anus is permissible without the involvement of the penetration of (penis).”
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said:
“The clitoris (بَظَر) is the piece of flesh that remains on the vulva after female circumcision (removal of the clitoral hood).”
“The clitoris (بَظَر) is the piece of flesh that remains on the vulva after female circumcision (removal of the clitoral hood).”