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Monday, January 22, 2001

QUESTION:

Assalamu Alaikum Bilqis,

Does Islam allow group sex? I mean, if a man has two wives for example, can he have them both in the bed at the same time?

Thank You.

- Wondering

BILQIS ANSWERS:

Dear "Wondering",

Group sex is not permitted in Islam. An awareness of some basic Islamic information can easily answer this question for you:

1. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to keep each of his wives in a separate house and visit them on alternate days. This is the sunnah (the example of the Prophet), and therefore it is a standard for Muslim conduct in a polygamous marriage. In The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, in the chapter on marriage, Yusuf al-Qaradawi comments,

The equal treatment mentioned here pertains to the rights of the wives, not to the love the husband feels towed them, for equality in the division of love is beyond human capacity and any imbalance in this regard is forgiven by Allah Ta'ala who says: And you will not be able to do justice among (your) wives, however much you may wish to. But do not turn away (from one of them) altogether....(4:139) This is why the Prophet (peace be on him) used to divide his time among his wives equally, saying, "O Allah, this is my division in regard to what I can control. Then do not take me to task regarding what Thou controllest and I do not control" (Reported by the compilers of Sunan.), referring to the attachment and affection which he felt for one particular wife. And when he planned to go on a journey, Allah's Messenger (peace be on him) would cast lots among his wives, and the one who was chosen by lot would accompany him. (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

2. The Prophet Muhammad said that two men should not share the same blanket, nor should two women share the same blanket. So it is forbidden for two women to share the same blanket in bed even if fully clothed. This would logically preclude any type of sexual activity with more than one woman in the same bed.

3. A woman is not allowed to expose her 'awrah (private area) to anyone except her husband. It is haram (forbidden) for a woman to appear naked before another woman, and the same holds true for a man before another man. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

"A man shall not look at the nakedness of [another] man, nor shall a woman look at the nakedness of [another] woman." (Narrated by Muslim in Kitab al-Hayd, Tirmidhi, who rated it hasan gharib sahih, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad)

The nakedness of the man is for his wife alone, and vice versa. It is allowed only for a married couple to look at the entire body of the other.

Bahz b. Hakeem reported from his father from his grandfather, he said: "I said, Oh Messenger of Allah, what should we hide and what should we show of our private parts?" He said to me, "Protect your ‘awrah except from your wife and concubines."

4. Any type of homosexuality is expressly forbidden in Islam (see Zawaj.com's articles on this subject), so there's no way two women could share a bed sexually.

I would suggest an overall increased study of Islam which would make this even clearer to you. Unfortunately, the media at times gives a false impression of Islam through ignorance. But if you are a Muslim, correct knowledge of your religion is a requirement, so study your religion. If you are not a Muslim learn more about Islam so that you will have correct information on the subject.

-Bilqis

(Editor's Note: Zawaj.com will Insha'Allah be adding some detailed articles soon on the subject of modesty in Islam).