Does Stimulating My Spouse or Seeing Him Naked Break My Fast?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: I have fasts to make up from Ramadan and would like to make these up before leaving for hajj this year. My husband would not be fasting these days and he has sexual needs that he may not be able to wait for until I am done fasting. If I were to stimulate him with my hands while I am fasting without any effect of desire on me will this invalidate the fast?  Also, does looking at him naked invalidate the fast?

Answer: assalamu `alaykum

As your husband will not be fasting, it would be permissible for you to engage in the activity you describe in your question as long as it does not risk leading to sexual intercourse or anything else that would invalidate your fast, such as passionate kissing. It would remain best to wait till after you have opened your fast to engage in these activities. This is something you may try to explain to your husband if you feel it is appropriate to do so in your situation.

Likewise, looking at your husband naked does not invalidate the fast either. When it comes to sexual relations, the things that invalidate the fast are (a) sexual intercourse, (b) ejaculation, and (c) something entering the mouth and reaching the body cavity, such as saliva exchanged during kissing.

[source: ibn `Abidin, Hashiya Radd al-Muhtar; Ibn Nujaym, Bahr al-Ra’iq]

Salman