Two Years Without Sexual Relations: Does This Affect the Marriage?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Assalamu alaykum

If over two year passed between husband and wife having sexual relations while they are living together, is there any effect on their marriage?

Answer:  Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

A married couple not having sexual relations doesn’t in itself invalidate their marriage (nikah).

However, both wife and husband have the right to seek sexual fulfillment within marriage—and it is the duty of their spouse to fulfill this right, within reasonable, fair bounds.

The couple should work through the causes of lack of sexual relations in the spirit of “love and mercy,” that Allah Most High calls us to uphold in the Qur’an. [30.21] If this doesn’t address the issues, then counselling should be sought.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and Executive Director of SeekersHub Global After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersHub Global to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims (The Muslim500).