Can I Say No to Sexual Intimacy with My Husband If I Fear Potential Infection?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I have a problem with intimacy with my husband after I got a sexually transmitted infection. I have taken medication with him, but my co-wife refused to take it, and my husband cannot force her. My husband wants sexual intimacy from me, but I am scared of contracting the infection again. Please help.

Answer

Thank you for your question. You are not obligated to sleep with him if you fear infection. Islam doesn’t impose sexual intercourse on women when it is harmful.

Ask him to see a doctor and discuss the consequences of your co-wife not taking the medication. He has a right to request from her to take the medication because it directly impacts his rights over her and impacts you as well.

Kindly check this:
Which Sexual Practices Are Permissible in Islam?

Given the considerations in such cases, please consult reliable local scholars about the situation’s specifics. Jazakum Allah khayr.

May Allah give you the best and keep you healthy and safe.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.