Is it permissible for husband and wife to remove their clothes when sleeping? What effect does that have on tahaarah (purity, cleanliness)?

Praise be to Allaah.

(1) 

With regard to the first part of the question, that is permissible for the couple. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts)

Except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame” [al-Mu’minoon 23:5-6] 

Imaam Ibn Hazm (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Allaah commands us to guard our chastity except from our wives or (the slaves) that our right hands possess; there is no blame in that case. This is general and includes seeing, touching and interacting.”  (al-Muhalla, 9/165) 

With regard to (evidence from) the Sunnah, it is narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and I used to do ghusl from one vessel placed between me and him. He would hasten until I would say, ‘Leave some for me, leave some for me.’”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 258; Muslim, 321 – this version narrated by Muslim). 

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said:  al-Dawoodi took this as evidence to indicate that it is permissible for a man to look at the ‘awrah of his wife and vice versa. This is supported by the report narrated by Ibn Hibbaan from Sulaymaan ibn Moosa, who was asked about a man looking at his wife’s private parts. He said, I asked ‘Ataa’ and he said: I asked ‘Aa’ishah and she mentioned this hadeeth. Al-Haafiz said: this is the definitive report on this matter. 

There is another hadeeth from the Sunnah, in which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Guard your ‘awrah, except from your wives or those (slaves) whom your right hands possess.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4017; al-Tirmidhi, 2769 – he classed it as hasan; Ibn Maajah, 1920. Narrated mu’allaqan by al-Bukhaari, 1/508). Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said, commenting on this hadeeth: what may be understood from the phrase ‘except from your wives’ is that it permissible for a wife to look at his (‘awrah) and by analogy that he is also permitted to look (at her ‘awrah). 

Ibn Hazm (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: It is halaal for a man to look at his womenfolk’s private parts – his wife and his female slave with whom he is permitted to have intercourse – and it is permissible for them to look at his private parts. There is no reservation at all concerning that. The proof of that is the well known reports narrated from ‘Aa’ishah, Umm Salamah and Maymoonah, the Mothers of the Believers (may Allaah be pleased with them), who narrated that they used to do ghusl with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to cleanse themselves from janaabah (impurity following sexual activity) from one vessel. The report of Maymoonah clearly indicates that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was uncovered, because in her report it states that “he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) dipped his hand into the vessel then poured water over his private parts and washed them with his left hand.” After this there is no need to follow the (mere) opinion of anyone. It is strange that some of those ignorant people who want to make things difficult allow intercourse but forbid looking at the private parts! (al-Muhalla, 9/165) 

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Forbidding looking is a means of forbidding that which may lead to haraam intercourse. If Allaah has permitted a husband to have intercourse with his wife, how can it make sense that He would forbid him to look at her private parts?! No way.

(al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah, 1/353 

(2) 

With regard to the ruling on tahaarah (purity) in this case, embracing one another whilst sleeping, so long as it does not lead to emission of maniy (semen) or intercourse, does not necessitate ghusl.

But if madhiy (prostatic fluid) is emitted, then the man has to wash his penis and testicles, and do wudoo’ for prayer, and the woman has to wash her private part and do wudoo’ likewise. And Allaah knows best.