Question

He had intercourse with his wife when she was observing a voluntary fast

What is the ruling on one who has intercourse with his wife when she is fasting the six days of Shawwaal and he is not fasting?.

Answer
Answer
Praise be to Allaah.

The one who is observing a voluntary fast has the choice: he may complete the fast or he may break it, but completing it is better. 

Ahmad (26535) narrated from Umm Haani’ (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon her. He called for a drink and drank some, then he passed it to her and she drank some. She said: O Messenger of Allaah, I was fasting. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who is observing a voluntary fast has the choice; if he wishes he may fast and if he wishes he may break the fast.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (3854). 

See also the answer to question no. 49610

If a person fasts one of the six days of Shawwaal, and he wants to break the fast, he may do so, whether he does it by eating, having intercourse, or anything else. 

If this woman fasted without her husband’s permission, then he may call her to his bed, and she has to respond. 

But if she was fasting with his permission, then he does not have the right to spoil her fast, but if he wants that then it is better for her to respond to him. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If she observes a naafil fast with his permission, then it is not permissible for him to spoil her fast, because he gave her permission. But in that case if she is observing a naafil fast with his permission and he wants her to come to his bed, is it better for her to continue fasting and refuse her husband’s request? The other option is better, which is responding to her husband’s request, because responding to her husband’s request is basically obligatory, and the voluntary fast is mustahabb, and because if she refuses even though his desire is strong, then he may feel some resentment towards her and the relationship between them may be affected as a result of that. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (21/174). 

And Allaah knows best.

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