What prayer should be said before sexual intercourse and what is its virtue?

Dear Brother / Sister,

One should intend to protect himself from haram, to be content with halal, and before having sexual intercourse with his wife, he should seek refuge in Allah from Satan and say,

“Bismillahi Allahumma jannibnash-shaytana wa jannibish-shaytana wa ma razaqtana” (In the name of Allah, O Allah, protect us and the child you will give us from the evil of Satan).

If she becomes pregnant after that, Satan will not harm the child.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

“Say Bismillah before starting the intercourse. You will be rewarded until you are cleansed from being junub. If you have a child after this intercourse, you will be rewarded for the number of breaths of that child and the number of breaths of its progeny.” (Bukhari, Bad’ul-Khalq 11; Muslim, Nikah, 18)

Accordingly:

1. It is mustahabb for a man or a woman to say the prayer mentioned in the hadith after saying Bismillah. Imam Ghazali states that it is mustahab to read the chapter of al-Ikhlas and utter takbir and tahlil after Bismillah.

2. It necessary to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan, to pray to Him, to mention His name, and to remember that Allah makes every deed possible.

3. The hadīth indicates that Satan obsesses people from the womb to death.

INTERCOURSE

Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. Islam is the most natural religion in accordance with human nature. Therefore, it encourages believers to marry. Through marriage, sexual desires are satisfied, chastity and honor are protected, and the perpetuation of the human race is possible.

According to Islam, there are certain rules for sexual intercourse. They include the following: Saying audhu… bismillahi… before the intercourse; being under a cover; not facing the qiblah; not doing it during menstruation, avoiding the anus, treating the woman gently, and not leaving her until she satisfies herself; washing the genitals before the second intercourse; washing before going to sleep if they are to have intercourse at the beginning of the night, or at least making wudu and then going to bed; doing acts that increase love and affection; and saying this:

“O Allah! Keep Satan away from us and the child you will give us.” Whoever says this prayer and has a child, Satan will not be able to mislead him (Tecrid-i Sarih Tercümesi, XI, 303; Mansur Ali Nasif at-Taj, II, 3082; Ghazali, Ihya, Cairo 1967, II, 63-65).

Islam demands that sexual desires be fulfilled in a legitimate way. The prohibition of approaching a woman through the anus is determined by a Quranic injunction. “Approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah.” (al-Baqara, 2/222). That is the usual way of sexual intercourse. It is not appropriate to approach the woman from the back. Our Prophet said: “A person who approaches his wife from the place of excrement (anus) is damned” He states the following in another hadith:

“Allah will not look with mercy on anyone who approaches a man or woman from behind” (Mishkatul-Masabih, II, 184). Such behavior is regarded as minor liwata (sodomy).

It is forbidden to have sexual intercourse with a woman who is menstruation or puerperium. As a matter of fact, the following verse expresses it clearly: “So keep away from women in their courses.” (al-Baqara, 2/222) It is fard to make ghusl after sexual intercourse.

Şâmil İA

Questions on Islam