Fatwa ID: 07254

 

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

 

Question:

 

I would like to know what is the ruling of being affectionate to ones spouse in public? Will that consider as immoral?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

One of the greatest aims of marriage according to the laws of Allah is so that affection and compassion may prevail between the spouses. This is the foundation on which married life should be built. Allah, may He be exalted, says:

 

وَمِنۡ اٰيٰتِهٖۤ اَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُمۡ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا لِّتَسۡكُنُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ مَّوَدَّةً وَّرَحۡمَةً  ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوۡنَ

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy” [al-Room 30:21]

 

Islam is a religion of shame and modesty. It teaches its followers to live a life that is modest and dignified. It also prohibits them from engaging in any action that would lead to an immoral atmosphere.

 

Islam considers modesty part of faith, a fact which is stressed in several Hadiths. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was also a practical example of modesty and bashfulness.

 

Also if there is children involved, then the parents/spouses should avoid displaying physical acts of affection, such as intimate hugging and kissing, in front of their children in order to instil the principles on hayā’ (modesty, shame) in them.  Rather, they should focus on their akhlāq (character) and behavior with each other, as well as with the children.

 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

References:

حدثنا أبو أسامة ، عن جرير ، عن يعلى بن حكيم ، قال : أكثر ظني أنه عن سعيد بن جبير ، قال : قال ابن عمر : إن الحياء والإيمان قرنا جميعا ، فإذا رفع أحدهما رفع الآخر.(مصنف ابن أبي شيبة رقم 25859)

 

حدثنا أحمد بن يونس عن زهير حدثنا منصور عن ربعي بن حراش حدثنا أبو مسعود عقبة قال قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إن مما أدرك الناس من كلام النبوة إذا لم تستحي فافعل ما شئت.(صحيح البخاري رقم 3483)

 

حدثنا إبراهيم بن موسى قال: حدثنا عبد الرزاق، عن معمر، عن ثابت البناني، عن أنس بن مالك، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «ما كان الحياء في شيء إلا زانه، ولا كان الفحش في شيء إلا شانه»(الأدب المفرد رقم 601)