Fatwa ID: 07920

Answered by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Question:

I know sleeping on your stomach is haram, but what if one has a barrier between their stomach, e.g. a pillow or cushion. Would it still be haram or would it become permissible?

Also, would it be permissible to sleep on ones wife’s stomach and vice versa for the wife?

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

Answer:

In Hanafi fiqh, the prohibition of sleeping on one’s stomach is based on several hadiths that discourage this position. For instance, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“This is a kind of lying down which Allah does not like.”(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 5040)

¹

Regarding the question of whether it is permissible to sleep on the stomach with a barrier such as a pillow or cushion, the primary concern in Hanafi fiqh is the position itself, which is seen as disliked (makruh). The underlying reason is based on the hadith mentioned above, and also due to health reasons noted by scholars and physicians that it may harm the body.

If a person uses a pillow or cushion to alleviate discomfort while maintaining a position similar to lying on the stomach, it doesn’t fundamentally change the nature of the act. The primary concern in the hadith is the position itself, which does not change with a barrier. Therefore, using a pillow or cushion does not make it permissible.

Regarding sleeping on one’s spouse’s stomach, the general principle in Islamic jurisprudence is that any position that is respectful and does not cause harm or discomfort to the spouse is permissible. There are no specific prohibitions in the sources of Hanafi fiqh against this act, provided it does not lead to any harm or inappropriate exposure. The primary focus is on mutual respect and comfort between spouses.²

In conclusion, while the use of a barrier such as a pillow or cushion does not alter the prohibition of sleeping on the stomach, sleeping on one’s spouse’s stomach is permissible as long as it is done with mutual respect and comfort.

I hope that this answers the question.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

1  قَالَ فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا مُضْطَجِعٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مِنَ السَّحَرِ عَلَى بَطْنِي إِذَا رَجُلٌ يُحَرِّكُنِي بِرِجْلِهِ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّ هَذِهِ……. ضِجْعَةٌ يُبْغِضُهَا اللَّهُ…….

2

“خيركم خيركم لأهله، وأنا خيركم لأهلي” (سنن الترمذي، حديث 3895)