Fatwa ID: 09224
Answered by Mufti Ateiq-ur Rehman
Question:
Is the use of sex robots impermissible in islam according to the Hanafi fiqh? If so, why is it impermissible?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
May Allah protect us from fitnah and grant us purity in body and heart. Allah Most High says:
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ ٥
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ٦
فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ ٧
“And those who guard their private parts, except from their spouses or those whom their right hands possess, for indeed they are not to be blamed. But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors.” (Surah al-Mu’minun 23:5–7)
The fundamental principle is that sexual fulfilment is only lawful within nikah. Any deliberate sexual gratification outside of a lawful spouse falls under seeking fulfilment “beyond that,” which the Qur’an describes as transgression.
In Hanafi fiqh, even masturbation (istimna’) is considered impermissible except in limited discussions of extreme fear of zina. Sexual gratification through an artificial object designed to simulate intercourse falls under unlawful sexual stimulation and deliberate arousal outside of marriage. It opposes the purpose of chastity and the safeguarding of modesty which the Shariah seeks to preserve.
Furthermore:
- It normalises sexual gratification without marriage, undermining the maqasid of nikah.
- It promotes indulgence of shahwah rather than restraint.
- It resembles the use of artificial means for sexual stimulation, which classical jurists treated as blameworthy and impermissible.
- It opens the door to addiction, objectification, and moral corruption.
The Shariah blocks pathways that lead to moral harm (sadd al-dhara’i). A device specifically manufactured for sexual stimulation outside nikah conflicts with the objective of guarding chastity.
The jurists state regarding sexual acts outside lawful relations that anything which fulfils sexual desire outside its permitted avenue is prohibited unless there is a dire necessity. There is no such necessity here.
Therefore, the use of sex robots is impermissible because it constitutes deliberate sexual gratification outside a lawful marital relationship and contradicts the objectives of modesty and chastity established in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Ateiq-ur Rehman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
مَطْلَبٌ فِي حُكْمِ الِاسْتِمْنَاءِ بِالْكَفِّ (قَوْلُهُ: وَكَذَا الِاسْتِمْنَاءُ بِالْكَفِّ) أَيْ فِي كَوْنِهِ لَا يُفْسِدُ لَكِنَّ هَذَا إذَا لَمْ يُنْزِلْ أَمَّا إذَا أَنْزَلَ فَعَلَيْهِ الْقَضَاءُ كَمَا سَيُصَرِّحُ بِهِ وَهُوَ الْمُخْتَارُ كَمَا يَأْتِي لَكِنَّ الْمُتَبَادَرَ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ الْإِنْزَالُ بِقَرِينَةِ مَا بَعْدَهُ فَيَكُونُ عَلَى خِلَافِ الْمُخْتَارِ (قَوْلُهُ: وَلَوْ خَافَ الزِّنَى إلَخْ) الظَّاهِرُ أَنَّهُ غَيْرُ قَيْدٍ بَلْ لَوْ تَعَيَّنَ الْخَلَاصُ مِنْ الزِّنَى بِهِ وَجَبَ؛ لِأَنَّهُ أَخَفُّ وَعِبَارَةُ الْفَتْحِ فَإِنْ غَلَبَتْهُ الشَّهْوَةُ فَفَعَلَ إرَادَةَ تَسْكِينِهَا بِهِ فَالرَّجَاءُ أَنْ لَا يُعَاقَبَ اهـ زَادَ فِي مِعْرَاجِ الدِّرَايَةِ وَعَنْ أَحْمَدَ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ فِي الْقَدِيمِ التَّرَخُّصُ فِيهِ وَفِي الْجَدِيدِ يَحْرُمُ وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَسْتَمْنِيَ بِيَدِ زَوْجَتِهِ وَخَادِمَتِهِ
كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار – ط الحلبي 2:399