PETALING JAYA: Rough or violent intercourse when committed by force, even if it is between a married couple, is prohibited in Islam, said Perlis mufti Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.
Dr Mohd Asri, or Dr Maza as he is better known on social media, explained that in Islam, husbands must comply if his wife initiates intimate relations. Conversely, the wife must also do the same for her husband.
If either denies sex without a valid reason, they would be negligent in their duties as a husband or wife.
However, despite the obligations to fulfil each other's sexual needs, Dr Mohd Asri stressed that there should be no harm done to either in the bedroom.
"Sexual relations between husband and wife should be carried out in a loving manner and they must not hurt each other," he explained on his Facebook page Wednesday, citing Sura An-Nisa verse 19 from the Quran that compelled men to live with their wives in kindness.
"Sex which is rough and causes hurt to one another is forbidden in Islam. Therefore, couples should carry out intimacy in the best ways that fulfil their natural human desires," he said.
He said rough intercourse committed by force which one party does not enjoy was prohibited as many scholars have agreed that both parties should enjoy the intimacy of the bedroom.
Despite the responsibility of both husband and wife to fulfil each other's needs, there were situations in which they may refuse sex.
"The wife has the right to prevent her husband from having intercourse with her if it brings harm to her, such as the husband suffering from AIDS and any other dangerous diseases," he said.
"A wife may also deny sex if her spouse has failed in his duties as a husband. For example, not providing nafkah (means of livelihood)," he added.
"The relationship between husband and wife in Islam is built on love and compassion as mentioned in Surah al-Rum verse 21. So all the teachings of the Prophet relating to the husband and wife should be interpreted in that context.
"Any interpretation that is not against the backdrop of this concept would mean that a misunderstanding of the meaning of the hadith of the Prophet regarding marriage," he said.
In Malaysia, marital rape is not an offence under Syariah law but a husband may be imprisoned for causing harm, or threatening harm to his wife in order to have sex.
On Sunday, Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria told a news portal that wives had no right to refuse sex unless they were on their menses.
