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7381017/08/1997

No prescribed period for consummating marriage

Question: 225

How soon do a married couple have to consumate their marriage in Islam?
If one of the partners feels uncomfortable, what is he/she
to do, if he/she does not want to consumate right away, but
would prefer to wait about 3 months?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

al-hamdu lillaah.

If a man executes a valid marriage contract with a woman then it is
permissible for the two to do as they please between themselves, even with
only the contract. There is no period prescribed by Islamic shari’ah
between the contract and consummation of the marriage, so this issue is up
to the two partners as to what they decide is most appropriate and in their
best interests.

It is incumbent upon both parties to consider, respect, and ensure the
other one’s personal comfort and ease. Thus, if the husband sees that the
wife needs some time to become acclimated and develop their relationship
and level of intimacy before consummation, such as 3 months, for example,
he should do so, and vice versa. Likewise, it is incumbent upon the wife
if she sees that her husband feels an urgent need to guard his chastity by
consummating the marriage that she should not prolong the period so that he
does not fall into a state of awkward discomfort and difficulty, and vice
versa.

Source

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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