Taking a different stance from his Perak counterpart, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said forced sex even between married couples is prohibited in Islam.

 

In his Facebook post today, he stressed that Islam obliges both the husband and wife to fulfil each other’s sexual demands an, this must be done harmoniously and without harm to either spouse.

 

“Therefore rough sex and hurting each other is forbidden in Islam. Therefore all couples need to find ways to have sex that fulfil the natural desires of both sides,” he said.

 

He added that scholars have also agreed that “forced and rough sex” that is not enjoyed by one party is absolutely forbidden is spousal relations.

 

However, Mohd Asri said that if either spouse rejects the other’s demand for sex without valid reasons, they would be neglecting their spousal duties and committing a sin.

 

As examples, he said a wife may reject her husband’s advances if he has a contagious disease or if he fails to provide her a living ( nafkah ).

 

“Spousal relations in Islam is built on love and care as stated in Surah al-Rumm verse 21. Therefore all hadith should be interpreted in that context.

 

“Any interpretation that is not based on this concept will cause misunderstandings towards the Prophet’s hadith about spousal relations,” he said.

 

His comments came just a day after Perak mufti Harussani ( left ) was quoted in the Malay Mail Online saying that Muslim women have no right to reject her husband’s demand for sex, unless she is ill, menstruating, or had just given birth.

 

“Even the Prophet says even when they’re riding on the back of the camel, when the husband asks her, she must give.

 

“So there’s no such thing as rape in marriage. This is made by European people, why should we follow?” he was quoted as saying.

 

The argument over forced sex between married couples was sparked by a campaign against marital rape, which was launched by DAP over the last weekend.