The Ruling on Having Marital Relations Before Dawn During Ramadan

BeeFams, during Ramadan many questions often arise about things that may affect the validity of fasting. One of them concerns marital relations at night, especially when it happens very close to the time of dawn.

Some time ago, through a post on @hdi.info, one of the BeeFams submitted a question in the #AskUstad segment about the ruling on having marital relations shortly before dawn and not having time to perform ghusl (ritual purification). So what about the fast? Is it still valid?

Here is the question from BeeFams:

“Ustaz, what is the ruling if a husband and wife have marital relations shortly before dawn during Ramadan but have not had time to perform ghusl? Is the fast still valid?”

Responding to this question, members of the HDI Sharia Supervisory Board, Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. M. Sofwan Jauhari, Lc., M.Ag. and Fauzan Sugiyono, Lc., M.Ag., explained that in Islam, marital relations are permitted at night during the month of Ramadan.

This is explained in the words of Allah SWT in QS. Al-Baqarah verse 187:

أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ

Meaning:

“It has been made lawful for you to be intimate with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now you may be intimate with them and seek what Allah has decreed for you.”

This verse explains that marital relations are permitted during the nights of Ramadan, which means from maghrib until before the break of dawn. Once dawn begins, the time for fasting starts and continues until maghrib.

“In certain situations, a person may not have had the chance to perform ghusl (ritual purification bath) when dawn arrives. According to scholars, this does not invalidate the fast, as long as the marital relations occurred before dawn and the activity stops once the dawn begins,” explained Ustaz Sofwan.

According to Ustaz Sofwan, this situation can be compared to someone who is eating suhoor. When the time for dawn arrives, eating and drinking must immediately stop. Similarly, marital relations at night must end before dawn begins.

Therefore, if a husband and wife have marital relations before dawn but have not yet performed ghusl when dawn arrives, their fast remains valid. There is no need to make up the fast and no expiation (kafarat) is required.

“However, someone who is still in a state of janabah is encouraged to perform ghusl as soon as possible so they can perform the dawn prayer in a state of purification,” added Ustad Fauzan.

In Islam, a person in a state of major impurity (janabah) is required to perform ghusl promptly, as angels of mercy distance themselves from those who remain in such a state.

BeeFams, Ramadan is not only about refraining from food and drink. It is also a moment to continue learning, improving our worship, and understanding Islamic teachings more deeply so we can practice them with peace of mind and in accordance with Islamic guidance.

If you still have questions about worship during Ramadan, don’t hesitate to continue seeking knowledge from trusted sources.

Hopefully this explanation can broaden BeeFams’ understanding and help everyone observe Ramadan with greater comfort and blessings.

Happy fasting! •