Scholars' Interpretation: Sexual Positions - an Islamic perspective

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: The fact is that this clan of the Ansar, who were idolaters, lived in the company of the Jews who were the people of the Book. They (the Ansar) accepted their superiority over themselves in respect of knowledge, and they followed most of their actions. The people of the Book (i.e. the Jews) used to have intercourse with their women on one side alone (i.e. lying on their backs). This was the most concealing position for (the vagina of) the women. This clan of the Ansar adopted this practice from them. But this tribe of the Quraysh used to uncover their women completely, and seek pleasure with them from in front and behind and laying them on their backs.

When the muhajirun (the immigrants) came to Medina, a man married a woman of the Ansar. He began to do the same kind of action with her, but she disliked it, and said to him: We were approached on one side (i.e. lying on the back); do it so, otherwise keep away from me. This matter of theirs spread widely, and it reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur'anic verse: "Your wives are a tilth to you, so come to your tilth however you will," i.e. from in front, from behind or lying on the back. But this verse meant the place of the delivery of the child, i.e. the vagina.[Sunan Abi Dawud 2164]

In another narration of Jabir ibn Abdullah

قائما وقاعدا ومضجعا , بعد أن يكون فى صمام واحد ".

"Standing, Sitting, lying down but it should be through one opening (vagina)." [Authenticated by al Albani in al Irwa al Ghaleel 7/62]

Ibn Abi Shayba narrated from Abu Saaleh that he said:

حدثنا مروان بن معاوية عن إسماعيل عن أبي صالح ، نساؤكم حرث لكم فأتوا حرثكم أنى شئتم قال : إن شئت فأتها مستلقية ، وإن شئت فمتحركة ، وإن شئت فباركة .

Abu Saleh said: "Your wives are a tilth for your, so go to your tilth when or how you will" Go to her when she is lying on the back.. go to her while she is kneeling down (on hands and knees) [Ibn Abi Shayba, Durr Munthur under 2:223]

Mujahid the student of Ibn Abbas said:

ثم تلا نساؤكم حرث لكم فأتوا حرثكم أنى شئتم قائمة وقاعدة ومقبلة ومدبرة في الفرج

He (Mujahid) recited 2 : 223 meaning (you can have sex while) standing, sitting, from front, from behind but in vagina. [Sunan ad-Darami no. 1175 authenticated by Abdul Mannan Rasikh]

al Qurtubi said:

هذه الأحاديث نصٌ في إباحة الحال والهيئات كلِّها إذا كان الوطء في موضع الحَرْث؛ أي كيف شئتم من خلفٍ ومَن قُدَّامٍ وباركةً ومستلقيةً ومضطجعةً؛

These ahadeeth are clear that it is allowed to (do sex) in ALL THE POSITIONS as far as it is in vagina, meaning in any position you want, whether from behind, from front, whether she is lying on back or front. [Tafsir al Qurtubi under 2:223]

Shaykh Mahmood Mehdi Istanbuli said:

"Husband and wife should inform each other about their favorite position..

One of the doctor said: Some of the wives complaint about their (fat) husbands, that sometimes we feel that we will be crushed under the weight of our husbands. Sometimes we could not even breath. Every time in sex they go through this painful dream... The reason of that is the husband thinks, it is the only position allowed in Shar`a. He don't even know that he can also put his weight on his arms, Is it necessary to put his weight on the wife? So if the Husband is fat, so he should lay down and the wife can be over him, there is nothing wrong in it." [Tuhfatul Uroos page 99]

Compiled by: Asim ul Haq