Expert: Jamshaid Zubairee - 5/9/2008

Question
If the husband rapes his wife, is that a sin in Islam?   Is there any answers to this in the Quran?

Answer
Hi Aimee
I am not sure if using the word "rape" would be appropriate between the husband and the wife, the punishment for rape in Islam is stoning to death.  This would not apply to the husband who has sexual intercourse with his wife without her will.

However, Allah Almighty is crystal clear about commanding the Muslim men to sleep properly with their wives. Let us look at the following Noble Verse:

"Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear God. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.  (The Noble Quran, 2:223)"

In this Noble Verse we clearly see that Allah Almighty allows for the husbands to sleep with their wives, but they MUST fear Allah when they do so.  Forcing the wife into sex, or forcing her to do something that she does not desire while sleeping with her would not please Allah Almighty.  He warns those men who are sexually mean to their wives that they will meet Him, and everything they do they will be held accountable for it; "Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it!  And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.  (The Noble Quran, 99:7-8)"