Five Practices Recommended Before Marital Intimacy
JAKARTA — Islam provides guidance for family life, including intimate relations between husband and wife. Sexual relations between a married couple are not only a means of meeting physical needs, but are also considered an act of worship that can bring spiritual reward.
Islam recommends a number of etiquettes before a husband and wife have sexual relations, or jimak. One is to recite a prayer asking that the encounter be blessed and, if Allah wills, result in righteous offspring.
In his book Tanya Jawab Fikih Keseharian (Everyday Islamic Jurisprudence: Questions and Answers), KH Mahbub Ma’afi explains that sexual relations are a basic need for married couples. He says there are five practices they should ideally observe beforehand.
“The practices recommended before jimak are, first, to recite bismillah,” Kiai Mahbub said, as quoted from the book published by Qafila, on page 192, on Wednesday (4 November 2026).
Second, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas. Third, recite the takbir (Allahu Akbar) and tahlil (La ilaha illallah).
Fourth, recite a prayer before sexual relations. The recommended prayer is:
بِسْمِ اللهِ العِلِيِّ العَظِيْمِ، اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنْ قَدَّرْتَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنْ صُلْبِيْ، اَللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنِي الشَّيْطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنِيْ
Bismillahil Aliyyil Adzim, Allahummaj Alha Dzurriyatan Thayyibatan inkunta Qaddarta an Tukhrija Dzalika min Shulbi. Allahumma Jannibnis Syayathaana wajannibis Syayathaana ma Razaqtana.
It means: “In the name of Allah, the Most High, the Most Great. My Lord, make it righteous offspring if You decree that it should emerge from my loins. My Lord, keep Satan away from me, and keep Satan away from the offspring You grant me.”
The fifth practice is to use a covering or blanket during sexual relations. Kiai Mahbub said married couples should not have jimak while completely naked.
“Do not have jimak while completely naked. Begin with caresses and kisses,” Kiai Mahbub explained.
In addition to these five practices, married couples are also encouraged to prepare themselves physically beforehand, for example by bathing, applying perfume, brushing their teeth and cleaning their mouths so that they remain clean and fresh.
In Islam, sexual intimacy is not solely a way to fulfil sexual desire. When undertaken lawfully by a married couple and in accordance with religious guidance, it is also regarded as an act of worship.
The Prophet Muhammad also explained that sexual relations between husband and wife can count as charity. This shows that meeting physical needs within marriage can also be a source of spiritual reward.