A Wedding Kiss: What Islam Says About Intimacy

Islam outlines several rules that engaged couples should follow before and during the marriage ceremony. Kissing before and during the wedding ceremony is not allowed in Islam, as a man and his fiancée are not married and are still considered strangers (non-Mahram) to each other until the marriage contract is completed. Kissing between a husband and wife is allowed in Islam but is reserved for private places and not in front of bystanders.

Kissing before marriage is forbidden

Islam outlines several rules that an engaged couple ought to follow before and during the marriage ceremony. Kissing before marriage is forbidden in Islam. According to the hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he declared that it is better for a Muslim to have a nail driven into his head than to touch anyone who is not of close relation to them. A Muslim is at liberty to look for a spouse with the intention of marriage, but he is not allowed to touch or kiss her even during the marriage ceremony, especially in public.

The marriage contract is always valid. However, kissing a woman during the engagement period or during the marriage ceremony is considered haram. But if it occurs after the marriage ceremony, there is nothing wrong with kissing. Before the nikah has been conducted, the couple is not married; they are still strangers to each other until they are married. It is not permissible for the couple to be left alone or go for a trip prior to the wedding ceremony.

The couple is not allowed to touch or feel each other's faces before marriage, even if there is no fear of desire. Because before the nikah has been conducted, they are still haram for each other. The greater purification or ghusl is not allowed to be performed after kissing. The greater purification is done mainly when semen is emitted or when intercourse has occurred.

Muslim couples cannot kiss immediately after the nikah, as this ceremony has other people present, such as relatives, witnesses, and officials. Decency dictates that such deeds ought to be done by married couples in private places. It is perfectly legal in Islam for a married couple to kiss, but they are not required to display this kind of affection in public.

Kissing during the wedding ceremony is forbidden

Islam outlines several rules that engaged couples ought to follow before and during the marriage ceremony. Kissing during the wedding ceremony is forbidden in Islam. According to the hadith by Prophet Muhammad, he declared that it is better for a Muslim to have a nail driven into their head than to touch anyone who is not a close relation. A Muslim is at liberty to look for a spouse with the intention of marriage, but he is not allowed to touch or kiss her, even during the marriage ceremony, especially in public.

The marriage contract is always valid. However, kissing a woman during the engagement period or during the marriage ceremony is considered haram. But if it occurs after the marriage ceremony, there is nothing wrong with kissing. Islam does not allow a fiancé to touch, feel, or kiss his fiancée, or stay alone with her, because they are considered strangers to each other (non-mahram) until the marriage contract has been signed. It is lawful for the man to look at his bride when proposing marriage so that they can marry.

Before the nikah has been conducted, the couple is not married—both are still strangers to each other until they are married. It is not permissible for the couple to be left alone or go for a trip prior to the wedding ceremony. The couple is not allowed to touch or feel each other's faces before marriage, even if there is no fear of desire. Because before the nikah has been conducted, they are still haram for each other.

Muslim couples cannot kiss immediately after the nikah, as this ceremony has other people present, such as relatives, witnesses, and officials. Decency dictates that such deeds ought to be done by married couples in private places. It is perfectly legal in Islam for a married couple to kiss, but they are not required to display this kind of affection in public. All couples attending any Muslim marriage are therefore forbidden from kissing each other. They should not expose themselves to bystanders, including the marrying couple as well as any children in attendance. Allah has permitted kissing for the husband and wife to privately enjoy.

Kissing after the wedding ceremony is allowed

Islam outlines several rules that an engaged couple ought to follow before and during the marriage ceremony. Kissing before and during the wedding ceremony is not allowed in Islam. According to the hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he declared that it is better for a Muslim to have a nail driven into their head than to touch anyone who is not a close relation.

However, after the marriage ceremony, there is nothing wrong with kissing. Islam does not allow hugging and kissing between the wedding couple immediately after the Nikah in front of the public as soon as the Nikah is pronounced. Decency dictates that such deeds ought to be done by married couples in private places. It is perfectly legal in Islam for a married couple to kiss but they are not required to display this kind of affection in public.

Kissing the forehead, cheeks, and hands is allowed, but individuals should avoid doing so in public. Kissing a spouse in public is considered one of the "khawarim al-muruah", or acts that betray one's self-respect according to the practices and customs of a given society. It is also considered an insult to the spouse.

In short, Islam is not a religion that forbids kissing or considers it bad. It simply urges Muslim people to be prepared to carry the burden that comes with it. It is well-defined that Islam closes the door to deeds that cause immorality.

Kissing in public is generally forbidden

Islam forbids public displays of affection between couples, including kissing. This prohibition extends to weddings, where the bride and groom are not permitted to kiss in front of others during the ceremony. The act of kissing is reserved for private moments between the couple, away from public view.

According to Islamic teachings, a man and a woman who are not married are considered strangers (non-mahram) to each other. This includes engaged couples, who are still in the process of finalising their marriage contract. As a result, physical contact, including kissing, between an engaged couple is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasised the seriousness of this rule, stating that it would be better for a Muslim to have a nail driven into their head than to touch someone who is not a close relative.

The prohibition on kissing before marriage is based on the belief that physical contact between non-mahram individuals is haram, or forbidden. This rule applies to both unmarried and engaged couples, who are expected to refrain from kissing and other forms of physical intimacy until their marriage is officially recognised. Only after the wedding ceremonies have been completed can the couple kiss and touch each other in private.

While Islam does not forbid kissing in general, it draws a clear line between public and private displays of affection. Kissing one's spouse in public is considered haram and is strongly discouraged. Islamic scholars advise married couples to express their love and affection behind closed doors, in absolute privacy. Any form of vulgar or inappropriate kissing in public is not only considered haram but can also lead to legal consequences and social embarrassment.

It is important to note that Islam makes a distinction between different types of kissing. While kissing on the lips between a husband and wife is reserved for private moments, kissing on the forehead, cheeks, or hands is not inherently forbidden. However, even these types of kisses are generally discouraged in public. Islamic scholars consider such acts as "khawarim al-muruáh", or betrayals of self-respect within the cultural context of a given society.

Kissing non-marriageable relatives on the mouth is forbidden

Islam outlines several rules that couples ought to follow before and during the marriage ceremony. Kissing before and during the wedding ceremony is not allowed. According to the hadith by Prophet Muhammad, it is better for a Muslim to have a nail driven into his head than to touch anyone who is not a close relation.

Imam Ahmad has mentioned the following limitations with regard to kissing Mahrams: there should be a special reason for it, such as a return from a journey, and there should be no risk of temptation. Ibn Muflih has explained that there should be no kissing on the mouth, rather it should be on the cheek or head, because kissing the mouth is associated with desire.

In Al-Iqna, it says there is nothing wrong with kissing female Mahrams upon returning from a journey, as long as there is no temptation. However, it should not be on the mouth, but rather the forehead or head. In Al-Mawsu'ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, it says it is not permissible for a man to kiss the mouth of another man, or a woman to kiss another woman, if it is done by way of desire. However, if it is not done on the mouth and is done by way of respect, then there is nothing wrong with it.

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