Fatwa of the Week: Phone Sex & Handless Pleasure

"Never did we hear such a thing from our ancestors of old!"
-- Unbelievers to Noah (Qur'an 23:24)

Some of our readers, disturbed at the wide variety of articles on Islam and Muslims that we publish written by regular Muslims from all walks of life, have advised us to feature information from properly trained jurists. As a service to those readers, we are pleased to introduce our "Fatwa of the Week" feature. These are actual, honest-to-goodness fatwas (i.e. religious rulings), republished here as a public service. Follow them at your own risk; after all, remember what happened to the people of Noah. -- Ed.

Question: Is it permissible for the husband and wife to talk about sex over the telephone (and by doing so) they arouse each other until one of them or both of them have an orgasm [making sure not to use the hand because it is haraam]. We do this because my husband travels alot and we only (get to) see each other every four months?

Response: There is no harm (in this). Yes this is permissible.

Question: And (is this permissible) even with the use of the hand?

Response: There is some (element of) uncertainty in (the issue of) using the hand; And it is not permissible except if he fears falling into adultery.

Question: (So) there is no harm (in doing so) without using the hand?

Response: Yes, there is no harm (in doing so) without using the hand (while) he imagines he is with her. And it is befitting upon them both that they are careful no-one listens to their speech or spies upon them. And Allaah is the Most Knowledgeable.

Fataawa Mu'aasarah - Page 81
al-Mowsoo'ah - 4807
Courtesy of fatwa-online.com