Unilateral Coitus Interruptus OK with Slave-Wife, Not with Free-Wife

"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 offer 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 allowed for a Muslim to practice coitus interruptus for no reason?

Response: The late Sheikh Abu 'Abdullaah ibn 'Uthaymeen, former professor at Imam Muhammad ibn Sa'ud Islamic University and member until his death in 2001 of the Council of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia, rules that although birth control is not acceptable in Islam except under certain conditions, coitus interruptus "without cause" is allowed since the practice was reportedly taking place during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad.

However, the scholars say that coitus interruptus must not be done with a free [non-slave] wife except with her permission. This is because she also has the right to have children. It also reduces her sexual pleasure. The pleasure of the woman is not complete until after the male ejaculation.

Therefore, for these two causes just mentioned, it is not allowed to perform coitus interruptus with one's free wife except with her consent.

Summary:
Free-Wife: Right to have children and to sexual pleasure from male ejaculation important; must give permission for coitus interruptus.
Slave-Wife: No right to children or to sexual pleasure from male ejaculation; no permission needed.