Pregnancy

It is important to note that many of the acts mentioned in this section are similar to those outlined in the Sexual Etiquette section, with the addition of how it affects the conceived child.

Makru-h acts

As some actions have a negative effect on the child such as spite against the Ahlul Bayt (as) 109, it is recommended that the acts mentioned below are refrained from:

1. Looking at the private parts of the woman during the actual act, as this leads to blindness in the child. 110

2. Speaking during the actual act (with the exception of dhikr of Alla-h (swt) ), as this leads to dumbness in the child. 111

3. Having henna on (the man), as this leads to effeminacy of the child (i.e. a girl has characteristics of a boy and vice versa). 112

4. Thinking of or desiring another woman during the act, as this leads to insanity of the child. 113

5. Making love in the presence of a child, who can either see, or hear the sounds of the act, as this results in that child never being delivered (from the fire of hell) and becoming an adulterer. 114

6. Making love when someone is awake in the house that can see, or hear the sounds of the act, as this results in the child never being delivered (from the fire of hell), and becoming an adulterer. 115

7. Making love standing, as this results in the child having a bed-wetting problem. 116

8. Making love on the rooftop, as this results in the child being hypocritical, and a heretic (innovator). 117

9. Making love under a fruit tree, as this results in the child being an executioner and a leader of oppression. 118

10. Making love directly under sunlight, as this results in the child being poor, even until his death. 119

11. Making love when the man is muhtalim (i.e. become in the state of janabat during his sleep) and before doing Wudu- or Ghusl, as this results in the child becoming insane. 120

It is important to also keep in mind the other Makru-h acts during normal sexual etiquette (as mentioned in Chapter 2: Sexual Etiquette). These are:

1. Having Qur’an or the dhikr of Alla-h (swt) on you.
2. Making love bare (without a covering).
3. Making love on the road or in a boat.
4. Facing, or having one’s back to, the Qibla.
5. Refusing to have sexual intercourse (for various reasons).

NOTE:

Once the woman has conceived, it is recommended to refrain from making love without Wudu-, as this results in the child being miserly and inwardly blind. 121

Notes:

109 Biha-r al-Anwa-r, vol. 39, pg. 278, no. 87

110 Wasa-il ash-Shi-‘a, vol. 20, pg. 122, no. 25197

111 Ibid., vol. 20, pg. 121, no. 25195

112 Ibid., vol. 20, pg. 125, no. 25205

113 Halliyatul Muttaqi-n, pg. 112-114

114 Wasa-il ash-Shi-‘a, vol. 20, pg. 133, no. 25223

115 Niya-zha- wa Rawa-bith Jinsi- was Zana-shui-, pg. 64

116 Halliyatul Muttaqi-n, pg. 112-114

117 Ibid.

118 Ibid.

119 Ibid.

120 Wasa-il ash-Shi-‘a, vol. 20, pg. 148, no. 25271

121 Ibid.

Adapted from the book: "From Marriage to Parenthood; The Heavenly Path" by: "Abbas and Shahin Merali"