Is it true that looking at one’s wife’s private parts is makruh? If so, what is the basis for this? I understand modesty outside of marriage, but why would there be an encouragement of modesty during marriage. Why would Islam encourage sexual intercourse but encourage modesty in marriage? I feel this is especially relevant today when society is filled with immodesty and shame outside of one’s marital life.
Islamic legislations take into account two aspects, the first is setting the limits of actions in terms of what is lawful and what is unlawful, and the second aspect is the perfecting of actions. Sexual relationships outside of marriage is unlawful, and between a husband and a wife, it is lawful with certain limitations where intercourse during the wife’s menstrual cycle is not permitted, as well as anal sex without the permission of the wife. As for the aspect of perfection, as both humans and animals need food and sex, what distinguishes a human from an animal are the ethics and manners that beautify their actions on the level of eating and drinking and on the level of sexual intercourse. Hence, there is an aspect that goes beyond the bodily need, which the Holy Quran describes as comfort and affection, which entails a kind and respectable treatment of the partner’s body. Although Islam does not forbid partners from enjoying each other’s, however certain acts like looking inside the wife’s private parts are considered detestable (makrooh), as some narrations by the Ahlulbayt (pbut) suggest that it may result in the child to be blind.