Question:

When is it incumbent upon a man to abstain from sexual intercourse with his wife during pregnancy, and does coitus—specifically during the first trimester—pose any potential harm to the fetus?

Answer:

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy is permissible provided it does not cause harm to the pregnancy. Rather, prohibition is strictly applied to intercourse during menstruation, in accordance with the Allah Almighty’s saying: ‘Therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they are purified (from menses and have taken a bath). And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allâh has ordained for you (go in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina).’ [Al-Baqarah: 222].

The same ruling applies to women in a state of postnatal bleeding (nifas) until they attain purity, as well as those in the state of ritual consecration (ihram) for Hajj or ‘Umrah.