Short answer
Yes. Kissing between husband and wife, on the lips or anywhere, is halal and part of the affection the sunnah encourages. The Prophet ﷺ kissed his wives. In public, modesty means keeping it private. The four schools agree it is allowed, but they differ on whether kissing breaks wudu.
Kissing and every form of affection between spouses is permitted. Kissing one's wife does not break wudu. Public displays of intimacy go against haya (modesty) and are disliked, and while fasting, kissing is disliked for someone who fears it will lead further.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Skin to skin contact between a man and a woman, including his wife, breaks wudu, so a kiss breaks it.
- Maliki
- A kiss on the mouth breaks wudu; other touching breaks it only when done with desire.
- Hanbali
- Touching or kissing breaks wudu only when done with desire.
Explanation
Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ would kiss and embrace his wives even while fasting, and that he had the most control over himself. Affection between spouses is part of the "affection and mercy" Allah placed between them (30:21), and play between husband and wife is praised in the sunnah.
- On the lips: permitted, like any other kiss.
- While fasting: allowed for someone in control of himself, disliked for someone who fears it will lead further. See does kissing break your fast.
- During her period: kissing and embracing are allowed. See intimacy during periods.
- Wudu: in the Hanafi school a kiss does not break wudu, but the other schools differ. See does touching a woman break wudu.
- In ihram: forbidden. See what is forbidden in ihram.
In public. The Prophet ﷺ said that modesty is part of faith. Intimate kissing in front of others, or posting such pictures online, goes against haya and can tempt others. A brief, modest gesture of affection in public is a matter of local custom, but intimacy belongs at home.
See also intimacy in marriage and beautifying for your spouse.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Ar-Room 30:21
وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١﴾
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
Affection between spouses is a sign of Allah.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:187
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌۭ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌۭ لَّهُنَّ ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ ۖ فَٱلْـَٰٔنَ بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَٰجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٧﴾
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.
Spouses are close to one another in every way.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1927
Sahih... يقبل ويباشر وهو صائم ...
"He would kiss and embrace while he was fasting."
The Prophet kissed his wives.
Sahih al-Bukhari 24
Sahih... دعه فإن الحياء من الإيمان ...
"Leave him, for modesty is part of faith."
Modesty governs public behaviour, including between spouses.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Kitab al-Taharah, on what does not break wudu. Touching or kissing a woman does not break wudu in the Hanafi school.
- Minhaj al-Talibin (Nawawi), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on what breaks wudu. Skin contact between a man and a woman breaks wudu.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.