باسمه تعالى
Question:
1) Is it permissible for a husband and wife to look at each other’s private parts?
2) Does merely looking at the private parts of one’s spouse cause one’s offspring to be born with physical defects?
Answer
1) The Ulema have mentioned that even though it is permissible for them to look at each other’s genitilia, it is preferable to abstain from doing so.
The Holy Prophet (SAWS) said “When any of you cohabits with his spouse, then he should see to it that they are covered. None of you should cohabit in the nude like wild asses.”
2) Imam Suyuti (RA) has mentioned a narration in Minhaaj us Sunnah, wherein it is attributed to Ibn Abbas (RA) that he said that such actions causes loss of memory and affects the eyesight. However, many of the Ulema have unanimously agreed that this in reality is a fabricated narration i.e. someone fabricated this hadith as well as the chain of narrators and then attributed it to Ibn Abbas (RA). A similar narration has been attributed to Abu Hurairah (RA). However, Imam Ibn Hajr (RA) has mentioned that the chain of narrators contains some unreliable narrators therefore this “narration” is unacceptable.
On the other hand, even though the narration is unreliable, it has been proven from a medical perspective as well as through experience that such things do weaken the memory. It would therefore be best to abstain from such “activities”.
And Allah knows best
Fatāwā Dārul Ulūm Zakariyyā, Vol. 4, Pg. 428