It is recommended to mention Allah’s name at the time of intercourse and to recite the reported supplication, …

His statement, “It is recommended to mention Allah’s name at the time of intercourse and to recite the reported supplication,” means that when a man wishes to have intercourse with his wife, mentioning Allah’s name is a strongly emphasized sunnah at the time of intercourse. This is due to the Prophet’s saying: “If one of you, when he wishes to approach his wife, says, ‘In the name of Allah. O Allah, keep Satan away from us and keep Satan away from what You provide us,’ then, if they are destined to have a child, Satan will never harm him.” (1)

Should the woman say it as well? Some scholars said that she should say it. The correct view is that she does not, because the Prophet said, “If one of you approaches his wife,” and because the child is created only from the man’s fluid, as Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Let man then consider from what he was created. He was created from a gushing fluid, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs. Indeed, He is fully able to restore him.” [al-Tariq]

Sperm cells are produced from the man’s fluid. Thus, it is he who, when he wishes to approach his wife, should say: “In the name of Allah. O Allah, keep Satan away from us and keep Satan away from what You provide us.”

The Prophet’s statement, “then, if they are destined to have a child, Satan will never harm him,” may raise a question: a man may consistently mention Allah’s name at every intercourse, yet have children whom Satan harms. The scholars differed concerning this. Some of them said: He will not be harmed physically. This is because, when a human being is born, Satan strikes him in his side with his hand, and the child cries when he is born. At times, a blue mark from the blow may be seen on the side, intending thereby to destroy him. They therefore say: He is not harmed—that is,