Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—was also asked: (*)
“If a man touches the hand of a beardless youth, is this treated like touching a woman with regard to invalidating ablution? What has been reported concerning the prohibition of looking at the face of a handsome beardless youth? And what of the claim made by some who contravene Islamic law that looking at a beardless youth’s face is an act of worship? When someone tells them, ‘Looking in this way is forbidden,’ one of them replies, ‘When I look at him, I say: Glory be to the One who created him. I add nothing to that.’”
He replied:
Praise be to Allah. If a man touches a beardless youth with desire, there are two views within the school of Ahmad and among other scholars.
The first is that, like touching a woman with desire, it invalidates ablution. This is the well-known position in Mālik’s school, as mentioned by al-Qādī Abū Yaʿlā in his exposition of the school.
The second is that it does not invalidate ablution. This is the well-known position in al-Shāfiʿī’s school.
The first view is more evident, for anal intercourse invalidates the acts of worship that vaginal intercourse invalidates—such as fasting, the consecrated state of pilgrimage, and devotional retreat—and requires a full ritual bath
Shaykh Nāsir ibn Hamad al-Fahd said (p. 174):
Several points should be noted:
First: This fatwa has already appeared at 15/410–427.
Second: The copy from which the fatwa is reproduced here differs from the copy used there, as the differences between them demonstrate. The copy used here is more accurate.
Third: There are some textual corruptions and omissions here, including the following:
1 - 21/243: “The first is that, like touching women with desire, it invalidates ablution. This is the well-known position in Mālik’s school, mentioned by al-Qādī Abū Ya‘lā in his exposition of the school’s doctrine.”
The following words have been omitted after this: “It is also one of the two positions within al-Shāfi‘ī’s school,” as found at 15/411.
2 - 21/248: “That is not because, in his view, it indicated the Creator’s greatness.” The more likely reading is: “That is not because it is more indicative,” as found at 15/416.
3 - 21/250: “On this basis, [the gaze] of someone whose heart feels no attraction to beardless youths.” The bracketed words have been omitted, as shown at 15/418.
4 - 21/253: “Then looking reinforces love.” The more likely reading is: “Then looking engenders love,” as found at 15/421.
5 - 21/253: “This afflicts only those who turn away from sincere devotion to Allah, as the Exalted says concerning Joseph: ‘Thus We acted to turn evil and indecency away from him; indeed, he was one of Our chosen servants.’” After “sincere devotion to Allah,” the following has been omitted: “who have some element of shirk (associating partners with Allah). As for those sincerely devoted to Him, however, it is as the Exalted says…” This appears at 15/421.
6 - 21/254: “and for the beloved, some healing in his affairs.” The correct wording is: “or for the beloved, some effort to further his interests,” as found at 15/422.
7 - 21/255: “which entails the indwelling of His very essence in His creatures or His union with them; [thus they say] concerning all creatures something analogous to what the Christians say specifically concerning Christ.” The bracketed words have been omitted, as shown at 15/423.