Section

We discuss this in connection with His words:

“Or have touched women.”

What is meant is sexual intercourse, as Ibn Abbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—and other Arabs stated. This is also reported from Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—and others. This is the correct interpretation of the verse. Neither the Book nor the Sunnah establishes that touching women invalidates ablution. Muslims routinely touched their wives, yet not a single Muslim has transmitted that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered anyone to perform ablution because of touching women.

As for the view that the verse refers to contact short of intercourse and that this invalidates ablution, Ibn Umar and al-Hasan are reported to have explained it as “with the hand.” A number of the early generations held this view regarding touching with desire. Performing ablution after such touching is good and recommended, to quell desire, just as performing ablution when angry is recommended to quell anger. It is not, however, obligatory.

As for touching without desire, I know of no basis among the early generations for holding that it invalidates ablution. As for His words, exalted is He, “or have touched women,” the Quran does not mention ablution