the Jews forbade this and would say, “If a man has vaginal intercourse with a woman from behind, the child will be cross-eyed.” So Allah revealed this verse. The “place of cultivation” is the place where a child is conceived, namely, the vagina. Allah thus permitted a man to have vaginal intercourse with a woman from whichever direction he wished.

Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar used to say, “The slave has lied about my father.” This supports the view that Nāfiʿ misreported Ibn ʿUmar’s words, for they used the word “lying” to mean making a mistake. An example is ʿUbādah’s statement, “Abū Muhammad has lied,” when the latter said that the witr prayer was obligatory. Another is Ibn ʿAbbās’s statement, “Nawf has lied,” when Nawf said that the man who accompanied al-Khidr was not Moses of the Children of Israel.

Some say that Ibn ʿUmar himself misunderstood the verse. Allah knows best which of these occurred. However, Ibn ʿUmar is reported to have said, “Would a Muslim do this?” In any event, the meaning of the verse is what the Companions and Successors explained it to be, and the occasion of its revelation supports that interpretation. And Allah knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

A man has anal intercourse with his wife. Is this lawful or forbidden?

He replied:

Anal intercourse with a woman is forbidden according to the Quran and Sunnah. This is the position of the overwhelming majority of the early and later scholars. Indeed, it is the lesser form of sodomy. It is authentically established that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Allah is not shy of the truth. Do not have intercourse with women in