- Ibn ʿAbbās reported:
“This clan of the Anṣār—who at that time were idol-worshipers—lived alongside a clan of the Jews, the People of the Scripture. The Anṣār regarded them as more learned and therefore imitated many of their practices. One of the customs of the People of the Scripture was that they would not approach their wives except while the woman was lying on her side,¹ for that was the most concealing posture for her. The Anṣār adopted that same practice.
By contrast, this clan of Quraysh used to ‘handle’ their women quite freely, taking pleasure with them whether the woman was facing them, turned away, or lying on her back. When the Emigrants arrived in Medina, one of them married a woman from the Anṣār and tried to behave with her as he was accustomed. She objected, saying, ‘We were only approached on our side; do that, or else stay away from me!’ Matters between them became strained,² and news of it reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Thereupon Allah revealed: “Your wives are a field for you, so approach your field however you wish” (Q 2:223)—that is, while they are facing you, turned away, or lying on their backs, meaning thereby the place