“In classical Arabic usage the primary sense of nikah is sexual intercourse; the term was then applied to marriage because it is the lawful means to such intercourse.” See al-Arab. This report is an extract from the hadith of Anas cited earlier under Issue 14. (1) Al-Nihayah states: “By mubasharah he meant mere physical contact; the root meaning is to touch the woman’s skin, yet the word is also used for intercourse, whether within the vagina or outside it.” I say: The latter meaning is intended here, plainly so, and it is the interpretation adopted by Lady Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). Sahba bint Karim said: “I asked Aishah, ‘What is permissible for a man with his wife while she is menstruating?’ She replied, ‘Everything short of intercourse.’” Reported by Ibn Saʿd, 8/485. A sound report with the same wording from her regarding a fasting person is found in al-Ahadith al-Sahihah, vol. 1, nos. 220–221. The hadith is recorded by the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), by Abu Awanah in their Sahih collections, and by Abu Dawud; the wording given here is that of Abu Dawud, no. 260 in his Sunan.