Allah be pleased with them both.

If you reflect upon the verse, you will find that the correct view is that of those who hold that it means sexual intercourse. This is because Allah Most High mentions two forms of purification with water: purification from minor and major ritual impurity. Regarding minor ritual impurity, He says, “Wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles” 1. Regarding major ritual impurity, He says, “If you are in a state of major ritual impurity, then purify yourselves…” 2, and so on to the end of the verse.

Eloquence and clarity would therefore require that the respective causes necessitating both forms of purification also be mentioned in connection with dry purification. Thus, the words of the Most High, “or one of you comes from the privy,” indicate a cause necessitating purification from minor ritual impurity, while His words, “or you have touched women,” indicate a cause necessitating purification from major ritual impurity. If we interpreted “touching” here as mere physical contact, then the verse would mention