Ibn Sabit said: I asked Hafsah bint Abdur Rahman, Abdur Rahman who was the son of Abu Bakr. I asked Hafsah: I want to ask you about something, but I feel shy. She said: (Son) Nephew, ask what you want to ask. I said: I want to ask about intercourse with women in the anus. She replied that Lady Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated to me, saying that the Ansar did not have intercourse with their wives lying on their faces or stomachs (i.e., upside down), but the Muhajirun used to do so. One of the Muhajirun married an Ansari woman and wanted to have intercourse with her in that manner, but she refused. That woman came to Lady Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) and told her the story. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, the woman went out due to shyness, so Lady Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated the incident to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He said: "Call her to me." She was called, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this noble verse: «﴿نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ﴾» [بقره: 223/2] meaning, "Your wives are your tilth, so come to your tilth as you wish." He said: "In one opening or way only."

Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I recited the Qur'an three times to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) in such a way that I would stop at every verse and ask about whom the verse was revealed and what its meaning was. I asked Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): What is your opinion about «﴿فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ﴾» [البقرة: 222/2] ? He replied: Its meaning is ( «من حيت امركم ان تعتزلوهن» ). The meaning of the verse is that when they become pure, then go to them as Allah has commanded. So he said: "As Allah has commanded" means to keep away from them.

It is narrated from Mujahid, may Allah have mercy on him: The meaning of «﴿فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ﴾» [بقره: 222/2] is that they have been commanded that after purification, fulfill your need at the same place from which you were prevented. (That is, intercourse is permitted and avoid the anus.)

Abu Razin explained the meaning of the noble verse «﴿فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ﴾» that intercourse should be done in the place of purity, that is, not in the anus but in the vagina (farj).

It is narrated from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him): «﴿وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ ......﴾» [الشعراء: 166/26] That is: "You leave what Allah Almighty has created for you in the form of your wives." Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: By Allah, what is meant by this is the private part (vagina) of the woman.

It is narrated from ‘Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him): Regarding the noble verse «﴿نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ﴾» [البقرة: 223/2] “Your wives are your fields; so come to your fields as you wish,”he said: What is meant by this is the private part (farj), i.e., have intercourse in the front, not in the back.

Ali bin Ali Rafai narrated that I heard Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) say: The Jews did not leave any effort in troubling the Muslims. They used to say: O companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him)! By your Allah, it is only permissible for you to have intercourse with your wives from one side. He said: Upon this, Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: «﴿نِسَاؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَكُمْ فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ﴾» "Your wives are your fields; so approach your fields as you wish." [البقره 2: 223] In this way, Allah the Exalted fulfilled the needs of the believers.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding the noble verse: «﴿فَأْتُوا حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّى شِئْتُمْ﴾» that what is meant is that you may come from the front or the back (have intercourse), as long as penetration is only in the specified place.

Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The people of ignorance used to treat menstruating women like the Magians did, so this was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and then this noble verse was revealed: «﴿وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّى يَطْهُرْنَ﴾» [البقرة: 222/2] and the matter regarding menstruating women became even more strict.

It is narrated from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding «﴿قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى﴾» that it is blood. (That is, the blood of menstruation is impurity.) And Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is impurity.