It is narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that hardly a day passed (or very rarely did one pass) on which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not come round to all of us wives; he (peace and blessings be upon him) would kiss and touch (show affection) short of intercourse, then he would stay with the wife whose turn it was.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says concerning the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "Or you have touched women" [Surah al-Nisa: 43] : What is meant by it is an act short of intercourse, and such touching makes ablution necessary.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Kissing is also included in 'lams' (touching), so perform ablution because of it."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a man came and said: O Messenger of Allah! What is the ruling regarding a man who did with a woman who was not lawful for him (physically) everything that a man does with his wife, except intercourse? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Perform ablution well, then stand and pray." The narrator says that upon this Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed this verse: "And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night" [Surah Hud: 114] . The man asked: Is this ruling for me specifically or for all Muslims? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Rather, it is general for all the Muslims." All these hadiths are sahih (authentic) and indicate that the "lams" (touching) which makes ablution obligatory is physical touching other than intercourse.