Marriage Section · 46 – Hadiths Regarding the Details of Marriage
Amr bin Shu’ayb has narrated from his father, who narrated from his grandfather:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Let one of you, when he marries a woman or acquires a servant girl, say: ‘O Allah, I ask You for goodness in her, and that her characteristics be good. I seek refuge in You from her evil and from bad characteristics.’” And let him hold the hump of the camel when he buys it.
Abu Dawud said: Abu Sa’id added to this hadith: “Then let him take the forehead of the servant girl and the woman into his hand, and ask Allah for blessing upon them, and say the same words.”
It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If any of you intends to approach his wife, let him say, ‘In the name of Allah, I begin. O Lord, keep Satan away from us. And drive Satan away from that which You have provided for us.’” If a child is destined [to result] from that union, then Satan will never harm him.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: "He is under a curse who has intercourse with his wife from behind." [156]
Muḥammad ibn Munqadir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
I heard Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) say: "The Jews used to say: 'If a man has intercourse with his wife from the front, but does so from behind, the child will be deformed.'" Thereupon the Most High (Allah) revealed the verse: “Your wives are your fields, so go to your fields as you please.” [Quran 2:223]
**EXPLANATION:**
Women are lawful for men in the place of procreation. It is forbidden to use women through their backs or from where they expel what they eat – this is called *liwāṭa*. However, there is no sin in placing a woman on her back or face, provided intercourse is from the front. The verse, "Your wives are your fields; go to them as you please," does not denote absolute freedom. Rather, it means that one may enter them as he wishes, with the condition that the goal be the place of procreation. By Allah, this freedom should not be mistaken for permission for *liwāṭa*.
Women’s “field” is the womb. This should not be misunderstood.
According to a narration from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, he said regarding the verse, "Your wives are your fields," that Ibn Umar, may Allah forgive him, was mistaken. The truth is that the cause for the revelation of this verse was a group among the Ansar, who were previously polytheists. Along with them, some individuals from amongst the Jews were also involved in the reason for its revelation; these were People of the Book. The Ansar considered the Jews superior to themselves in knowledge and would follow many of their practices. One of the practices of the People of the Book was that they would have intercourse with women only from one side – this being the most concealed position. A tribe among the Ansar adopted this custom from the Jews. However, a tribe from amongst the Quraysh would expose women in an unusual manner (spreading them out on the ground). They derived pleasure from them by turning their backs, having them lie on their backs, and engaging with them facing forward, conditioned upon contact with the reproductive organs. When the Muhajirun arrived in Medina, a man among them married a woman of the Ansar. The husband desired to have intercourse with his wife in various positions, but the woman did not object to his actions. She said, “We women of the Ansar were only ever approached from one side; you should do likewise, or keep away from me.” This matter escalated and reached the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The Most High and Magnificent Allah then revealed, "Your wives are your fields; approach them as you will." Meaning: You may engage with them facing forward, from their backs, and on their backs, provided that it is from the side where a child is born.
GLOSSARY:
Hay: Tribe
Vehmu: Error
Sharh: Explanation
Shariyya: Ascended
Harf: Edge, possessing a meaning
Wasan: Idol