A Response to Objections Regarding the Hadith of 'Aishah and the Tafsir of Ibn 'Abbas

The questioner : Someone may say: "Your argument relies on the hadith of 'Aishah, which some scholars of knowledge know to be disconnected (munqati'), and on the tafsir of Ibn 'Abbas regarding the verse, meaning that some of the Companions contradicted him, and it became associated with Ibn Mas'ud."

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : Likewise, this supports the reading "or you have not touched the women." How do we respond to this?

The Shaykh : We respond to this by saying that the hadith of 'Aishah was authenticated by some of the scholars of knowledge, and whoever authenticates it, his view is a proof against the one who weakens it, unless the defect is explained as is well known. This is with regard to the hadith. As for the interpretation of Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Mas'ud, we say that the apparent meaning of the verse, as we mentioned to you in terms of the division, indicates that the interpretation of Ibn 'Abbas is more appropriate for it. As for the recitation regarding "touching," it is used for this touching, and "touching" in general is used for intercourse and the like. There is no blame on you if and this is because it is customary that what one is shy to mention explicitly is referred to by euphemism.