The Ruling on Touching a Woman

The sixth message came from the generosity of Ahmad Suri, residing in Kuwait. He says in his message: The school of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) states that touching women invalidates the ablution. Who are these women? Does touching female relatives who are not of marriageable age invalidate the ablution? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: There is scholarly disagreement regarding whether touching women invalidates the ablution. Some scholars, such as al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), said that it invalidates it absolutely. Others, such as Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), said that it does not invalidate it absolutely. And others, such as Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), said that it invalidates it if accompanied by desire; if one touches her with pleasure and desire, the ablution is invalidated, otherwise it is not.
The correct view in this issue, which is based on evidence, is that touching a woman does not invalidate the ablution absolutely, whether it is accompanied by desire and pleasure or not. This is the correct view; because he (peace and blessings be upon him): And because the original state is the purity of the ritual state, and the innocence of the conscience from requiring another ablution, so ablution is not obligatory except by sound evidence that has no contradiction. And because women are present in every house generally, and the need to touch them is widespread, from their husbands and others, so if it invalidated the ablution, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified it and explained it clearly so that it would not be hidden.
As for His saying, Exalted and Majestic is He: [al-Nisa: 43] And in another reading: The intended meaning is: intercourse. Allah used this as a euphemism for intercourse; because He, Glorified is He, uses "touching" as a euphemism for intercourse. This is what Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and a group of scholars said, and it is the correct view: that the intended meaning of "touching" is intercourse. As for touching her with the hand, it does not invalidate the ablution absolutely in the most correct of the scholars' opinions, in the most correct of the three opinions. And success is from Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.