in both legal ruling and inwardly; these are (83) three expressions: his saying, "By Allah, I will not have intercourse with you" (84), "I will not enter," "I will not insert," or "I will insert my penis into your vagina," and "I will not deflower you" (specifically for a virgin). These are explicit, and he is not to be believed against his apparent claim [in an oath] because they do not admit any meaning other than Ila'. The second category is explicit (85) in legal ruling, and he is to be believed in what is between him and Allah the Exalted. These are ten expressions: "I will not have intercourse with you," "I will not have sexual relations with you," "I will not have contact with you," "I will not engage with you," "I will not touch you," "I will not come near you," "I will not come to you," "I will not have intercourse with you" (ba-da'tuki), "I will not have marital relations with you," and "I will not perform ghusl from you." These are explicit in legal ruling because they are used in custom for sexual intercourse. The Quran has used some of them; Allah the Exalted said: {And do not approach them until they are pure, and when they have purified themselves, then come to them} (86). He also said: {And do not engage with them while you are observing seclusion in the mosques} (87). And the Exalted said: {before you touch them} (88). As for "sexual intercourse" (jima') and "coitus" (wat'), they are the most famous expressions in usage. If he were to say, "By wat', I intended placing [the foot] on the ground," or by "jima' I intended [the gathering of bodies] (89)," or by "isaba" I intended touching with the hand," he is to be believed in what is between him and Allah the Exalted, but it is not accepted in legal ruling because it contradicts the apparent meaning and custom. Al-Shafi'i held a different opinion regarding these expressions other than wat' and jima'. He said in one place: "It is not explicit in legal ruling, because it is literally used for [meanings] other than jima'." Regarding his saying "ba'adtuki," he said: "It is not explicit, because it might mean the meeting of the two parts (bud'atayn), the part of the body with the part from him; for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Fatima is a part (bud'a) of me' (90)." Our position is that it is used for intercourse by custom, and the Quran and Sunnah have used it, so it is