2118 - I read to Muhammad b. al-Fadl, Muhammad b. 'Ali narrated to us, Muhammad b. Muzahim informed us, from Bukayr b. Ma'ruf, from Muqatil b. Hayyan: "until they are pure," meaning: until they perform ghusl (full body ablution) from menstruation.

His saying (the Exalted): "And when they have purified themselves."

2119 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih narrated to us, Mu'awiya b. Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali b. Abi Talha, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding his saying: "And when they have purified themselves," he says: When she is purified from the blood, and has purified herself with water. Abu Muhammad said: Something similar to this has been narrated from Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, al-Hasan, Muqatil b. Hayyan, and al-Layth b. Sa'd.

His saying (the Exalted): "And approach them from where Allah has ordered you."

[The first interpretation]

2120 - Yunus b. 'Abd al-A'la informed us by way of recitation, Ibn Wahb informed us, Abu Sakhr informed me, from Abu Mu'awiya al-Bajali—meaning 'Ammar al-Duhni—from Sa'id b. Jubayr, who said: While I and Mujahid were sitting with Ibn 'Abbas, a man came to him and said: "Will you not cure my confusion regarding the verse on menstruation?" He said: "Yes." Then he recited: "And they ask you about menstruation. Say, 'It is harm,'" up to His saying: "And approach them from where Allah has ordered you." Ibn 'Abbas said: "From the place from which the blood comes, from there you have been ordered to approach." Abu Muhammad said: It has been narrated from Mujahid and Ibrahim that they both said: "In the vagina."

And the second interpretation:

2121 - Ahmad b. Sinan narrated to us, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Mahdi narrated to us, from Sufyan, from al-A'mash, from Abu Razin: "And approach them from where Allah has ordered you," he said: "From the side of purity." Abu Muhammad said: Something similar to this has been narrated from 'Ikrimah, al-Rabi' b. Anas, Qatada, al-Dahhak, Muqatil b. Hayyan, and 'Ata' al-Khurasani.

And the third interpretation:

2122 - Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Isma'il al-Azraq, from Abu Muhammad al-Asadi, from Ibn al-Hanafiyya, regarding His saying: "And approach them from where Allah has ordered you," he said: "From the side of what is lawful, from the side of marriage."