His saying (the Exalted): "Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant."
2123 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashaj narrated to us, Hafs narrated to us, 'Asim b. Sulayman al-Ahwal narrated to us from al-Sha'bi, who said: "The one who repents from a sin is like the one who has no sin," then he recited: "Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
2124 - My father narrated to us, Abu Nu'aym al-Fadl b. Dukayn narrated to us, Talha b. 'Amr narrated to us from 'Ata', regarding His saying: "Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant," he said: "Those who repent from sins. And [He] loves those who purify themselves," he said: "Those who purify themselves with water for prayer." It has been narrated from Abu al-'Aliya, Mujahid, Muqatil b. Hayyan, and Jabir b. Zayd something similar to this.
His saying (the Exalted): "And loves those who purify themselves."
[The first interpretation]
2125 - 'Amr b. 'Abd Allah al-Awdi narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Shu'ba, from Muslim al-Qurri, who said: I said to Ibn 'Abbas: "Should I pour water over my head while I am in the state of ihram?" He said: "There is no harm. Indeed, Allah says: 'Loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.'"
2126 - Muhammad b. 'Abd al-Rahman al-Harawi narrated to us, Abu Dawud al-Hafari narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Talha b. 'Amr, from 'Ata', regarding His saying: "Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant," he said: "Those who repent from sins. And [He] loves those who purify themselves," he said: "Those who purify themselves with water."
The second interpretation:
2127 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashaj narrated to us, Abu Usama narrated to us, from 'Awf, from al-Minhal, who said: I was with Abu al-'Aliya, and he performed ablution and I performed ablution, so I said: "Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." He said: "Indeed, purification with water is good, but they are those who purify themselves from sins."
The third interpretation:
2128 - Sulayman b. Dawud al-Qazzaz narrated to us, Abu Dawud narrated to us, Ibrahim b. Nafi' narrated to us, from Sulaym—meaning the freed slave of Umm 'Ali—from Mujahid, who said: "Whoever does that is not among those who purify themselves," meaning: whoever approaches his wife in her anus.
The fourth interpretation:
2129 - 'Ali b. al-Husayn narrated to us, Sahl b. Zanjala narrated to us, Abu Yahya al-Taymi narrated to us, from al-A'mash, regarding His saying: "Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves," he said: "Repentance is from sin, and purification is from polytheism."
His saying (the Exalted): "Your wives are a place of cultivation for you."
2130 - Yunus b. 'Abd al-A'la informed us by way of recitation, Ibn Wahb narrated to us, Ibn Lahi'a informed me, from Yazid b. Abi Habib, from 'Amir b. Yahya, from Hanash b. 'Abd Allah, from 'Abd Allah b. 'Abbas, who said: People from Himyar came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked him about various things. A man said to him: "I have intercourse with women in a particular way (yujibbu), so what is your opinion?" Then Allah the Exalted revealed: "Your wives are a place of cultivation for you."
His saying: "So come to your place of cultivation however you wish."
[The first interpretation]
2131 - Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Ibn Khuthaym, from Ibn Sabit, from Hafsa, from Umm Salama, who said: When the Emigrants (Muhajirun) arrived in Medina to the Helpers (Ansar), they married their women. The Emigrants used to have intercourse in a particular position (yujibbu), while the Ansar did not. A man from the Emigrants wanted that from his wife, but she refused him until she asked the Prophet (peace be upon him). She went to him, but felt shy to ask him, so Umm Salama asked him. Then this verse was revealed: "Your wives are a place of cultivation for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish," then he said: "No, provided it is in one passage."
2132 - Abu Muhammad said: It was mentioned to me from al-Khalil b. Ahmad that he said: "He engages in intercourse (yujibbu) by lying on his face." He said: "And another interpretation: 'jabba: yujibbi' when he bows (yarka'): he bows, which is to place your hands on your knees while you are standing."
2133 - Yunus b. 'Abd al-A'la informed us by way of recitation, Ibn Wahb informed us, Malik b. Anas, Ibn Jurayj, and Sufyan b. Sa'id al-Thawri informed me that Muhammad b. al-Munkadir narrated to them from Jabir b. 'Abd Allah, who informed him that the Jews said to the Muslims: "Whoever approaches a woman while she is in a position of retreat (mudbira), the child comes..."
