رفث

Core meaning

The carnal relation and the speech that relates to it; the setting in which it takes place decides whether it is permitted or set aside.

Uses

1. ٱلرَّفَث إِلَىٰ → "intimacy" : the conjugal relation, permitted on the night of abstention.

   • «أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ» — "Permitted to you, on the night of abstention, is intimacy with your women" (2:187)

2. رَفَث → "obscenity" : carnal speech and gesture set aside during the Hajj.

   • «فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ» — "then no obscenity, no overstepping, and no arguing during the Hajj" (2:197)

Evidence from the text

The same word receives two statuses, ten verses apart. In 2:187, followed by إِلَىٰ ("with your women"), it names the conjugal relation, permitted at night. In 2:197, bare and ranked with overstepping and arguing, it names what the state of the Hajj sets aside. The word does not change; the setting decides.

Distinctions

• نكح — marriage: the bond concluded, whereas رفث names the carnal relation itself

See also

حجج (the Hajj)