Question:
Assalamualaykum,
Shaykh GabrieI, I was wondering if you check the translation of the following from the Reliance of the Traveller p.32. Imam al-Nawawi rahimuhullah translated:
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did various things, of prayer, fasting, sitting for Koran recital and invocation,eating and drinking, dressing, riding, lovemaking with his wives, seriousness and jest, happiness and wrath, scathing condemnation for blameworthy things, leniency in pushing those who deserved it and excusing them, and so on…..
[Imam al-Nawawi, al-Majmu’:Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 1.17-18 ]
(1) is the translation of “lovemaking with his wives” a correct translation?
(2) or is this the interpretation of the Shafi ulama of Imam al Nawawi if so is this a relied upon interpretation?
(3) would it be kufr to quote this passage as it is because of the mistranslation?
(4) what should a person if they have quoted it on a public forum?
Answer:
`Alaykum Salam,
The original term is wa-mu`asharat ahlih ومعاشرة أهله which is best translated as “and cohabitation with his wives,” which includes sexual cohabitation.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
