Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatuh. I am a student in Sharee'ah college and wanted clarification from you for increase in knowledge of something. There was a lecture among the students explaining this subject, and it is that there are types of intercourse from behind between a man and a woman. There is an intercourse type from behind where a man places his erection inside the rectal opening (i.e. in the rectum), and this is forbidden in sharee'ah ... [Unclear Statement] ... The other type is the man placing his erection between the woman's thighs below the rectal opening, and this is permissible so long as he did not penetrate the rectum, and Allaah knows best. We would like your respected opinion so that we may be informed about the matter, and if there are ahadeeth or madhhabs that spoke of this matter then provide us with them. Wassalamu Alaykum.

In the Name of Allaah, the Benevolent, the Merciful All praise belongs to Allaah, and may peace and blessings be upon the messenger of Allaah, and upon his family, companions, and those allied with him. Approaching a woman (in sexual intercourse) by way of her back passage is of the major sins. Allaah, the Most High, says: "Your woman are a tilth (i.e. planting ground) for you, so approach your tilth as you wish, and send for your own selves beforehand, and fear Allaah, and know that you are to meet Him, and give glad tidings to the believers." [Surat Al-Baqarah: 223] Allaah has drawn the metaphor of the private part, namely the front passage (i.e. the vagina) since it is the location of planting offspring, with the land that seeds are cast in, and that is the womb that receives the sperm that leads to reproduction. That is what is planted as an outcome of their approaching one another in this location. His words "as you wish" mean from any direction you wish; from in front or behind, whether she is kneeling, lying down, or reclining so long as it is in the planting ground, meaning the private part, or place of childbirth. He has said, peace and blessings be upon him: "Whoever approaches a menstruating woman or a woman in her anus, he has disbelieved in what came down upon Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him." [Narrated by Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, & authenticated by Al-Albani] Also, the messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Umar ibn Al-Khattaab: "(You are free to) Go from before and behind, but avoid the rectum and menstruation." [Narrated by Tirmidhi, Ahmad, & authenticated by Al-Albani] As for passing the penis across the anus or placing it between the buttocks or between the thighs, then this remains on the default of permissibility. This is because the default is permissibility with regards to a man's enjoyment with his spouse. Nothing is exempted from that but menstruation and the anus as he said, peace and blessings be upon him. And Allaah, the Most High, knows best.