l-m-s

Description

The Arabic root لمس (l-m-s) carries the core meaning of physical touch or contact, ranging from literal tactile contact to intimate sexual relations between spouses. In the Quran, this root appears in contexts related to marital consummation and physical contact, particularly in legal rulings about marriage, divorce, and ritual purity. The term's significance lies in its use as a euphemistic yet clear reference to conjugal relations, which affects various Islamic legal provisions regarding waiting periods, dowry obligations, and the validity of divorce.