Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about what is lawful for a man to enjoy from his wife when she is menstruating? He said: "What is above the waist sheet, but abstaining from that is better."
شرح الحديث :
In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies the permissible part of the wife's body that the husband is allowed to enjoy during her menstruation; which is the upper half of her body. However, he said that it is preferable to abstain even from that to avoid arousing sexual desire to the extent of having sexual intercourse, which is prohibited during menstruation. He said that abstention is 'better' because the one who comes too close to the verge of a pit risks falling into it. Hence, he recommended abstention as a precaution. The Hadīth indicates the prohibition of approaching the menstruating wife in the area between her navel and knees. However, this Hadīth is weak and is contradicted by the Hadīth reported by Anas: "Do everything except intercourse.'' The latter Hadīth is more authentic and, thus, more preponderant.