Among the Jews, when a woman was menstruating, they would not eat with her, nor would they stay with such women in their houses. So the companions of the Prophet ﷺ asked about this, and Allah revealed, "They ask you about menstruation. Say, it is a discomfort, so keep away from women during menstruation" [Baqarah 2:222] to the end of the verse.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, "Do everything except intercourse."Word of this reached the Jews, and they said, "This man does not want to leave anything of our practice alone without opposing us in it."Then Usayd bin Hudayr and Abbad bin Bishr came and said, "Messenger of Allah, the Jews are saying such and such. Should we then not have intercourse with them at all?"The face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ changed color, so much so that we thought he was angry with the two of them. They left, and on their way they were met by a gift of milk being brought to the Prophet ﷺ. He sent someone after them and gave them the milk to drink, and so they knew that he was not angry with them.
أن اليهود كانوا إذا حاضت المرأة فيهم، لم يؤاكلوها ولم يجامعوهن في البيوت، فسأل أصحاب النبي ﷺ، فأنزل الله تعالى: {ويسألونك عن المحيض قل هو أذى فاعتزلوا النساء في المحيض} إلى آخر الآية، فقال رسول الله ﷺ: اصنعوا كل شيء إلا النكاح فبلغ ذلك اليهود فقالوا: ما يريد هذا الرجل أن يدع من أمرنا شيئا إلا خالفنا فيه، فجاء أسيد بن حضير وعباد بن بشر فقالا: يا رسول الله! إن اليهود تقول كذا وكذا، فلا نجامعهن؟ فتغير وجه رسول الله ﷺ حتى ظننا أن قد وجد عليهما، فخرجا فاستقبلهما هدية من لبن إلى النبي ﷺ، فأرسل في آثارهما، فسقاهما، فعرفا أن لم يجد عليهما.
Muslim narrated it in the chapter on menstruation (302) from Zuhayr bin Harb, who reported from Abdul-Rahman bin Mahdi, from Hammad bin Salama, from Thabit, from Anas, and he related it.His saying, "they did not have relations with them in the houses," means they did not mix with them in the houses, but rather put them out to a separate room. His saying, "menstruation" the first time refers to the blood of menstruation, and the second time to the period of menstruation. His saying, "except intercourse" means sexual relations. His saying, "he had been angry with them both" means he was angry with them. His saying, "he was not angry with them both" means he did not become angry with them.It has been narrated from Ikrima, who said, the people of pre-Islamic ignorance used to treat a menstruating woman in a manner similar to that of the Magians. This was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, and so "They ask you about menstruation. Say, 'It is harm, so keep away from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they are purified. When they have purified themselves, then come to them as Allah has commanded you. Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and those who purify themselves.'" [Baqarah 2:222] was revealed. So the matter regarding them only increased in strictness. Darimi narrated it (1167) with his chain from Ikrima, and it is a mursal narration.It has also been narrated from Mujahid that he said, they used to avoid women during menstruation, but would approach them from behind, so they asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that, and Allah Most High revealed, "They ask you about menstruation. Say, 'It is harm, so keep away from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they are purified. When they have purified themselves, then come to them as Allah has commanded you. Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and those who purify themselves.'" [Baqarah 2:222], and he said, in the vagina, and do not exceed that. Darimi narrated it (1184) with his chain from him.See the rest of the hadiths in the chapters on purification and marriage.