Sa'id bin Jubayr (may Allah have mercy on him) said: We discussed lams (touching). Some people among the mawali (non-Arab clients) said: It is not intercourse, and the Arabs said: It is intercourse. I mentioned this to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and he said: Which of them were you with? I said: With the mawali. He said: The mawali are mistaken. Indeed, touching and mubasharah (intimate contact) are intercourse, but Allah Almighty alludes to whatever He wills by whatever He wills. Their view is more worthy, being in agreement with the apparent meaning of the Book.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الطهارة / 609