On the Verses on Fasting

Date: October 09, 1997

Hi, could you send me the translation for the   verses 186 to 188 of the second sura. Also Explain the meaning of these verses. It seems that initially it was not permitted, in the month of Ramadan, for the men to sleep with their wives even in the night time, later on the prohibition was removed. Is that right?

Reply

As far as your question regarding the Ramadhan Ayat is concerned, I ll try to explain the issue very briefly.

As I understand it, the first part of the revelation regarding fasting in Ramadhan, was from Al-baqarah 2: 183 to 184. A simple translation of these verses follows:

"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may learn to live according to the commands of Allah. (183) A few numbered days. But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number should then be completed from other days. And for those who can bear it, feeding of an indigent, shall be a ransom. And he that gives more (than this) of his free will, it is better for him. And that you fast (and thus complete the number) is better for you, if only you knew. (184)."

Later on, Al-baqarah 2: 185 - 187 were revealed. In these verses:

1. The reason for prescribing Ramadhan as the month of fasting was given.
2. The allowance of "fidyah" or ransom for any missed fast, (feeding of one indigent) was removed. As it was only a temporary allowance, to train the people, as obligatory fasting was quite a tough proposition. (185)
3. Questions asked about maintaining the sanctity of Ramadhan were answered. (186-187)

Keeping this in perspective, I think what really happened was that when Ramadhan was prescribed as a month of fasting, people became overly cautious about maintenance of the sanctity of this month. They thought it was better to abandon sexual relationships with their wives, even during the nights of Ramadhan. This restriction was never mentioned in the first revelation (or even later ones). It was only an overly cautious perception of the Muslims. Thus, when a question regarding this was later on, put to the prophet, the verses that you have referred were revealed.

I think that if you keep this explanation in mind while reading these verses, your basic assumption, i.e., "initially it was not permitted, in the month of Ramadan, for the men to sleep with their wives even in the night time", would not hold. It was not really a matter of permission... but was an over cautious perception.

Please do let me no if more explanation is required. I hope and pray that I will be able to help.

Allah Hafiz.

The Learner

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