Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 187
The Cow · 2:187 · 187/286
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ ۖ فَٱلْـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
Ohilla lakum laylata assiyamiarrafathu ila nisa-ikum hunna libasunlakum waantum libasun lahunna AAalima Allahuannakum kuntum takhtanoona anfusakum fatabaAAalaykum waAAafa AAankum fal-ana bashiroohunnawabtaghoo ma kataba Allahu lakum wakuloo washraboohatta yatabayyana lakumu alkhaytu al-abyadumina alkhayti al-aswadi mina alfajri thumma atimmoo assiyamaila allayli wala tubashiroohunna waantum AAakifoonafee almasajidi tilka hudoodu Allahi falataqrabooha kathalika yubayyinu Allahu ayatihilinnasi laAAallahum yattaqoon
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are a clothing for you and you are a clothing for them. Allāh knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allāh has decreed for you [i.e., offspring]. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night [i.e., sunset]. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allāh, so do not approach them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that they may become righteous.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
You [believers] are permitted to lie with your wives during the night of the fast: they are [close] as garments to you, as you are to them. God was aware that you were betraying yourselves, so He turned to you in mercy and pardoned you: now you can lie with them- seek what God has ordained for you- eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black. Then fast until nightfall. Do not lie with them during the nights of your devotional retreat in the mosques: these are the bounds set by God, so do not go near them. In this way God makes His messages clear to people, that they may guard themselves against doing wrong.
Marmaduke Pickthall
It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are raiment for you and ye are raiment for them. Allah is Aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect and He hath turned in mercy toward you and relieved you. So hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall and touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques. These are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah expoundeth His revelation to mankind that they may ward off (evil).
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah: Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
It is made lawful for you, in the nights of fasts, to have sex with your women. They are apparel for you, and you are apparel for them. Allah knows that you have been betraying yourselves, so He relented towards you and pardoned you. So now you can have sexual intimacy with them and seek what Allah has destined for you and eat and drink until the white thread of the dawn becomes distinct from the black thread; then complete the fast up to the night. But do not have sexual intimacy with them while you are staying in mosques for I‘tikāf. These are the limits set by Allah, so do not go near them. Thus Allah manifests His signs to the people, so that they may be God-fearing.
Al-Hilali & Khan
It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts). They are Libâs [i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan, (i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with them - as in Verse 7:189) Tafsir At-Tabarî ], for you and you are the same for them. Allâh knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you (accepted your repentance) and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allâh has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in I‘tikâf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allâh, so approach them not. Thus does Allâh make clear His Ayât (proofs, evidence, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and illegal things, Allâh’s set limits, orders) to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2).
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
It has been made lawful for you to go in to your wives during the night of the fast. They are your garment, and you are theirs. Allah knows that you used to betray yourselves and He mercifully relented and pardoned you. So you may now associate intimately with your wives and benefit from the enjoyment Allah has made lawful for you, and eat and drink at night until you can discern the white streak of dawn against the blackness of the night; then (give up all that and) complete your fasting until night sets in. But do not associate intimately with your wives during the period when you are on retreat in the mosques. These are the bounds set by Allah; do not, then, even draw near them. Thus does Allah make His Signs clear to mankind that they may stay away from evil.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (187)} [البقرة: 187].
19 - عَنِ البَرَاءِ - رضي الله عنه - قَالَ: كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ صَائِماً فَحَضَرَ الإِفْطَارُ فَنَامَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ، لَمْ يَأْكُلْ لَيْلَتَهُ وَلَا يَوْمَهُ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ، وَإِنَّ قَيْسَ بْنَ صِرْمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيَّ كَانَ صَائِماً فَلَمَّا حَضَرَ الإِفْطَارَ أَتَى امْرَأَتَهُ فَقَالَ لَهَا: أَعِنْدَكِ طَعَامٌ؟ قَالَتْ: لَا وَلكِنْ أَنْطَلِقُ فَأَطْلُبُ لَكَ. وَكَانَ يَوْمَهُ يَعْمَلُ، فَغَلَبَتَهُ عَيْنَاهُ، فَجَاءَتْهُ امْرَأَتُهُ، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ قَالَتْ: خَيْبَةً لَكَ. فَلَمَّا انْتَصَفَ النَّهَارُ غُشِيَ عَلَيْهِ، فَذُكِرَ ذلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ: {أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ} فَفَرِحُوا بِهَا فَرَحَاً شَدِيداً، وَنَزَلَتْ {وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ} ¬اللفظ للبخاري وأخرجه برقم: 1915، وأبو داود برقم: 2314، والترمذي برقم: 2968، والنسائي: 4/ 147، وابن حبان برقم: 3460، 3461، وابن خزيمة برقم: 1904، والطبري: 2/ 95 - 96، والدارمي: 2/ 5، والبيهقي: 4/ 201، وأحمد: 4/ 292.¥.
وفي لفظ آخر للبخاري: عَنِ البَرَاءِ - رضي الله عنه -: لَمَّا نَزَلَ صَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ، كَانُوا لَا يَقْرَبُونَ النِّسَاءَ رَمَضَانَ كُلَّهُ، وَكَانَ رِجَالٌ يَخُونُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ {عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ} ¬أخرجه البخاري برقم: 4508.¥.
20 - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ - رضي الله عنه - يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ فِي رَمَضَانَ إِذَا صَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَأَمْسَى فَنَامَ حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ وَالنِّسَاءُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ مِنَ الغَدِ، فَرَجَعَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الخَطَابِ - رضي الله عنه - مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ وَقَدْ سَهِرَ عِنْدَهُ، فَوَجَدَ امْرَأَتَهُ قَدْ نَامَتْ فَأَرَادَهَا، فَقَالَتْ: إِنِّي قَدْ نِمْتُ، قَالَ: مَا نِمْتِ. ثُمَّ وَقَعَ بِهَا، وَصَنَعَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ - رضي الله عنه - مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ. فَغَدَا عُمَرٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فَأَخْبَرَهُ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: {عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ} ¬أخرجه أحمد: 3/ 460، والطبري برقم: 2941 وصححه أحمد شاكر، وحسنه السيوطي في الدر: 1/ 475، وابن كثير في التفسير: 1/ 221، والراوي عن ابن لهيعة أحد العبادلة؛ فالحديث بهذا حسن، انظر تقريب الطبري: 1/ 569 برقم: 66 بتخريجي.¥.
21 - عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ - رضي الله عنه - قَالَ: أُنْزِلَتْ {وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ}، وَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ مِنَ الفَجْرِ، فَكَانَ رِجَالٌ إِذَا أَرَادُوا الصَّوْمَ، رَبَطَ أَحَدُهُمْ فِي رِجْلِهِ الخَيْطَ الأَبْيَضَ وَالخَيْطَ الأسْوَدَ، وَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَأْكُلُ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ رُؤْيَتُهُمَا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ بَعْدُ {مِنَ الْفَجْرِ}، فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارِ ¬أخرجه البخاري برقم: 1917، 4511، ومسلم برقم: 1091، والنسائي في الكبرى برقم: 11022، والطبري برقم: 2990، والطبراني في الكبير برقم: 5791، والبيهقي في السنن: 4/ 515، وأبو يعلى برقم: 7240، والحاكم: 1/ 158، والواحدي: ص 35 - 36، وزاد في الدر عزوه لابن المنذر، وابن أبي حاتم (1/ 480).¥.
22 - عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ -رضي الله عنهما-: {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ}، فَكَانَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إِذَا صَلَّوا العَتَمَةَ، حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِمْ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ وَالنِّسَاءُ وَصَامُوا إِلَى القَابِلَةِ، فَاخْتَانَ رَجُلٌ نَفْسَهُ فَجَامَعَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَقَدْ صَلَّى العِشَاءَ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ، فَأَرَادَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ ذَلِكَ يُسْراً لِمَنْ بَقِيَ وَرُخْصَةً وَمَنْفَعَةً، فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ: {عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ} الآيَةَ، وَكَانَ هَذَا مِمَّا نَفَعَ اللهُ بِهِ النَّاسَ وَرَخَّصَ لَهُمْ وَيَسَّرَ ¬أخرجه أبو داود برقم: 2313، وإسناده حسن. وقال الألباني: حسن صحيح.¥.