Characteristics of Fasting in the Quran

Sexual Relations and Exact Timing of Fasting Hours

Aug 29, 2008

Rules surrounding its practice are found in the Quran and Sunnah (traditions of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh). Chapter 2, Verse 187 contains the last mention of fasting.

Continuing on from Surat-Al-Baqara in the Qur'an...

186. And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them) I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright!

"The gates of Heaven are open and the gates Hell are shut and the devils are chained" during Ramadan, making it prime time to invoke Allah. It is underlined that obedience and belief are a requirement for the privilege of being led aright.

187. It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of the fasts. They are Libas (a shield) for you and you are a shield for them. Allah 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 Allah 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 fast till the nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your spouses) while you are in ‘Itikaf (confining oneself to the Masjid/Mosque for prayer and worship, leaving the world behind). These are the limits set by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear his Ayahs (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to mankind that they become Al-Muttaqun (pious; reverent).

In this last Ayah regarding fasting, mankind’s past transgressions are recalled – specifically that when previous generations fasted and sexual relations were forbidden during the whole of the fast, people would actually cheat and think that they were not seen by Allah.

Allah’s Mercy upon the believers led to the new laws of fasting which allowed for sexual relations at night. He sets out the hours during which one may eat and drink, as well as special injunctions for those who wish to confine themselves to the Masjid for worship in the last 10 days.

The Ramadan/Fasting Ayahs all culminate in the warning from Allah that the limits He has set are not to be trespassed nor even neared. So, the warnings were given very clearly as a Mercy in order to help the believers achieve true piety.

Allah's Words: "...and eat and drink until the white thread appears to you distinct from the black thread"

'Adi Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him said that when those verses (regarding fasting) were revealed to him he took two hair strings - one black and the other white - and kept them under his pillow. He would go outside looking at them throughout the night but couldn't discern anything. So, the next morning he went to the Prophet, pbuh, and relayed to him what happened. 'Adi Hatim,mabpwh, narrated that his reply was: "That verse means the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn".

Apparently it was not only 'Adi Hatim that was confused. It is also narrated that others would tie black and white threads around their legs and kept on eating til they could tell the difference between the two - it was only after that point that the words, "of dawn" were revealed in the Qur'an (the book that makes things clear).

The copyright of the article Characteristics of Fasting in the Quran in Islamic Practices is owned by Lamyaa Hashim. Permission to republish Characteristics of Fasting in the Quran in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.