Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187

Translation

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.

English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.

Meaning and reflection

Wording

The heart turns to Allah's speech, seeking not just understanding, but transformation. In Surah al-Baqarah, verse 187, Allah, the All-Knowing and Most Merciful, addresses the believers directly, clarifying and easing specific regulations concerning fasting during Ramadan. This verse is a profound expression of divine compassion, removing initial hardships and misunderstandings, particularly around intimacy, eating, and drinking during the nights, and laying clear guidelines for the spiritual retreat of I'tikaf.

Opening the Door to Ease

The verse begins with أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ (Permitted to you, on the night of the fast, is intimate relations with your wives). The passive voice of أُحِلَّ (it has been made lawful) immediately establishes that this permission comes directly from Allah. Scholars like Ibn Ashur note that لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ refers to the night *preceding* the day of fasting, aligning with common Arabic usage. The word ٱلرَّفَثُ (rafath), as explained by Ibn Ashur and al-Razi, primarily denotes intimate conversation, but here it is used metaphorically or even truly for sexual intercourse. Its connotation of frank or even coarse language suggests a previous uneasiness or perhaps a misperception among early Muslims about the propriety of such acts during the nights of Ramadan. The use of the preposition إِلَىٰ (to) with *rafath* implies a deeper sense of mutual engagement, like "effusion" or "reaching out."

Following this, Allah offers a beautiful, profound metaphor: هُنَّ لِبَاسٌۭ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌۭ لَّهُنَّ (They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them). Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi explain that this simile, a تَشْبِيهٌ بَلِيغٌ (eloquent simile), carries multiple meanings. A garment is the closest thing to a person's body, symbolizing the profound intimacy, closeness, and embrace between spouses. It also covers and protects, suggesting that spouses protect each other's modesty and guard against sin. This explanation serves as a compassionate reason for the permission, acknowledging the natural human bond and the difficulty of complete abstention even during the sacred month.

Allah's Knowing Mercy

Allah then states, عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ (Allah knew that you used to betray yourselves, so He turned to you in forgiveness and pardoned you). The phrase عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ (Allah knew) emphasizes His perfect, all-encompassing knowledge of our inner struggles and hidden actions, even those not openly declared. The word تَخْتَانُونَ (takhtaanoona), derived from *khawana* (to betray), is a powerful form that implies attempting or repeatedly falling into betrayal, not just simple betrayal. Scholars like al-Razi interpret "betraying yourselves" as either sinning and thus incurring potential punishment, or unnecessarily depriving yourselves of what is permissible due to misunderstanding.

The response from Allah is immediate and merciful: فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ. تَابَ (He turned in forgiveness) signifies His acceptance and mercy, while عَفَا (He pardoned) implies not only forgiveness for past perceived wrongdoings but also an easing and expansion of the regulations. This is a profound moment of divine grace, affirming Allah's desire for ease for His servants. Consequently, the instruction is given: فَالْـَٰٔنَ بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ (So now, have intimate relations with them). The فَالْـَٰٔنَ (so now) highlights the immediate clarity and established permissibility of the act, as clarified by Ibn Ashur, and بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ uses a term for intimacy (from *mulaqat al-basharatain*, meeting of the skins) that carries less of the potentially negative connotation of *rafath*, indicating that the act itself, when lawful, is not ugly.

Clear Boundaries

The verse continues with practical guidance: وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ (And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of dawn). This beautiful imagery refers to the first light of true dawn (the white thread) becoming distinguishable from the lingering darkness of night (the black thread). Narrations show that some companions initially took this literally, using actual threads. The clarifying phrase مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ (of the dawn) dispelled this literal interpretation, making the metaphor clear: the خَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ is the light of dawn, and the خَيْطُ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ is the darkness of night. The word ٱلْفَجْرِ (fajr) itself, as al-Razi notes, comes from "to split," signifying the splitting of darkness by light. The use of حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ (until it becomes distinct) emphasizes waiting for clear visibility before stopping consumption.

The instruction ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ (Then complete the fast until night) clarifies the duration of fasting. Ibn Ashur notes that أَتِمُّوا۟ (complete) rather than "fast" indicates that the fasting has already begun at dawn. The preposition إِلَىٰ (until) here signifies the end point of the fast, the beginning of night, meaning sunset, after which fasting ceases.

A specific prohibition follows: وَلَا تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَٰجِدِ (And do not have intimate relations with them while you are secluded for worship in the mosques). This highlights the unique sanctity and conditions of ٱلِاعْتِكَافُ (I'tikaf), a spiritual retreat in the mosque. Here, the word تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ (intimate relations) is prohibited even during the night, showing the higher level of spiritual detachment required during I'tikaf. The phrase فِى ٱلْمَسَٰجِدِ (in the mosques) emphasizes the physical location for this sacred devotion, indicating it must occur within a mosque's confines.

The Goal: Taqwa

The verse concludes with a powerful summary: تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (These are the limits of Allah, so do not approach them. Thus Allah makes clear His verses to the people, so that they may become righteous). The term حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ (limits of Allah) refers to the boundaries set by Allah between lawful and unlawful actions. The instruction فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا (so do not approach them) is particularly strong, as al-Zamakhshari points out, implying a greater warning than simply "do not transgress them." It encourages believers to stay far from the edge of what is forbidden, avoiding anything that might lead to violating Allah's commands.

The final statement كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ (Thus Allah makes clear His verses to the people) highlights Allah's attribute as ٱلْبَيَّانُ (The Clear Explainer), demonstrating the comprehensive and compassionate way He clarifies His laws, leaving no room for doubt or excuse. The ultimate purpose of this clarity, and indeed all divine guidance, is encapsulated in لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ (so that they may become righteous). It reminds us that every rule, every permission, and every prohibition is designed to foster تَقْوَىٰ (taqwa), a deep sense of God-consciousness, righteousness, and mindful obedience, allowing us to align our lives with His perfect will.

Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn

Topics that discuss this verse

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187 is discussed in 22 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.

• Divine Limits (Hudud) (key verse)
• The Mosque (Masjid) (key verse)
• The Family (Usrah) (key verse)
• Daytime (Nahar)
• The Self (Nafs)
• Appointed Term (Ajal)
• Purification (Tazkiyah)
• Piety (Taqwa)
• Treachery (Khiyanah)
• Visions (Ru'ya)
• Joy (Farah)
• Writing (Kitabah)
• Gambling (Maysir)
• Mankind (Nas)
• Marriage (Nikah)
• Time (Waqt)
• Martyrdom (Shahadah)
• Fasting (Siyam)
• Purity (Taharah)
• Modesty (Iffah)
• Knowledge (Ilm)
• Openness (Alan)

Browse all Quran topics

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