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Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 187

سورة البقرة، الآية ١٨٧

2:187 Juz 2 Hizb 3 Page 29 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 2:187

أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ فَٱلْـَٰٔنَ بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ وَلَا تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَٰجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ ۝١٨٧

Transliteration

uḥilla lakum laylata l-ṣiyāmi l-rafathu ilā nisāikum hunna libāsun lakum wa-antum libāsun lahunna ʿalima l-lahu annakum kuntum takhtānūna anfusakum fatāba ʿalaykum waʿafā ʿankum fal-āna bāshirūhunna wa-ib'taghū mā kataba l-lahu lakum wakulū wa-ish'rabū ḥattā yatabayyana lakumu l-khayṭu l-abyaḍu mina l-khayṭi l-aswadi mina l-fajri thumma atimmū l-ṣiyāma ilā al-layli walā tubāshirūhunna wa-antum ʿākifūna fī l-masājidi til'ka ḥudūdu l-lahi falā taqrabūhā kadhālika yubayyinu l-lahu āyātihi lilnnāsi laʿallahum yattaqūna

Translation

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 clothing67 for them. Allāh knows that you used to deceive yourselves,68 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.

Notes

[67] Also a source of tranquility and rest.
[68] Prior to this revelation, marital relations were unlawful during nights preceding fasting. Some were unable to refrain and secretly disobeyed, but they did not deceive Allāh.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 187 of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:187), a Medinan surah, is in juz 2, on page 29 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 69 reciters.

Listen to verse 187 of Surah Al-Baqarah

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Tafsir of verse 187

Al-Mukhtasar

At first it was not allowed for a man, if he had gone to sleep on the night of the fast and then woke up before dawn, to eat or drink, or approach his wife. Allah replaced this ruling, allowing you, O believers, to have relations with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are a protection for you, keeping you pure, and you are a cover for them, keeping them pure. You both need each other. Allah knew that you were betraying yourselves by doing what you were not allowed to, so He had mercy on you, turning to you when you asked for forgiveness, and made things easier for you. So, have relations with them, and seek the children Allah has decreed you, and eat and drink during the whole of the night, until the break of true dawn is clear to you. Then complete your fast, not consuming anything from the break of dawn until sunset. But do not have relations with your wives when you are in spiritual retreat in the mosques, because that invalidates the retreat. These laws are the limits of Allah: between what is allowed and what is forbidden– so do not go near them. Whoever goes near the limits of Allah is close to falling into what is prohibited. By clearly setting out such laws, Allah makes His signs obvious to people so that they may be mindful of Him, and do what He instructs and leave what He has prohibited.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Baqarah

Other translations of verse 187

It has been made permissible for you to be intimate with your wives on the nights of the fast. They are a garment for you just as you are a garment for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and pardoned you. So now you may have intimacy with them84 and seek what Allah has destined for you. And eat and drink until you see the light of dawn distinct from the darkness of night, then complete the fast until nightfall. However, should you be in a devotional retreat in the mosques then do not be intimate with them. These are the limits set by Allah, so do not even come near to them. This is how Allah makes His verses clear to people, so that they may become righteous.

Notes

[84] Prior to this revelation, marital relations were unlawful during nights preceding fasting. Some were unable to refrain and secretly disobeyed, but Allah accepted their repentance, and then it was made lawful.

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).

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).

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 Heturned 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.

It is made lawful to you to go into your wives on the night of the fast; they are an apparel for you and you are an apparel for them; Allah knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves, so He has turned to you (mercifully) and removed from you (this burden); so now be in contact with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night, and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques; these are the limits of Allah, so do not go near them. Thus does Allah make clear His communications for men that they may guard (against evil).

It is made lawful to you, upon the night of the Fast, to lie (Literally: lying) with your wives; they are a garment (i.e. vestment, mutual protection) for you, and you are a garment for them. Allah knows that you have been betraying yourselves, so He has relented toward you and has been clement to you. So now go in to them, and seek whatever Allah has prescribed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread becomes evident to you from the black thread at dawn; thereafter complete (Literally: perfect) the Fast to the night, and do not go in to them while you are consecrating yourselves in the mosques. Such are the bounds of Allah, so do not draw near them. Thus Allah makes His signs evident to mankind, that possibly they would be pious.

Verse 187 word by word

  1. أُحِلَّ uḥilla Permitted ح ل ل
  2. لَكُمْ lakum for you
  3. لَيْلَةَ laylata (in the) nights ل ي ل
  4. ٱلصِّيَامِ l-ṣiyāmi (of) fasting ص و م
  5. ٱلرَّفَثُ l-rafathu (is) the approach ر ف ث
  6. إِلَىٰ ilā to
  7. نِسَآئِكُمْ nisāikum your wives ن س و
  8. هُنَّ hunna They
  9. لِبَاسٌ libāsun (are) garments ل ب س
  10. لَّكُمْ lakum for you
  11. وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum and you
  12. لِبَاسٌ libāsun (are) garments ل ب س
  13. لَّهُنَّ lahunna for them
  14. عَلِمَ ʿalima Knows ع ل م
  15. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
  16. أَنَّكُمْ annakum that you
  17. كُنتُمْ kuntum used to ك و ن
  18. تَخْتَانُونَ takhtānūna deceive خ و ن
  19. أَنفُسَكُمْ anfusakum yourselves ن ف س
  20. فَتَابَ fatāba so He turned ت و ب
  21. عَلَيْكُمْ ʿalaykum towards you
  22. وَعَفَا waʿafā and He forgave ع ف و
  23. عَنكُمْ ʿankum [on] you
  24. فَٱلْـَٰٔنَ fal-āna So now أ و ن
  25. بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ bāshirūhunna have relations with them ب ش ر
  26. وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ wa-ib'taghū and seek ب غ ي
  27. مَا mā what
  28. كَتَبَ kataba has ordained ك ت ب
  29. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
  30. لَكُمْ lakum for you
  31. وَكُلُوا۟ wakulū And eat أ ك ل
  32. وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ wa-ish'rabū and drink ش ر ب
  33. حَتَّىٰ ḥattā until
  34. يَتَبَيَّنَ yatabayyana becomes distinct ب ي ن
  35. لَكُمُ lakumu to you
  36. ٱلْخَيْطُ l-khayṭu the thread خ ي ط
  37. ٱلْأَبْيَضُ l-abyaḍu [the] white ب ي ض
  38. مِنَ mina from
  39. ٱلْخَيْطِ l-khayṭi the thread خ ي ط
  40. ٱلْأَسْوَدِ l-aswadi [the] black س و د
  41. مِنَ mina of
  42. ٱلْفَجْرِ l-fajri [the] dawn ف ج ر
  43. ثُمَّ thumma Then
  44. أَتِمُّوا۟ atimmū complete ت م م
  45. ٱلصِّيَامَ l-ṣiyāma the fast ص و م
  46. إِلَى ilā till
  47. ٱلَّيْلِ al-layli the night ل ي ل
  48. وَلَا walā And (do) not
  49. تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ tubāshirūhunna have relations with them ب ش ر
  50. وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum while you
  51. عَٰكِفُونَ ʿākifūna (are) secluded ع ك ف
  52. فِى fī in
  53. ٱلْمَسَٰجِدِ l-masājidi the masajid س ج د
  54. تِلْكَ til'ka These
  55. حُدُودُ ḥudūdu (are the) limits ح د د
  56. ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (set by) Allah
  57. فَلَا falā so (do) not
  58. تَقْرَبُوهَا taqrabūhā approach them ق ر ب
  59. كَذَٰلِكَ kadhālika Thus
  60. يُبَيِّنُ yubayyinu makes clear ب ي ن
  61. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
  62. ءَايَٰتِهِۦ āyātihi His verses أ ي ي
  63. لِلنَّاسِ lilnnāsi for [the] people أ ن س
  64. لَعَلَّهُمْ laʿallahum so that they may
  65. يَتَّقُونَ yattaqūna (become) righteous و ق ي

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 1915

It was the custom among the companions of Muhammad that if any of them was fasting and the food was presented (for breaking his fast), but he slept before eating, he would not eat that night and the following day till sunset. Qais bin Sirma-al-Ansari was fasting and came to his wife at the time of…

إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ صَائِمًا، فَحَضَرَ الإِفْطَارُ، فَنَامَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ لَيْلَتَهُ وَلاَ يَوْمَهُ، حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ

Narrated by Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib + 2 other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 1916

When the above verses were revealed: 'Until the white thread appears to you, distinct from the black thread,' I took two (hair) strings, one black and the other white, and kept them under my pillow and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it. So, the next…

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ ‏‏{‏حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ‏}‏ عَمَدْتُ إِلَى عِقَالٍ أَسْوَدَ وَإِلَى عِقَالٍ أَبْيَضَ، فَجَعَلْتُهُمَا تَحْتَ وِسَادَتِي، فَجَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ فِي…

Narrated by Adiyy ibn Hātim + 2 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1917

When the following verses were revealed: 'Eat and drink until the white thread appears to you, distinct from the black thread' and of dawn was not revealed, some people who intended to fast, tied black and white threads to their legs and went on eating till they differentiated between the two…

أُنْزِلَتْ ‏‏{‏وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ‏}‏ وَلَمْ يَنْزِلْ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ، فَكَانَ رِجَالٌ إِذَا أَرَادُوا الصَّوْمَ رَبَطَ أَحَدُهُمْ فِي رِجْلِهِ…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 3 other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 4508

When the order of compulsory fasting of Ramadan was revealed, the people did not have sexual relations with their wives for the whole month of Ramadan, but some men cheated themselves (by violating that restriction). So Allah revealed: "Allah is aware that you were deceiving yourselves but He…

لَمَّا نَزَلَ صَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ كَانُوا لاَ يَقْرَبُونَ النِّسَاءَ رَمَضَانَ كُلَّهُ، وَكَانَ رِجَالٌ يَخُونُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ‏‏{‏عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ…

Narrated by Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 4511

from the black thread." was revealed, but: '... of dawn' was not revealed (along with it) so some men, when intending to fast, used to tie their legs, one with white thread and the other with black thread and would keep on eating till they could distinguish one thread from the other. Then Allah…

وَأُنْزِلَتْ ‏‏{‏وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ‏}‏ وَلَمْ يُنْزَلْ ‏‏{‏مِنَ الْفَجْرِ‏}‏ وَكَانَ رِجَالٌ إِذَا أَرَادُوا الصَّوْمَ رَبَطَ أَحَدُهُمْ فِي…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 3 other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1090

" Until the white streak of the dawn becomes distinct from the dark streak" (ii. 187) Adi b. Hatim said: Messenger of Allah, verily I keep underneath my pillow two strings, one white and the other black, by which I distinguish night from dawn. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Your pillow…

إِنَّ وِسَادَتَكَ لَعَرِيضٌ إِنَّمَا هُوَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَبَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ ‏"

Narrated by Adiyy ibn Hātim

Other hadiths (20)

Verses related to verse 187

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • At-Talaq 65:2

    فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا

    And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allāh. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out

  • Al-Hadid 57:9

    هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    It is He who sends down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And indeed, Allāh is to you Kind and Merciful.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:229

    ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

    Divorce is twice. Then [after that], either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allāh. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allāh, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allāh, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh - it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].

All similar verses of Surah Al-Baqarah

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