Timings Of The Fasting

LESSON # 200 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Timings Of The Fasting

Verse –187c of 286, Section – 23 (Part  - 2)

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.

Wa  kuluu  wash-rabuu  hattaa  yata-bayyana  lakumul-khaytul-‘abyazu  minal-khaytil-‘aswadi  minal-Fajr.  Summa  ‘atimmus-Siyaama  ‘ilal-layl.

Lesson

                                          

Al-Fajr – (the dawn) it does not mean the false dawn but that is the light of early in the morning which can be seen some time later than just before daybreak, while the light begins to spread towards east and the west, that is called ‘dawn of the day’. Till that time (dawn of the day) meals (or food) may be taken for keeping a fast. It has been much appreciated in the Sayings of the Prophet (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) to take meals (or food) during the last time. The Messenger of God Almighty (Grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded that Bilaal (May Allah be pleased on him) uses to call very early (during false dawn) for preparing the people for prayer, so don’t stop eating on his call or looking only light in the north and south. Moreover consider reliable spreading the light.

Once Omar (May Allah be pleased on him) instructed that care to eat and drink at the time of keeping the fast is necessary when morning light becomes clear on the paths and peaks of the hills.

‘Al-layl – (the nightfall) commencement of the night in Arabic begins immediately at the end of the day and sunset, so the next date of Islamic Calendar (Lunar Year) begins immediately after the sunset. On the contrary the date of solar year is changed after passing the midnight. ‘ilal-layl (till nightfall) means “break the fast as soon as the night enters”. It does not mean to keep the fast till spreading the darkness of the night.  

Before this order the Muslims used to sleep after breaking the fast. Then they did not use to eat anything till next evening. They have been permitted to eat, drink and sleep with their wives after breaking the fast till the light of early in the morning.

It is another concession and facility which was bestowed afterward that it is permitted to the people to eat and drink till the time the white thread becomes distinct from the black thread of the dawn and then the fast will be observed the entire day after finishing the time of meals (or food) for keeping a fast till the time sun sets and the darkness begins to spread.

It is also known from this order that without taking meals for keeping and breaking the fast continuously is odious. Islam teaches us the path of temperance, does not like severity and strictness. So the manner which has been fixed by the Divine, we should follow it strictly and which concessions have been given we should get advantage from them.  

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif) (http://hltsharif.blogspot.com) (muhammadsharif276@gmail.com)