Surah Baqarah ayat 183 Tafsir Quran 2:183

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
[ البقرة: 183]

2:183 O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -

O you who believe prescribed for you obligatory for you is the Fast just as it was prescribed for those communities that were before you so that you might guard yourselves against acts of disobedience for it the fast curbs the desires that prompt these acts.

O you who believe with hearts impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues: the prescriptive rule of fasting is decreed for you to observe as it was observed by those who came before you in time, so that you may entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah and lift to Him your inward sight

The Order to Fast In an address to the believers of this Ummah, Allah ordered them to fast, that is, to abstain from food, drink and sexual activity with the intention of doing so sincerely for Allah the Exalted alone.
This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanses them from the evil that might mix with them and their ill behavior.
Allah mentioned that He has ordained fasting for Muslims just as He ordained it for those before them, they being an example for them in that, so they should vigorously perform this obligation more obediently than the previous nations.
Similarly, Allah said: لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَـجاً وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَـكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ ( To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.
If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He ) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds.) ( 5:48 ) Allah said in this Ayah: يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ( O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have Taqwa ).) since the fast cleanses the body and narrows the paths of Shaytan.
In the Sahihayn the following Hadith was recorded:
«يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيتَـزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِع فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاء»
.( O young people! Whoever amongst you can afford marriage, let him marry.
Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him. ) Allah then states that the fast occurs during a fixed number of days, so that it does not become hard on the hearts, thereby weakening their resolve and endurance.) The various Stages of Fasting Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that `A'ishah said, "( The day of ) `Ashura' was a day of fasting.
When the obligation to fast Ramadan was revealed, those who wished fasted, and those who wished did not." Al-Bukhari recorded the same from Ibn `Umar and Ibn Mas`ud. Allah said: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( ...those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) Mu`adh commented, "In the beginning, those who wished, fasted and those who wished, did not fast and fed a poor person for each day." Al- Bukhari recorded Salamah bin Al-Akwa` saying that when the Ayah: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( ...those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) was revealed, those who did not wish to fast, used to pay the Fidyah ( feeding a poor person for each day they did not fast ) until the following Ayah ( 2:185 ) was revealed abrogating the previous Ayah.
It was also reported from `Ubaydullah from Nafi` that Ibn `Umar said; "It was abrogated." As-Suddi reported that Murrah narrated that `Abdullah said about this Ayah: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) "It means `those who find it difficult ( to fast ).' Formerly, those who wished, fasted and those who wished, did not but fed a poor person instead." Allah then said: فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا ( But whoever does good of his own accord ) meaning whoever fed an extra poor person, فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ( it is better for him.
And that you fast is better for you ) Later the Ayah: فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ( So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of ) the month ( of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home ), he must observe Sawm ( fasting ) that month) ( 2:185 ) was revealed and this abrogated the previous Ayah ( 2:184 ). The Fidyah ( Expiation ) for breaking the Fast is for the Old and the Ailing Al-Bukhari reported that `Ata heard Ibn `Abbas recite: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) Ibn `Abbas then commented, "( This Ayah ) was not abrogated, it is for the old man and the old woman who are able to fast with difficulty, but choose instead to feed a poor person for every day ( they do not fast )." Others reported that Sa`id bin Jubayr mentioned this from Ibn `Abbas.
So the abrogation here applies to the healthy person, who is not traveling and who has to fast, as Allah said: فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ( So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of ) the month ( of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home ), he must observe Sawm ( fasting ) that month.) ( 2:185 ) As for the old man ( and woman ) who cannot fast, he is allowed to abstain from fasting and does not have to fast another day instead, because he is not likely to improve and be able to fast other days.
So he is required to pay a Fidyah for every day missed.
This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas and several others among the Salaf who read the Ayah: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ( And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man )) to mean those who find it difficult to fast as Ibn Mas`ud stated.
This is also the opinion of Al-Bukhari who said, "As for the old man ( person ) who cannot fast, ( he should do like ) Anas who, for one or two years after he became old fed some bread and meat to a poor person for each day he did not fast." This point, which Al-Bukhari attributed to Anas without a chain of narrators, was collected with a continuous chain of narrators by Abu Ya`la Mawsuli in his Musnad, that Ayyub bin Abu Tamimah said; "Anas could no longer fast.
So he made a plate of Tharid ( broth, bread and meat ) and invited thirty poor persons and fed them." The same ruling applies for the pregnant and breast-feeding women if they fear for themselves or their children or fetuses.
In this case, they pay the Fidyah and do not have to fast other days in place of the days that they missed.

(2:183) O Believers, the Fast has been made obligatory on you just as it was prescribed for the followers of the Prophets before you. It is expected that this will produce piety in you. *183

O you who have believed, decreed upon meaning

*183).
Like most other injunctions of Islam those relating to fasting were revealed gradually.
In the beginning the Prophet ( peace be on him ) had instructed the Muslims to fast three days in every month, though this was not obligatory.
When the injunction in the present verse was later revealed in 2 A.H., a degree of relaxation was introduced: it was stipulated that those who did not fast despite their capacity to endure it were obliged to feed one poor person as an expiation for each day of obligatory fasting missed ( see verse 184 ).
Another injunction was revealed later ( see verse 185 ) and here the relaxation in respect of able-bodied persons was revoked.
However, for the sick, the traveller, the pregnant, the breast-feeding women and the aged who could not endure fasting, the relaxation was retained.
( See Bukhari, 'Tafsir al-Qur'an', 25; Tirmidhi, 'Sawm', 21; Nasai, 'Siyam', 51, 62, 64; Ibn Majah, 'Siyam', 12; Ahmad b.
Hanbal, Musnad, vol.
3, p.
104; vol.
4, pp.
347 and 418; vol.
5, p.
29 - Ed. )
 

The Order to Fast In an address to the believers of this Ummah, Allah ordered them to fast, that is, to abstain from food, drink and sexual activity with the intention of doing so sincerely for Allah the Exalted alone.
This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanses them from the evil that might mix with them and their ill behavior.
Allah mentioned that He has ordained fasting for Muslims just as He ordained it for those before them, they being an example for them in that, so they should vigorously perform this obligation more obediently than the previous nations.
Similarly, Allah said: لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَـجاً وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَـكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ ( To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.
If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He ) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds.) ( 5:48 ) Allah said in this Ayah: يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ( O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have Taqwa ).) since the fast cleanses the body and narrows the paths of Shaytan.
In the Sahihayn the following Hadith was recorded: «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيتَـزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِع فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاء» .( O young people! Whoever amongst you can afford marriage, let him marry.
Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him. ) Allah then states that the fast occurs during a fixed number of days, so that it does not become hard on the hearts, thereby weakening their resolve and endurance.) The various Stages of Fasting Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that `A'ishah said, "( The day of ) `Ashura' was a day of fasting.
When the obligation to fast Ramadan was revealed, those who wished fasted, and those who wished did not." Al-Bukhari recorded the same from Ibn `Umar and Ibn Mas`ud. Allah said: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( ...those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) Mu`adh commented, "In the beginning, those who wished, fasted and those who wished, did not fast and fed a poor person for each day." Al- Bukhari recorded Salamah bin Al-Akwa` saying that when the Ayah: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( ...those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) was revealed, those who did not wish to fast, used to pay the Fidyah ( feeding a poor person for each day they did not fast ) until the following Ayah ( 2:185 ) was revealed abrogating the previous Ayah.
It was also reported from `Ubaydullah from Nafi` that Ibn `Umar said; "It was abrogated." As-Suddi reported that Murrah narrated that `Abdullah said about this Ayah: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) "It means `those who find it difficult ( to fast ).' Formerly, those who wished, fasted and those who wished, did not but fed a poor person instead." Allah then said: فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا ( But whoever does good of his own accord ) meaning whoever fed an extra poor person, فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ( it is better for him.
And that you fast is better for you ) Later the Ayah: فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ( So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of ) the month ( of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home ), he must observe Sawm ( fasting ) that month) ( 2:185 ) was revealed and this abrogated the previous Ayah ( 2:184 ). The Fidyah ( Expiation ) for breaking the Fast is for the Old and the Ailing Al-Bukhari reported that `Ata heard Ibn `Abbas recite: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ( And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man ), they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a Miskin ( poor person ) ( for every day ).) Ibn `Abbas then commented, "( This Ayah ) was not abrogated, it is for the old man and the old woman who are able to fast with difficulty, but choose instead to feed a poor person for every day ( they do not fast )." Others reported that Sa`id bin Jubayr mentioned this from Ibn `Abbas.
So the abrogation here applies to the healthy person, who is not traveling and who has to fast, as Allah said: فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ( So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of ) the month ( of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home ), he must observe Sawm ( fasting ) that month.) ( 2:185 ) As for the old man ( and woman ) who cannot fast, he is allowed to abstain from fasting and does not have to fast another day instead, because he is not likely to improve and be able to fast other days.
So he is required to pay a Fidyah for every day missed.
This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas and several others among the Salaf who read the Ayah: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ( And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man )) to mean those who find it difficult to fast as Ibn Mas`ud stated.
This is also the opinion of Al-Bukhari who said, "As for the old man ( person ) who cannot fast, ( he should do like ) Anas who, for one or two years after he became old fed some bread and meat to a poor person for each day he did not fast." This point, which Al-Bukhari attributed to Anas without a chain of narrators, was collected with a continuous chain of narrators by Abu Ya`la Mawsuli in his Musnad, that Ayyub bin Abu Tamimah said; "Anas could no longer fast.
So he made a plate of Tharid ( broth, bread and meat ) and invited thirty poor persons and fed them." The same ruling applies for the pregnant and breast-feeding women if they fear for themselves or their children or fetuses.
In this case, they pay the Fidyah and do not have to fast other days in place of the days that they missed.

( O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you ) for a specific number of days; it is said that this means: fasting is prescribed for you: you abstain from eating and drinking and from sexual intercourse from the dawn prayer or from the time one sleeps before the dawn prayer, ( even as it was prescribed for those before you ) for the people of the Book, ( that ye may ward off (evil )) that you may ward off eating, drinking and sexual intercourse after the last night prayer or before sleeping after the last night prayer. However, this is abrogated by the verses: ( It is made lawful for you to go unto your wives on the night of the fast ) and ( and eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn ).

O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).

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