This blessed verse (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187) explains the rulings of fasting in Ramadan in a wise and balanced way, further clarified through the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith. Allah describes the relationship between husband and wife as garments for one another, symbolizing love, comfort, protection, and closeness. The Qur’an also highlights the main purpose of fasting: “so that you may become mindful of Allah (taqwa).”Authentic Hadith collections like Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim mention that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to observe i‘tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan, showing the importance of devotion and spiritual focus.This verse shows that Islam is a natural and practical way of life, which considers human needs while guiding them with discipline. Eating, drinking, and marital relations are allowed at night as a mercy and ease from Allah, while fasting during the day builds self-control. During i‘tikaf, believers avoid worldly relations to fully focus on worship. These are the limits set by Allah, and following them helps a person develop piety, patience, and closeness to Him.

Keywords: Ramadan fasting rules, Night permission for marital relations, Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, Fasting from dawn to sunset,  Self-control and discipline,  Avoiding relations during I‘tikaf, Limits set by Allah (Hudood Allah), Development of Taqwa (God-consciousness), Balance between physical needs and spirituality.

Allah Almighty said in Quran:

اُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ اِلٰى نِسَاۗىِٕكُمْ ۭ ھُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۭعَلِمَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُوْنَ اَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ ۚ فَالْئٰنَ بَاشِرُوْھُنَّ وَابْتَغُوْا مَا كَتَبَ اللّٰهُ لَكُمْ ۠وَكُلُوْا وَاشْرَبُوْا حَتّٰى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْاَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْاَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۠ ثُمَّ اَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ اِلَى الَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُـبَاشِرُوْھُنَّ وَاَنْتُمْ عٰكِفُوْنَ ۙ فِي الْمَسٰجِدِ ۭ تِلْكَ حُدُوْدُ اللّٰهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوْھَا ۭ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ اٰيٰتِهٖ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُوْنَ۔القرآن،البقرۃ:187۔

IT IS lawful for you to go in unto your wives during the night preceding the [day’s] fast: they are as a garment for you, and you are as a garment for them. God is aware that you would have deprived yourselves of this right, and so He has turned unto you in His mercy and removed this hardship from you. Now, then, you may lie with them skin to skin, and avail yourselves of that which God has ordained for you, and eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of dawn against the blackness of night, and then resume fasting until nightfall; but do not lie with them skin to skin when you are about to abide in meditation in houses of worship.  These are the bounds set by God: do not, then, offend against them – [for] it is thus that God makes clear His messages unto mankind, so that they might remain conscious of Him.

Interpatation

(It is made lawful for you to go unto your wives on the night of the fast) for sexual intercourse. (They are raiment for you) a repose for you (and you are raiment for them) a repose for them. (Allah is aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect) by having sexual intercourse with them at night (and He hath turned in mercy towards you) He forgave you (and relieved you) from your deception and did not punish you. (So) now that it is made lawful, (hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you) to have a righteous child; this verse was revealed about ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab, (and eat and drink) from the time the night falls (until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn) i.e. until the light of day becomes distinct to you from the darkness of night. (Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall) the beginning of nightfall; this verse was revealed about Sirmah Ibn Malik Ibn ‘Adiyy (and touch them not) do not have sexual intercourse with them, (while you are at your devotions) in pious retreat (in the mosques) whether this is during the day or the night. (These are the limits imposed by Allah) such sexual intercourse is a transgression against Allah, (so approach them not) abstain from having sexual intercourse with your wives, during the day and at night, while you are in such retreats. (Thus Allah expoundeth His revelations) His commands and prohibitions (to mankind) as He has exposited this matter (that they may ward off (evil) ) they may ward off transgressing against Him. This verse was revealed about a group of Companions of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) among whom were ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib and ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir, who were in retreat in the mosque and used to go to their wives whenever they needed them, and then take a ritual bath and return to the mosque. Henceforth but they were forbidden to do so.

The Holy Prophet(صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said:

عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعْتَکِفُ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ(Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1: Hadith Number 1947)

Narrated Abdullah bin Umar (RA):  Allah’s Apostle (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) used to practise Itikaf in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:187) beautifully explains the rules of fasting and i‘tikaf in Ramadan with wisdom, mercy, and balance. Allah has made the religion easy for believers and has not placed unnecessary difficulty upon them. The verse shows that husbands and wives are a source of love, comfort, and protection for one another, and it allows them to have marital relations during the night as a sign of Allah’s kindness and understanding of human needs. It also clearly states that fasting begins at dawn and continues until sunset, teaching Muslims discipline, patience, and self-control throughout the day. The command to avoid marital relations during i‘tikaf highlights the importance of full devotion, spiritual focus, and dedication to worship inside the mosque. I‘tikaf helps a person stay away from worldly distractions and spend time in prayer, remembrance, and reflection. The practice of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who regularly performed i‘tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, shows its great value and importance. Overall, fasting and i‘tikaf guide a believer toward taqwa, inner purity, self-discipline, and closeness to Allah, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.

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