The Holy Qor-aan 002:186
شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِىۡٓ اُنۡزِلَ فِيۡهِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡهُدٰى وَالۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَنۡ شَهِدَ مِنۡكُمُ الشَّهۡرَ فَلۡيَـصُمۡهُ ؕ وَمَنۡ کَانَ مَرِيۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنۡ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَؕ يُرِيۡدُ اللّٰهُ بِکُمُ الۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيۡدُ بِکُمُ الۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُکۡمِلُوا الۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُکَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰٮكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ
Sha-ro-ra-ma-dzaa-nul-la-zee-oon-zay-la-fee-hil-qor-aa-no Ho-dun-lin-naa-say-wa-buy-yay-naa-tin-may-nul-ho-daa-wul-foor-qaa-nay Fa-mun-sha-hay-da-min-ko-moosh-shah-ra-ful-ya-thoom-ho Wa-mun-kaa-na-ma-ree-dzun-auo-alaa-sa-fa-rin Fa-id-da-toon-min-auy-yaa-min-o-khur Yo-ree-dool-laa-ho-bay-ko-mool-yoos-ra Wa-la-yo-ree-do-bay-ko-mool-oos-ra Wa-lay-took-may-lool-id-da-ta Wa-lay-to-kub-bay-rool-laa-ha-alaa-maa-ha-daa-koom Wa-la-ul-la-koom-tush-ko-roo-n.
The month of Ramadzan is in which the Qor-aan was entrusted as Guidance for the people and clear signs from the guidance and the Criterion. So whoever among you witnesses the month should then fast in it And if you have been sick or on a journey Then the count of the number should be done in later days. Allah wills ease for you. And He wills no hardship for you. And so that you complete the count And so that you extol Allah for He had guided you And so that you be grateful.
- شَهۡرُ — Shah-ro — Month (= Calendar month consisting of 28 to 31 days that varies in the solar and lunar calendars)
- رَمَضَانَ — Ra-ma-dzaa-na..(ul) — Ramadzan (= Name of month in the Moslem Hijri Calendar year)
- الَّذِىۡ –La-zee — Which (= s., m., 3rd person article, thing or person; who; which)
- اُنۡزِلَ — Oon-zay-la — Entrusted ** (= v., past., pass., s., 3rd person. Dispatched, given, granted, inspired; revealed. Handed, laid, lowered, revealed or sent down. Also, delivered; landed; provided; released; supplied. ** See Note 002:005a)
- فِىۡ — Fee — In (= Inside a duration, event, time, place, period or thing. Comprised in it)
- هِ — Hay…(il) — It (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. Ref to the month of Ramadzan)
- الۡقُرۡاٰنُ — Qor-aa-no — Qor-aan (= The Book to be read again and again, repeatedly. See Commentaries titled The Holy Qor-aan, The Most Read Book In The World and The Holy Qor-aan is no joke’)
- هُدًى — Ho-dun — The guidance (= n., Direction to the best way, correct course; linier lines; proper path or right road; knowledge as to what is appropriate)
- لِّ — L…(in) — For (= For the attention, benefit, object, purpose or reason of; intended for; concerning, regarding; relative to)
- لنَّاسِ — Naa-say — The people (= Factions; folks, mankind, groups, men, nations or tribes. Human beings)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
- بَيِّنٰتٍ — Buy-yay-naa-tin — Clear Signs (= pl., Clear, convincing, irrefutable, manifest, veritable and sure arguments, corroborations, evidences, proofs, portents, signs and testimonies of Truth)
- مِنَ — May-na..(ul) — From (= Among or out of the several in a class, category or kind of articles, choices, things, persons or phenomenon)
- الۡهُدٰٓى — Ho-daa — Guidance (= n., Knowledge about what is appropriate. Direction to the best way, correct course; proper path or right road)
- وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- الۡفُرۡقَانِ — Foor-qaan — The Criterion (= Argument. Book. Clear proof. Code. Criteria. Differentiation. Discrimination. Distinction. Judgment. The divine signs, ability given to humans, instrument, knowledge, means, methods or ways to adjudge, decide, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, know, judge or see the good from the bad, the right from the wrong and the truth from the falsehood)
- فَ — Fa — So (= Consequently; as a result; so; thus; therefore; yet)
- مَنۡ — Mun — Whoever (= Anyone; who; whom; whomever; whoso)
- شَهِدَ — Sha-hay-da — Witnesses (= v., Comes across, evidences, finds, observes, sees or witnesses. A/t/a “Is present being stationary in his own home and in good health (Several Translations) and “Sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month”)
- مِنۡ — Min — From — (= Among or out of the several in a class, category or kind of articles, choices, things, persons or phenomenon)
- كُمُ — Ko-mo..(osh) — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You. The Holy Qor-aan states this way when addressing both men and women jointly)
- الشَّهۡرَ — Shah-ra — Month (= Calendar month consisting of 28 to 31 days that varies in the solar and lunar calendars)
- فَ — Fa…(ul) — Then (= Consequently; as a result; so; thus; therefore; yet)
- لۡ — L — Certainly (= Absolutely; categorically definitely; doubtlessly; really indeed; positively; seriously; surely; truly; verily)
- يَـصُمۡ — Ya-soom — Fast (= v, Keep fast; observe fasting; made obligatory)
- هُ — Ho — It (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. Ref to month of Ramadzan)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- مَنۡ — Mun — Whoever (= Anyone; who; whom; whomever; whoso)
- كَانَ — Kaa-na — Has been ( =v., 3rd person. Used to. Conveys continuation from the past to the present and leading into the future – like ‘continued doing’ or ‘went on doing’)
- مَّرِيۡضًا — Ma-ree-dzun — Sick (= Ailing; disabled; handicapped; ill; infirm; patient. A/t/a., “Not being permanently incapacitated”, “Temporarily sick”)
- اَوۡ — Auo — Or (= Alternatively; in substitution)
- عَلَى — Alaa — On (= Above; against; before; for; on top of; over; upon)
- سَفَرٍ — Sa-fa-rin — A journey * (= Going from one place to another distant one; travel)
- فَ — Fa — Then (= Consequently; as a result; so; thus; therefore; yet)
- عِدَّةٌ — Idda-toon — The count (= Reckoning on corresponding number of days; the completion or making up of the similar number)
- مِّنۡ — Min — From — (= Among, from or out of the class, category, count, kind of several articles, things, persons or phenomenon)
- اَيَّامٍ — Auy-yaa-min — Days (= pl., End of several periods, terms or times; junctures)
- اُخَر — O-khur — Later (= Other; yet to come)
- يُرِيۡدُ — Yo-ree-do(ol) — He Wills (= v., pres., s., m., 3rd person. With no possibility to fail in His designs and with all Power to finalize that He wills, the best translation is He wills. See Note 002:186 below)
- اللّٰهُ –Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
- بِ — Bay — With (= The Arabic word بِ literally means ‘with’ in English
- کُمُ — Ko-mo…(ol) — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You. Your. See كُمُ above)
- الۡيُسۡرَ — Yoos-ra — Ease (= n., Comfort; facility; well-being)
- وَ — Wa– And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- لَا — Laa — Not (= Absolutely not; never; no; none at all)
- يُرِيۡدُ — Yo-ree-do — Wills (= v., pres., s., 3rd person. See يُرِيۡدُ above & Note 002:186)
- بِ — Bay — With (= The Arabic word بِ literally means ‘with’ in English
- کُمُ — Ko-mo…(ol)– You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You. Your. See كُمُ above)
- الۡعُسۡرَ — Oos-ra — Hardship (= n., Adversity; affliction; difficult periods; difficult life full of adverse circumstances and hardship; difficulty; discomfort; distress; hard times; misery; state of being in distress; uncomfortable situation. The opposite of the easy life full of facilities). “Allah has granted you the facility so that you should encounter no hardship in completing the reckoning“)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- لِ — Lay — So that (= For the attention, benefit, purpose or reason of. With intent to. With the object of. Because I have ordained)
- تُکۡمِلُوا — Took-may-loo — Complete (= v., Fill; finish; fulfill)
- الۡعِدَّةَ — Id-da-ta — The count — (= Completing and making up the number; period)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
- لِ — Lay — So that (= For the attention, benefit, purpose or reason of. With intent to. With the object of. Because I have ordained)
- لِتُکَبِّرُوا — To-kub-bay-ro(ol) — Extol (= Exalt; glorify; proclaim greatness. A/t/a “Magnify” or” “Say Takbir Allahu Akbar; Allah is the Most Great”)
- اللّٰهَ — Laa-ha –Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
- عَلٰى — Alaa — For (= Above; against; before; for; on; on top of; over; upon)
- مَاۤ — Maa — All that (= What; whatever; whatsoever. Any time; whenever)
- هَدٰٮ — Ha-daa — Guided (= Put on proper path; set on right road)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You. Your. See كُمُ above)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ above)
The next three (3)words mark the end of verses 002;186, 003:124, 005:007
- لَعَلَّ — La-ul-la — So that (= Gave chance; haply; hopefully; perchance; possibly; the hope and wish that it becomes; wishing a result to be; peradventure)
- کُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person. You. Your. See كُمُ above)
- تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ — Tush-ko-roo-n — You be grateful (= v., pres., pl., 2nd person. Acknowledge with asserted, repeated, insistent and tremendous feelings of being grateful. Appreciate. Express gratitude. Render thanks. Give recognition. The word tells to keep in mind the two important factors that invoke deep appreciation, a) the physical facility or concessions that are given, and b) the spiritual benefits that are continually bestowed. Both these factors are so intertwined that nobody really can hold one of them above the other)
** Note 002:186. The word يُرِيۡدُ (yo-ree-do) is a verb in the present tense for a single male in 3rd person. Its past tense is the word اَرَادَ (araa-da). They are derived from the root ا ر د which carries the meanings of an act done with a determined mind. Translating the verb يُرِيۡدُ accurately depends upon whether its doer is (a) Allah, (b) some human being or (c) Satan.
Relative to Allah with no possibility to fail in implementing His designs and having all power to finalize what He wills, the best translation may be with words such as adjudge, affirm, command, conclude, confirm, decide, decree, design, determine, enforce, finalize, intend, mandate, order, resolve or will. Examples are found in verses 002:186 (twice), 003:109, 003:177, 004:027, 004:028, 004:029, 005:002, 005:007 (twice), 005:050, etc.
Relative to man with a distinct possibility to never reach his planned goal, the translation can be with words such as aim, aspire, choose, conform, covet, crave, desire, go after, hanker, like, long, plan, pursue, scheme, seek, wish, want or yearn. Examples are found in verses like 003:153 (twice), 004:028, 004:036, 004:135, etc.
Relative to Satan or devil with the perpetual pursuit to harm man by misleading him into disobeying his Creator, the translation is best when done with words like aim, aspire, determined, intend, pursue and shoot for. Examples are in verse 004:061, 005:092, etc.
002:188
The Holy Qor-aan 002:188
اُحِلَّ لَـکُمۡ لَيۡلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ اِلٰى نِسَآٮِٕكُمۡؕ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّـكُمۡ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ؕ عَلِمَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّکُمۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُوۡنَ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنۡكُمۡۚ فَالۡـــٰٔنَ بَاشِرُوۡهُنَّ وَابۡتَغُوۡا مَا کَتَبَ اللّٰهُ لَـكُمۡ وَكُلُوۡا وَاشۡرَبُوۡا حَتّٰى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَـكُمُ الۡخَـيۡطُ الۡاَبۡيَضُ مِنَ الۡخَـيۡطِ الۡاَسۡوَدِ مِنَ الۡفَجۡرِؕ ثُمَّ اَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ اِلَى الَّيۡلِۚ وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوۡهُنَّ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ عٰكِفُوۡنَ فِى الۡمَسٰجِدِؕ تِلۡكَ حُدُوۡدُ اللّٰهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوۡهَا ؕ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ اٰيٰتِهٖ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُوۡنَ
O-hil-la la koom lai-la-tay is-sa-yaa-may Ir-ra-fa-tho aiy-laa nay-saa-aiy koom Hoon-na lay-baa-soon la koom Wa aun-toom lay-baa-soon la hoon-na
Aa-lay-ma ul-laa-ho aun-na-koom Koon-toom ta-ukh-taa-noo-na aun-fo-sa koom Fa taa-ba aa-lai koom wa aa-faa aun koom
Fa ul-aa-na baa-shay-roo hoon-na Wa ub-ta-ghoo maa ka-ta-ba ul-laa-ho la koom Wa ko-loo wa ush-ra-boo haut-ta ya-ta-buy-yaun-na la ko-mo Ol-khai-t0 0l-aub-ya-dzo may-na ul-khai-tay il-aus-wa-day May-na ul-fauj-ray
Thoom-ma aa-tim-moo s-say-yaa-ma aiy-la ul-lai-lay
Wa laa to-baa-shay-roo hoon-na wa aun-toom Aa-kay-foo-na fee l-ma-saa-jid
Til-ka ho-do-do ol-laa-hay fa laa tauq-ra-boo haa
Ka zaa-lay-ka yo-buy-yo-no ol-laa-ho aa-yaa-tay he Lay in-naa-say la-ul-la hoom yaut-ta-qoo-n
Allowed for you are the nights of fasts for The approach to your wives. They are a cover for you And you are a cover for them.
Allah knew that you all men Have been unfair to yourselves. So, He turned to you with forgiveness and excused you.
So, now on consort with them (wives) And seek what Allah has ordained for you. And eat and drink until becomes very clear to you The white thread from the dark thread From the early dawn.
Then complete the fast till night. And do not approach them
And you are devotees in the mosques.
These are the limits set by Allah. So, do not come near them.
This is how Allah clearly explains His signs For the people so that they become pious.
* Note 002:188a. The words تَخۡتَانُوۡنَ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ have been translated poles apart. The actions of fasting Moslems stated in this verse were done before it came to set them right. Individually the actions differed a great deal from person to person as one deemed them fit. Collectively all that they did was ‘acting unjustly’ [Maliik Ghulam Farid] against themselves. They are stated in the historical context and no one must judge the faith of their practitioners. Some believers will still practice some of them in future but must remember the prohibition. Any reader can decide for himself when he picks either extreme or stay in the middle course. But we know now what is appropriate going forward since after this revelation came down. Following are some of the actions stated in the Ahaadeeth that this verse had ended.
** Note 002:188b. Some translations have bracketed together all three actions of eating, drinking and conjugal rights. Tied together to one limit the three actions must be stopped when the dawn has finally appeared. Such tight and narrow translations are done by the likes of M M Pickthall, Yusuf Ali and others. Others stopped only the eating and drinking at the appearance of the dawn and left the third out. They prohibited the third action of conjugal relationship only when a worshiper is in the mosque. They implied that some actions less than marital intimacies are permissible during other periods. This broad and lenient translation is supported in a plain reading of of the Holy Qor-aan’s text. It is also reflected in some actions of the Holy Prophets s.a.w
*** Note 002:188c. Only some translations have narrowed down the meanings of the word عٰكِفُوۡنَ and limited it to only the act of Aiy-te-qaaf and explained it as the “Confining oneself in a mosque for payers and invocations and leaving the worldly activities [Dr Al-Hilali and Dr Khan]. Most others extend the Prohibition to whoever enters the mosques for even a temporary stay to dwell, live, reside, remain or retire as a devout, dedicated, devoted person in seclusion for the serious and sincere meditation, prayers to and worships of Allah.