What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread of night)?
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The questioner : He is asking about the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:187]? Yes.
The Shaykh : The meaning of this verse is that Allah the Exalted has permitted us to eat and drink throughout the night until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to us from the black thread of night. The white thread is the whiteness of the day, and the black thread is the darkness of the night. That is, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has permitted us to eat and drink until we see the dawn with our own eyes. Once we see it clearly and manifestly, it is obligatory for us to abstain from that time until nightfall. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the limit in his saying:Sahih al-Bukhari 1954 This is the meaning of the noble verse. It is established in the authentic hadith of 'Adi ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) that he understood the verse to mean that the white thread refers to a white rope and the black thread to a black rope. So he (may Allah be pleased with him) placed two ropes under his pillow and continued to eat and drink. When the white rope became distinct to him from the black rope, he abstained. When morning came, he went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Sahih Ibn Hibban 14:47. Yes.
The questioner : Also, the listener says.
And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِThe Shaykh : The meaning of this verse is that Allah the Exalted has permitted us to eat and drink throughout the night until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to us from the black thread of night. The white thread is the whiteness of the day, and the black thread is the darkness of the night. That is, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has permitted us to eat and drink until we see the dawn with our own eyes. Once we see it clearly and manifestly, it is obligatory for us to abstain from that time until nightfall. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the limit in his saying:
When night falls from this side and the day vanishes from this side and the sun sets, then the fasting person should break his fast.
إذا أقبل الليل من ها هنا، وأدبر النهار من ها هنا، وغربت الشمس فقد أفطر الصائمThat is merely the whiteness of the day and the darkness of the night.
إنما ذلك بياض النهار وسواد الليلThe questioner : Also, the listener says.