يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 183
Translations
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu kutiba alaykumu as-siyamu kama kutiba ala alladhina min qablikum laaallakum tattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes fasting (sawm) as an obligatory act of worship for the Muslim community, just as it was prescribed for the nations before them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'laaallakum tattaqun' (perhaps you will attain taqwa) indicates that fasting is a means to develop God-consciousness and piety, refining the soul and strengthening one's connection to Allah. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the prescription of fasting upon Muslims mirrors the divine wisdom in previous scriptures, demonstrating the continuity of this important practice across all divinely-guided religions.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the second year of Hijrah and marks the institution of fasting in Ramadan as obligatory for Muslims. It appears within the section of Surah Al-Baqarah that addresses the major pillars of Islamic practice (prayer, charity, and fasting), establishing the legislative framework for the Muslim community's spiritual disciplines.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Fasting is a shield' (Sahih Bukhari 1904), emphasizing its protective spiritual role. Additionally, in Muslim 1151, the Prophet stated that fasting is 'for Me [Allah] and I will give the reward for it,' highlighting the intimate relationship between the faster and their Lord.
Themes
Key Lesson
Fasting in Ramadan is not merely physical abstinence but a comprehensive training mechanism for spiritual elevation and moral development. By acknowledging that all believers before us were similarly commanded to fast, we recognize our place in a continuous spiritual tradition and find motivation in the shared human struggle toward piety across generations.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
وَإِذْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And [recall] when We gave Moses the Scripture and criterion that perhaps you would be guided.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And thus We have made you a median [i.e., just] community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allāh has guided. And never would Allāh have caused you to lose your faith [i.e., your previous prayers]. Indeed Allāh is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَبَيَّنُوا۟ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those - I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.