يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا 43
Translations
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janābah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la taqrabu as-salata wa-antum sukara hatta ta'lamu ma taqulun wa-la junuban illa 'abiri sabīl hatta taghtasilu. Wa-in kuntum marda aw 'ala safar aw ja'a ahad minkum min al-gha'it aw lamastum an-nisa fa-lam tajidu ma'an fa-tayammamu sa'idan tayyiban fa-msahu bi-wujuhikum wa-aydikum. Inna Allaha kana 'afuwwan ghafura.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes critical conditions for ritual purity and the performance of prayer (salah). It prohibits approaching prayer while intoxicated, commanding believers to understand what they recite, and forbids praying in a state of major ritual impurity (janabah) except when merely passing through until ablution is performed. The ayah then introduces tayammum (dry ablution with clean earth) as a valid substitute for water when water is unavailable due to illness, travel, or bodily impurity—demonstrating Allah's mercy and the practicality of Islamic law. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that consciousness and clarity are fundamental to prayer's spiritual efficacy.
Revelation Context
This Medinan ayah was revealed in the context of establishing clear Islamic jurisprudence regarding purity and prayer etiquette in the developing Muslim community. The prohibition on intoxication reflects the gradual legislative process that would culminate in the complete prohibition of alcohol (5:90), while the provision for tayammum addresses the practical needs of believers in diverse circumstances.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (305): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Tayammum is sufficient for the believer even if water is not found for ten nights.' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that the Prophet prohibited prayer while intoxicated, emphasizing the necessity of mental clarity during worship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that authentic worship requires both physical purity and mental clarity—believers must approach prayer with awareness and reverence. It also exemplifies Islamic jurisprudence's flexibility and mercy, providing practical solutions (tayammum) for challenging circumstances while maintaining the principle that sincere obedience to Allah is always within reach.
Related Ayahs
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
And [for] their taking of usury while they had been forbidden from it, and their consuming of the people's wealth unjustly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطًا
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh, of all things, encompassing.
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allāh will find Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.