50. Laws on fasting, that necessitates following Prophet Muhammad’s guidance.
We already know those fasting is forbidden from indulging in sexual activities during daytime and there is no bar in them doing the same during night.
In the initial stages of Islam indulging in sexual activities was forbidden while fasting, even during night. There was a change in this restriction with the revelation of verse (2:187) of the Quran, granting permission during night.
We find this verse directly conveying the message of the law being changed. Here the message also conveys, the Quran and the explanations of Prophet Muhammad are to be viewed in the same plane, and that both form the fundamentals of Islamic ideology. Let’s look into this aspect in detail.
In the initial stages of Islam, indulging in sexual activities during nighttime while fasting was forbidden by Allah. The companions of Prophet Muhammad could not hold on to such restrictions. They often violated the restriction. Taking into consideration the weakness in men Allah permitted the men to indulge in family way of life during night as is evident from this verse.
But a verse conveying ban on indulging in sexual activities during night could not be found in the Quran.
The restriction of sex during night could be comprehended through the phrases ‘You have committed treason against yourself’ of this verse. Only when an act is perpetrated against law could the word treason be used.
This could also be understood from the phrases, ‘hence He accepted your prayer for forgiveness’ in this verse. Only when violation takes place does a requirement for forgiveness arise. The question of forgiveness does not arise when something allowed is carried out. We can find from these phrases, about a ban on sexual activities while fasting during the earlier days.
Since there was a ban on sexual activities during night while fasting in the earlier period, we find the phrase, ‘from now on wards you can involve in family way of life’ during night and removes the restriction.
Allah uses these three phrases in the verse to convey the message, there was a restriction on sex during night while fasting, and the restriction is being lifted forthwith.
Had the belief that Quran is the only source of authenticity in Islam, the message regarding ban on sex during fasting should have found a place in it (Quran). But we find only the message, that sex during night for those fasting was forbidden in the earlier period. And there is no message in Quran that says sex is forbidden for those fasting during night.
And if there was a possibility that Prophet Muhammad could have banned it, he could not have done it on his own. In case if he had done it on his own, we would find the same in the Quran, with Allah reprimanding the prophet, but we do not find anything of that sort in the Quran, that says “The way you conducted yourself during night (keeping away from sex) is not your fault, Prophet Muhammad has wrongly guided you”.
But Allah did not convey any message regarding this, and hence it can be taken as the ban proposed by Prophet Muhammad to be that of Allah.
The messages sent by Allah through Jibreel alone cannot be considered as the only ‘wahee’ or the divine message, even the messages that are put in the heart of Prophet Muhammad constitute one. This verse stands as evidence to drive home the fact, the orders from Prophet Muhammad need to be heeded to.
To know more about following the Quran and the guidance of Prophet Muhammad please refer the explanation points, 36, 39, 55, 56, 57, 60, 67, 72, 105, 125, 127, 128, 132, 154, 164, 184, 244, 255, 256, 258, 286, 318, 350, 352, 358, 430.
