Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 183

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you[[ i.e., the followers of previous prophets. ]]—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O you who believe, fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those who were before you, so that you may become righteous.

A. J. Arberry

O believers, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those that were before you -- haply you will be godfearing --

Abdul Haleem

You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O ye who believe! prescribed unto you is fasting even as it was prescribed unto those before you, that haply ye may fear God.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-

Abul Ala Maududi

O Believers, the Fast has been made obligatory on you just as it was prescribed for the followers of the Prophets before you. It is expected that this will produce piety in you.

Ahmed Ali

O believers, fasting is enjoined on you as it was on those before you, so that you might become righteous.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O People who Believe! Fasting is made compulsory for you, like it was ordained for those before you, so that you may attain piety.

Ali Quli Qarai

O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary.

Ali Ünal

O you who believe! Prescribed for you is the Fast, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may deserve God’s protection (against the temptations of your carnal soul) and attain piety.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O you who believe! you are bound to observe fasting as those before you (- followers of the Prophets) were bound, so that you may guard against evil.

English Literal

You, you those who believed, it is dictated/ordered on you the fasting , as it is dictated/ordered on those from before you, maybe you fear and obey (God).

Faridul Haque

O People who Believe! Fasting is made compulsory for you, like it was ordained for those before you, so that you may attain piety.

Hamid S. Aziz

O you who believe! There is prescribed for you the fast as it was prescribed for those before you; per chance (or possibly) you may learn self-restraint.

Hilali & Khan

O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil);

Muhammad Sarwar

Believers, fasting has been made mandatory for you as it was made mandatory for the people before you, so that you may have fear of God.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will be cautious.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may acquire Taqwa.

Wahiduddin Khan

Believers, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves against evil.

Talal Itani

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous.

Tafsir jalalayn

O you who believe, prescribed for you, obligatory [for you], is the Fast, just as it was prescribed for those, communities, that were before you so that you might guard yourselves, against acts of disobedience, for, it [the fast] curbs the desires that prompt these [acts].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Order to Fast

Allah said;

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ



O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have Taqwa.

In an address to the believers of this Ummah, Allah ordered them to fast, that is, to abstain from food, drink and sexual activity with the intention of doing so sincerely for Allah the Exalted alone. This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanses them from the evil that might mix with them and their ill behavior.

Allah mentioned that He has ordained fasting for Muslims just as He ordained it for those before them, they being an example for them in that, so they should vigorously perform this obligation more obediently than the previous nations.

Similarly, Allah said;

لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَـجاً وَلَوْ شَأءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَأ ءَاتَـكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ

To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. (5;48)

Allah said in this Ayah;

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ


O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have Taqwa.

since the fast cleanses the body and narrows the paths of Shaytan.

In the Sahihayn the following Hadith was recorded;

يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيتَـزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِع فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاء

O young people! Whoever amongst you can afford marriage, let him marry. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.

Allah then commands;