Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that when any of the Companions would be fasting, and after the time for breaking the fast had arrived, if he slept before having iftar, then he could neither eat that night nor the next day, until the evening of the following day. An Ansari, that is, Sayyiduna Sirmah bin Qais, was fasting. When it was time for iftar, he came to his wife and said: “Is there anything to eat?” She said: “No, but I will go and look for something for you.” In the meantime, he fell asleep. When his wife returned and saw him, she said: “Alas, what a misfortune for you (now what will happen)!” Thus, he spent the morning in that state, and when half the day had passed, he fainted. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed of this entire situation, this verse was revealed: {اُحِلَّ لَکُمْ لَیْلَۃَ الصِّیَامِ الرَّفَثُ اِلٰی نِسَائِکُمْ ھُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّکُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّہُنَّ عَلِمَ اللّٰہُ اَنَّکُمْ کُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُوْنَ اَنْفُسَکُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَیْکُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْکُمْ فَالْئٰنَ بَاشِرُوْھُنَّ وَابْتَغُوْا مَا کَتَبَ اللّٰہُ لَکُمْ وَکُلُوْا وَاشْرَبُوْا حَتّٰییَتَبَیَّنَ لَکُمُ الْخَیْطُ الْاَبْیَضُ مِنَ الْخَیْطِ الْاَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ} … It has been made lawful for you to be intimate with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are a garment for you and you are a garment for them. Allah knew that you were betraying yourselves, so He turned to you in mercy and forgave you. So now, be intimate with them and seek what Allah has decreed for you, and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread (Surah Al-Baqarah: 187).