´Narrated Al-Bara bin 'Azib:` "It was the custom among the Companions of Muhammad (ﷺ), that if any of them was fasting and the food was presented but he had slept before eating, he would not eat that night, nor the following day until the evening. Qais bin Sirmah Al-Ansari fasted and came to his wife at the time of Iftar, and said to her: 'No, but I will go and bring something for you.' He worked during the day, so his eyes (sleep) overcame him. Then his wife came, and when she saw him she said: 'You shall be disappointed.' About the middle of the next day he fainted. That was mentioned to the Prophet (ﷺ), so this Ayah was revealed: 'It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your women on the night of the fasts. So they were very happy about that. 'And eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears distinct to you from the black thread (of night). (2:187)'"
Hadith Referenceسنن ترمذي / كتاب تفسير القرآن عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / 2968
Explanation: ➊: It has been made lawful for you to be intimate with your wives during the nights of fasting (al-Baqarah: 187) ➋: Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread (al-Baqarah: 187)
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2968
Al Bara (bin Azib) said “When a man fasted and slept, he could not eat till (another nigh) like it. ” Sarmah bin Qais Al Ansari came to his wife while he was fasting and asked her Do you have something (to eat)? She replied “No”. Let me go and seek something for you. So, she went out and sleep overcame him. She came (back) and said (to him). You are deprived (of food). He fainted before noon. He used to work all day long at his land. This was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ. So the following verse was revealed. “Permitted to you on the nights of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what yes used to do secretly amongst yourselves. But he turned to you and forgave you. So now associate with them and seek what Allaah hath ordained for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you. He recited up to the words “of dawn”.
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues: ➊ From this hadith, contrary to the previously mentioned hadith, it is established that the earlier ruling was that after falling asleep, eating, drinking, and having intercourse with one's wife at night were prohibited. The commentators have reconciled between the two by stating that whichever of these acts occurred first, after that, the aforementioned acts would become prohibited for the rest of the night until the next evening. Thereafter, Allah, the Exalted, granted permission for these acts from sunset until true dawn (subh sadiq), which brought great concession and ease for the Muslims.
➋ Imam Abu Dawud is of the opinion that the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory directly; before them, the fasts of Ashura and others were not obligatory. And Allah knows best.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 2314