سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 184
أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿184﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskîn (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَيَّامًۭا
ayyāman
(Fasting for) days
مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ
maʿdūdātin
numbered
فَمَن
faman
So whoever
كَانَ
kāna
is
مِنكُم
minkum
among you
مَّرِيضًا
marīḍan
sick
أَوْ
aw
or
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
سَفَرٍۢ
safarin
a journey
فَعِدَّةٌۭ
faʿiddatun
then a prescribed number
مِّنْ
min
of
أَيَّامٍ
ayyāmin
days
أُخَرَ ۚ
ukhara
other
وَعَلَى
waʿalā
And on
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يُطِيقُونَهُۥ
yuṭīqūnahu
can afford it
فِدْيَةٌۭ
fid'yatun
a ransom
طَعَامُ
ṭaʿāmu
(of) feeding
مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ
mis'kīnin
a poor
فَمَن
faman
And whoever
تَطَوَّعَ
taṭawwaʿa
volunteers
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
good
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
then it
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لَّهُۥ ۚ
lahu
for him
وَأَن
wa-an
And to
تَصُومُوا۟
taṣūmū
fast
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لَّكُمْ ۖ
lakum
for you
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
know
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
184. 1. This concession has been given to the sick and the traveler that, due to illness or travel, however many fasts of Ramadan they are unable to keep, they may complete the count later by fasting afterwards.
184. 2. The translation of يُطِيقُونَهُ is "yatajashshamoonahu" (those who can fast only with great difficulty). That is, a person who, due to old age or illness from which there is no hope of recovery, feels hardship in fasting, should give food to a needy person as fidya (compensation). However, most commentators have translated it as "those who have the ability," which means that, in the beginning of Islam, due to not being accustomed to fasting, even those who had the ability were given the concession that if they did not fast, they could give food to a needy person in exchange. But later, through (فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ) 2:185, this was abrogated and fasting was made obligatory for every able person. However, for the very elderly or chronically ill, the ruling remains that they should give fidya. Nursing women, if they feel hardship, will be considered under the ruling for the sick, meaning they should not fast and later make up the missed fasts.
184. 3. Whoever, voluntarily, feeds two or three needy persons instead of just one, it is better for him.
184. 2. The translation of يُطِيقُونَهُ is "yatajashshamoonahu" (those who can fast only with great difficulty). That is, a person who, due to old age or illness from which there is no hope of recovery, feels hardship in fasting, should give food to a needy person as fidya (compensation). However, most commentators have translated it as "those who have the ability," which means that, in the beginning of Islam, due to not being accustomed to fasting, even those who had the ability were given the concession that if they did not fast, they could give food to a needy person in exchange. But later, through (فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ) 2:185, this was abrogated and fasting was made obligatory for every able person. However, for the very elderly or chronically ill, the ruling remains that they should give fidya. Nursing women, if they feel hardship, will be considered under the ruling for the sick, meaning they should not fast and later make up the missed fasts.
184. 3. Whoever, voluntarily, feeds two or three needy persons instead of just one, it is better for him.
