Chapter on Sign of the Time of the Obligation of Fasting, the Days of the Month, and the Proof of the Time of Breaking the Fast

Muhammad ibn Yaqub, from Muhammad ibn Ismail, from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, and Ahmad ibn Idris, from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Jabbar, all of them from Safwan, from Ibn Muskan, from Abu Basir, from one of the two Imams عليه السلام, peace be upon them: (Imam عليه السلام was asked) concerning ‘the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, ‘It has been made lawful for you, on the night of fasting, to have relations with your women,’ the verse.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187) Imam عليه السلام said: “It was revealed concerning Khawwat ibn Jubayr al-Ansari, and he was with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, at al-Khandaq, while he was fasting, and he reached evening in that state. Before this verse was revealed, when one of them slept, food became forbidden for him. So Khawwat came to his family when evening came and said, ‘Do you have any food?’ They said, ‘No. Stay until we prepare food for you.’ So he (Khawwat) leaned back and slept. They said to him (Khawwat), ‘You have dozed off.’ He (Khawwat) said, ‘Yes.’ So Khawwat spent the night in that state and entered the morning. Then Khawwat went early to al-Khandaq, and he began to faint. The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, passed by, and when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم saw what was with him, Khawwat informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم how his affair had been. So Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, revealed concerning him (Khawwat) the verse: ‘(You may) eat and drink until you see the light of dawn breaking the darkness of night, then complete the fast until nightfall.’” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187)