about Zakariah from Was Zakariah the first man doing Sawm?
Dear all, Peace , Salam
To make it clear I used here the term sawm= to abstain, and more specifically abstention of talk as per 19:26 and abstain of sexual relation as per 2:187.
In the "Great Reading" (Al quran) Mary is mentioned as doing sawm of talk, this in in verse 19:26:
"So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' "
فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا ۖ فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنْسِيًّا
Looking in the book about similar cases I found Zakarya in 3:41, 19:10
3:41
He said: "O my Lord! Give me a sign!" "Thy Sign" was the answer "shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord again and again and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning."
19:10
(Zakariya) said "O my Lord! Give me a Sign." "Thy Sign", was the answer "shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights, although thou art not dumb."
In 19:10 Zakarya ask for a sign, and the answer is you shall not speak during 3 nights, and in 3:41 for 3 days, is this a SAWM?
Well if we take into account, "angels" come down to earth during "laylat al qadr" as per 97:4, we can assume, the event occurred during the night and more specifically during "laylat al qadr"!
My conclusion is Zakarya event was during laylat al qadr, so during shahru ramadan (full moon), and he was "forced" not to speak, by definition of sawm given in 19:26 (with Mary).
Maybe one of the difference between Zakarya and Mary, is Mary could still speak but Zakarya was "forced" to be muted for 3 consecutive days and nights, this is important to understand 2:187!
So in "my" logic, the tradition came from Zakarya.
- So Zakarya was "praying" (doing salat) in the temple when came the "angels" to him, telling him a good news, you will have a child
- Zakarya answer after being astonished and maybe skeptical
was "GIVE ME A SIGN"
- Allah answer is easy : "Thy Sign", was the answer "shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights, although thou art not dumb."
THIS BRING US TO 2:187
Permitted to you on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments. And ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah hath ordained for you and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.
1- Introduction (what are we talking about):
Permitted to you on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives
2-Explanation
They are your garments. And ye are their garments
3-Back ground (what was the situation before see 19:10)
Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you;
4-Permission given- new resolution from now on, eat and drink is another way to say "enjoy"
so now associate with them, and seek what Allah hath ordained for you and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread;
5-Conclusion and set the interdiction to not approach wives while doing saum
then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.
The abstention during night was initiated during ZAKARYA time and is now "abrogated" with 2:187.
So at least now we know why we have to do sawm during shahru ramadan, in commemoration of Zakarya event.
Peace
