The foremost report on this is what Muhammad ibn Hurr narrated from his father, who said: “My uncle narrated to me from his father, who said: ‘My father narrated to me from his father, from Ibn ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—who said: “It means offspring.”’” Ibn Zayd said: “It means intercourse.” Qatādah said: “Seek the concession that Allah has ordained for you.”

Another report from Ibn ʿAbbās states: “It means the Night of Decree.”

The correct understanding is as follows: Allah granted the community relief by permitting intercourse on nights of fasting until dawn. Since someone engaging in intercourse is generally so overcome by desire and the urge to satisfy it that scarcely anything else enters his mind, Allah, glorified be He, directed them to seek His pleasure even in this enjoyment. They should not be intimate with their wives merely to satisfy desire, but should seek what Allah has ordained for them: reward, and offspring from their loins who will worship Allah without associating anything with Him. They should also seek the concession He has permitted them, mindful that He loves His concessions to be accepted. For Allah loves His concessions to be taken, just as He hates acts of disobedience to Him. Among what Allah has ordained for them is the Night of Decree, so they were commanded to seek it.

Yet a question remains: what connection does this have with permitting intimacy with their wives?

The answer is that it offers guidance concerning the distraction that permitted intimacy may pose to their pursuit of this night, which is better than a thousand months. It is as though Allah, glorified be He, were saying: Satisfy your desire with your wives on nights of fasting, but do not let this distract you from seeking what Allah has ordained for you of this night with which He has favoured you. And Allah knows best.

[Surah al-Baqarah (2): verse 216]

“Fighting has been prescribed for you, though it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate something which is good for you, and perhaps you love something which is bad for you. Allah knows, while you do not know.” (216)

This verse contains many lessons of wisdom, subtle insights, and benefits for the servant. When the servant knows that something disliked may bring about something desirable, and that something desirable may bring about something disliked, he cannot rule out the possibility that