a betrayal of themselves, as would their fighting against the prophets and the believers. The same would apply to highway robbery and armed aggression, and likewise to overt wrongdoing. What the peoples of Noah, Hūd, Sālih, and Shu'ayb did would also have been a betrayal of themselves.

Yet it is well known that this expression has not been used for all these meanings. Rather, it has been used for particular sins committed in secret. Ibn 'Abbās even said, concerning His words,

“You were betraying yourselves,”

that this referred to what 'Umar had done. For it is reported:

“When the Ansārī man came, he complained that he had spent that night without supper because he had fallen asleep before eating. Anyone who fell asleep before eating was forbidden to eat thereafter and would thus continue fasting. By morning, he was turning from his back onto his stomach. When he complained of his condition to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 'Umar said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I desired my wife last night, but she said that she had already slept. I thought she had not slept, so I had intercourse with her. She then told me that she had indeed slept.’ They said: ‘Then Allah revealed concerning 'Umar: “It is lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the nights of fasting.”’”

It has also been said that they were forbidden to have intercourse on the nights of fasting altogether, unlike eating, which was permitted before sleep.

It has also been reported:

“'Umar had intercourse with his wife after the night prayer but before sleeping. Afterwards, he began reproaching himself. He came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I seek Allah’s pardon for this treacherous soul of mine. I returned to my wife after praying the night prayer and noticed a pleasant fragrance. My soul enticed me, and I had intercourse with my wife.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘You were not