“The Verse Prescribing Fasting: Betweenthe Precision of Contextual Harmony (al-Munāsabah) and the Concisenes of Expression”.

Abstract

This research explores the verse of prescribing fasting — {O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you...} — excluding the subsequent verses, and focuses on uncovering the precision of its placement and the conciseness of its expression. It aims to demonstrate the coherence of the verse with its immediate and extended Qur’anic context.

The study adopts an analytical methodology, guided by the principles of the Theory of Nazm (coherent structure), making use of contextual cues and situational factors to unveil the objectives and implications of the text. It investigates the secret behind the verse’s tightly-woven structure and the profound impact it has on the soul of the obligated recipient.

The study reveals that this noble verse is in complete harmony with the discourse on the objectives of Islamic law (Maqasid al-Shari'ah), the cultivation of the believing self, and the conviction of the inner significance of acts of worship. This coherence is manifested in a beautiful progression of meanings: from the preparatory address, to the mitigating comparison, to the statement of the overarching purpose.

The conciseness of expression in the verse carries an implicit message; its omission of the ritual details and its non-repetition elsewhere in the Qur’an suggests a deliberate brevity — pointing to the unique and private nature of fasting, as an act hidden between the servant and his Lord, one that calls for discretion rather than display.

The eloquence of the verse is further highlighted through the simile introduced by the particle kāf ("just as it was prescribed for those before you"), which leans toward indicating the mere prescription of fasting — not its detailed rulings — thereby affirming its universality among previous nations.

Moreover, the verse’s declared purpose — "that you may become righteous (la‘allakum tattaqūn)" — implies numerous unspoken outcomes. The study identifies the most prominent among them, while many others remain scattered across various disciplines such as medicine, psychology, sociology, and ethics.

Thus, the research lifts the veil on the intricate structure of this verse, revealing it not as a mere proclamation of obligation, but as a profound and holistic discourse, combining clarity with subtlety, brevity with allusion — addressing both the intellect and conscience of the human being.