يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا 43
Translations
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janābah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la taqrabu as-salata wa-antum sukara hatta ta'lamu ma taqulun wa-la junuban illa 'abiri sabīl hatta taghtasilu. Wa-in kuntum marda aw 'ala safar aw ja'a ahad minkum min al-gha'it aw lamastum an-nisa fa-lam tajidu ma'an fa-tayammamu sa'idan tayyiban fa-msahu bi-wujuhikum wa-aydikum. Inna Allaha kana 'afuwwan ghafura.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes critical conditions for ritual purity and the performance of prayer (salah). It prohibits approaching prayer while intoxicated, commanding believers to understand what they recite, and forbids praying in a state of major ritual impurity (janabah) except when merely passing through until ablution is performed. The ayah then introduces tayammum (dry ablution with clean earth) as a valid substitute for water when water is unavailable due to illness, travel, or bodily impurity—demonstrating Allah's mercy and the practicality of Islamic law. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that consciousness and clarity are fundamental to prayer's spiritual efficacy.
Revelation Context
This Medinan ayah was revealed in the context of establishing clear Islamic jurisprudence regarding purity and prayer etiquette in the developing Muslim community. The prohibition on intoxication reflects the gradual legislative process that would culminate in the complete prohibition of alcohol (5:90), while the provision for tayammum addresses the practical needs of believers in diverse circumstances.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (305): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Tayammum is sufficient for the believer even if water is not found for ten nights.' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that the Prophet prohibited prayer while intoxicated, emphasizing the necessity of mental clarity during worship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that authentic worship requires both physical purity and mental clarity—believers must approach prayer with awareness and reverence. It also exemplifies Islamic jurisprudence's flexibility and mercy, providing practical solutions (tayammum) for challenging circumstances while maintaining the principle that sincere obedience to Allah is always within reach.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
O you who have believed, believe in Allāh and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allāh, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.
أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ ءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا
Or do they envy people for what Allāh has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the family of Abraham the Scripture and wisdom and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا
So fight, [O Muḥammad], in the cause of Allāh; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allāh will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allāh is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allāh will find Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.