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9. FASTING IN RAMADAN (2) Allah says in the Qur’ān: ِب َعلَى ِّ ِب َعلَ ْي ُك ُم ال َ ص َيا ُم َك َما ُكت َ ِين آ َم ُنوا ُكت َ َيا أَ ُّي َها الَّذ )381( ون َ ُِين مِنْ َق ْبلِ ُك ْم لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم َت َّتق َ الَّذ O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may achieve taqwa (Q. 2:183) The term ون َ ُ لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم َت َّتقmeans “that ye may ward off (evil)” (M.M. Pickthall), “that you may (learn) self-restraint” (A.Y. Ali), “so that you may remain conscious of God.” (M. Asad). The term la‘alla ) (لَ َع َّلmeans “perhaps, may be.” It is َط ْمع “ambitious desire, object of desire” and “ ِا ْش َفاقcare, concern, anxiety.” According some Qur’ān commentators, the term la‘alla if it is from Allah it means kay ) ْ ( َكيmeaning “so that, in order that, in order to”, as Allah is not subject to “ambitious desire” and “concern” which are among the natures of human beings. What He desires to happen He makes it happen. Therefore, the term ون َ ُ لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم َت َّتقin the above verse means “in order that you achieve taqwā.” When the term la‘alla is applied to human, then it means “perhaps” or “may be” where there is wish and expectation, such as the following verse: )04:ين (الشعراء َ لَ َعلَّ َنا َن َّت ِب ُع الس ََّح َر َة إِنْ َكا ُنوا ُه ُم ْال َغال ِِب “That we may follow the sorcerers [who were in Pharaoh’s religion or disbelief] if they are the winners”(Q. 26:40) It was the wish of people to follow the sorcerers if they win against Prophet Moses in their contest. Another example is as follows: َ َُفق )00:ول لَ ُه َق ْو ًل َل ِّي ًنا لَ َعلَّ ُه َي َت َذ َّك ُر أَ ْو َي ْخ َشى (طه [Allah said to Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron] “And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition of fear (Allah).” (Q. 20:44)