~Kidr~
According to some they say that this year Ramadan will be starting in 2011 will start on Monday, the 1st of August and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August, 2011.
According to the many Muslims, the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Sunday, the 31st of July.
Al-Baqara [2:185]
"'shahru' (Month) ramaḍāna (Ramadan) is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spent it in fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful."Allah says the 'Shahru' month is 'ramadana' (Ramadan) is the shahru month the Qur'an was sent down to Prophet Muhammad as a guide for all mankind. In this Qur'an came the judgment between the right and wrong. And if anyone who is present at home or abroad during the month should spent it in fasting.
Shahru' (Month) in Arabic the root is Shahara wich means:
1) To publish abroad
2) Divulge
Shahara means:
1) To hire by the month
Sharun means:
1) Month
2) Moon
3) New moon
4) Full moon
In Arabic the root word for Ramadan is Ramidha which means:
1) To be burning
2) heat3) be blasted by the sun
Ramadha means:
1) To sharpen ( a spear ) between stones
2) roast
3) pasture on a burning ground
4) burn
Ramdha means:
1) Scorching heat
2) Burning hot (ground)
Ramadhan
1) The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month of fast.
Allah tells us that 'fasting' is prescribed for us as it was presecribe for those before us that we may learn discipline which is self-restraint:
Al-Baqara 2:183 "O ye who believe! 'l-ṣiyāmu' (fasting) is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.―"
The Arabic root for 'siyamu' is Sama which means:
1) To fast
Sama'an means:
1) To obstain from
Sau and Siyan means:
1) Act of fasting
2) Fast
Saimun means:
1) One who fast
In the Qur'an we find that fasting is instructed:
1) during the Hajj, al-Baqarah 2:196
2) during Ramadan, al-Baqarah 2:185,
Ramadhan itself means to not the 'l-ṣiyāmu' fasting but it is the month of the revelation of the Qur'an Allah revealed it to the Prophet Muhammad.
According to Classical Arabic dictionaries, the word "shahr" which is wrongly translated as "month"actually means "the moon when it is apparent and nearly full".
Here is the extract copied and pasted from Lisan Al-3arab:
والشَّهْرُ: القَمَر، سمي بذلك لشُهرته وظُهوره، وقيل: إِذا ظهر وقارَب
الكمال.
The word "ramadhan" means "scorching", i.e. red and hot.
So the term "shahr ramadhah" actually means "scorching full-moon".
In ancient times people used to describe the full moons using terms such as "harvest moon", "red moon", "strawberry moon", etc. The moon around the summer solstice was called "red moon" because it appears reddish in color. This is also a time of heat. So this would naturally explain the expression "scorching full-moon".
When does scorching heat begin to take place? The time of scorching heat starts after the summer solstice. This is the time when the sun is at its highest point and hence the shadow is smallest. Verse 25:45 talks about the indicative relationship between the sun and the shadow. It is after the summer solstice that the weather starts to become hot.
Now according to the Qur'an Ramadan begins on sighting of new moon or if the previous month has completed 30 days. Fasting begins at dawn when white thread can be distinguished from black. Every Muslim of sound mind and physically able must fast, except the aged, the very sick, nursing and expectant mothers, and those making long trips. Even women can fast during their menstruation which is often misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted.
There is NO evidence whatsoever that says that a woman who is in her periods or a woman who is having post-natal bleeding that she can not touch the Quran or fast during the month of Ramadhan. This is a majority opinion going back to Hadith.
During fasting from dawn to sunset, we are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or sex and avoid useless and evil talk, do pious deeds, have devotions in praying in masjids, obey parents, be kind to wives, avoid quarrelling.
Fasting is recognized as physically demanding but spiritually rewarding.
The exemptions of fasting in Surah al-Baqarah 2:184-185
Surah 2:184 "(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew."
Surah 2:185 "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful."
Now how long is one month?
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّہُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثۡنَا عَشَرَ شَہۡرً۬ا فِى ڪِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوۡمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِنۡہَآ أَرۡبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ۬ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُۚ فَلَا تَظۡلِمُواْ فِيہِنَّ أَنفُسَڪُمۡۚ وَقَـٰتِلُواْ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ كَآفَّةً۬ ڪَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمۡ ڪَآفَّةً۬ۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٣٦)
The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve― so ordained by Him in the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred; that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves. (9-36)
Thus, one year is 12 months. And as we know, one year is the time when 4 seasons are completed (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), 365 days. Thus, one month is about 30 days. And if one month is ten days, then the year would be 12 month X 10 = 120 days (two seasons only).
Moreover, the following would show the length of one month :
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ كُرۡهً۬ا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهً۬اۖ وَحَمۡلُهُ ۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَہۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةً۬ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓۖ إِنِّى تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ (١٥)
We have enjoined on man Kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favor, which Thou hast bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam." (46-15)
وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى يَٮِٕسۡنَ مِنَ ٱلۡمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآٮِٕكُمۡ إِنِ ٱرۡتَبۡتُمۡ فَعِدَّتُہُنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةُ أَشۡهُرٍ۬ وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى لَمۡ يَحِضۡنَۚ وَأُوْلَـٰتُ ٱلۡأَحۡمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعۡنَ حَمۡلَهُنَّۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦ يُسۡرً۬ا (٤)
Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the prescribed period, if ye have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same): for those who carry (life within their wombs) their period is until they deliver their burdens: and for those who fear Allah, He will make their path easy. (65-4)
As we all know, the woman gets her period every month (average every thirty days)
Thus, we have to Fast for one Month that equals 30 days average.
يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡأَهِلَّةِۖ قُلۡ هِىَ مَوَٲقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلۡحَجِّۗ وَلَيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرُّ بِأَن تَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰۗ وَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِنۡ أَبۡوَٲبِهَاۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (١٨٩)
They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time for men, and for pilgrimage. It is no virtue if ye enter your houses from the back; it is virtue if ye fear Allah. Enter houses through the proper doors and fear Allah that ye may prosper. (2-189)
The hours of fasting is in Surah al-Baqarah 2:187
Surah 2:187 "Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint."
Fasting during Hajj and Umra; Fasting as ranson in certain circumstances in connection with Hajj or 'Umra; number of days of such fasts:
This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment."
"And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (From completing it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, (Necessitating shaving), (He should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the 'umra on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment." Surah 2:196
Fasting for two consecutive months as penance in the circumstances:
"Never should a believer kill a believer; but (If it so happens) by mistake, (Compensation is due): If one (so) kills a believer, it is ordained that he should free a believing slave, and pay compensation to the deceased's family, unless they remit it freely. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you, and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (Is enough). If he belonged to a people with whom ye have treaty of Mutual alliance, compensation should be paid to his family, and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their means, (is prescribed) a fast for twomonths running: by way of repentance to Allah. for Allah hath all knowledge and all wisdom." Surah 4:92
Isa Ibn Maryam's mother, Maryam to tell any one who saw her that she had vowed a fast to Rahman:
Surah 19:26 "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to ((Allah)) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'"
Allah has promised a great reward for believing men and women who fast:
Surah 33:35 " for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward. For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who for two months consecutively before they touch each other. But if any is unable to do so, he should feed sixty indigent ones, this, that ye may show your faith in Allah and His Messenger. Those are limits (set by) Allah. For those who reject (Him), there is a grievous Penalty."
Fasting for two consecutive months as penalty for Zihar:
Some Muslims believe that women are not suppose to fast but Allah clearly tells us all including the women:
"O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation. Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation." 2:184-185
As we can see from the above ayat of the Quran it's clear that fasting is prescribed for us as it was for those before us. Allah also mentions things which can get in the way of our 'l-ṣiyāmu' fasting such as illness or travels and says that we can substitute those days when we are not ill or traveling.
However, it does not say that menstruation is getting in the way of a woman fasting performing her religious duties to Allah.
This leads us to the next question if menstruation is mentioned at all in the Quran and there is one verse that does talk about menstruation yet it says nothing about menstruation being one of those impurities that stops a women from fasting:
""And they ask you about menstruation: say, "It is harmful; you shall abstain from the women during menstruation and do not approach them until they are cleansed. Once they are cleansed, you may approach them in the manner ordained by GOD. GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who are pure." 2:222
I believe the only ayat that talks specifically about the issue of menstruation or menses is that this ayat tells men not to approach their wives in a sexual manner nor have sex with them when they are menstruating.
Allah's Hadith is fully detailed this is clearly understood in Surah 6:114, and we all know Allah left nothing out of it Surah 6:38.
Allah does not run out of words according to Surah 18:109. Everything we need to know with regards to Islam is contained within the Quran so with that being the case we can clearly see Allah does not prohibit women from fasting while they are mensturating.
It's clear Allah says,
"Say, "If the ocean were ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out, before the words of my Lord run out, even if we double the ink supply." 18:109
Allah has not forbidden any rituals of worship for a menstruating woman in any of the verses of the Qur'an. Commonly practised are many different prohibitions during menstruation such as:
1) Prohibited to perform salah prayers
2) Prohibited to keep the prescribed fasts in the month of Ramadan
3) Prohibited to hold or touch a copy of the Qur'an
4) Prohibited to recite a single verse of the Qur'an
5) Prohibited to enter a mosque
6) Prohibited to perform the Pilgrimage (Hajj)
Almost every act of worship is forbidden. The underlying understanding in these highly restrictive prohibition in worship appears to be considering women in menstruation to be highly 'spiritually' impure and unclean to the level that even touching the Qur'an, the book which is meant to be a believer's guide, is considered prohibited.
The Qur'an establishes the purpose of the creation of both men and women: to serve Allah. It applies fully to both sexes.
"Our Lord! We have heard someone calling us to faith - "Believe in your Lord" - and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, wipe out our bad deeds, and grant that we join the righteous when we die. Our Lord! Bestow upon us all that you have promised us through Your messengers - do not humiliate us on the Day of Resurrection - You never break your promise.' Their Lord has answered them: 'I will not allow the deeds of any one of you to be lost, whether you are male or female, each is like the other.' (Qur'an 3:193-195)
Allah has made all the restrictions or prohibitions in the Qur'an. For example, for salah, one should pray, once complying with what is stated in the following verse:
"Believers, when you prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands to the elbows; wipe your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. If you are in a state of ceremonial impurity, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you has relieved himself, or have been in contact with women, and find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand, and rub your faces and hands with it. Allah does not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favour to you, that you may be grateful." (Qur'an 5:6)
Notice the several conditions Allah specifies which believers should meet before performing salah. This would be a suitable place to mention the restriction for menstruating women if Allah wished so - that believing women should wait till they finish their menstruation, yet it is not found there nor anywhere else in the Qur'an.
We can see a similar scenario with the verses on fasting where Allah has not prohibited believing women from fasting during menstruation.
However Allah has spoken of menstruation in the Qur'an and has placed one restriction on them:
"They will ask you about menstruation. Say, 'It is harmful, so keep away from women during it. Do not approach them until they are purified of it, when they are purified you may approach them as Allah has ordained." (Qur'an 2:222)
Allah has only prohibited sexual intercourse for menstruating women and nothing else. The verse starts off with"They ask you about menstruation", which further emphasises that only Allah makes such prohibitions in the Qur'an, which is the message of the prophet. The prophetic prohibitions are the Quranic prohibitions since Allah is the One Who provides the answers. "They ask you about..., Say..." are frequent occurrences in the Qur'an. The reason pointed out in the verse for the prohibition of intercourse during menstruation is biological i.e. "it is harmful" and no spiritual indication is given.
What is important to know is that Allah does not consider women, his creation, as spiritually impure during menstruation anywhere. This is the root belief which has led to all the innovated restrictions we listed, even touching a copy of the Qur'an and studying from it as well as prostrating to her Creator is considered prohibited! One would appreciate the severity of this if it could be fully understood the huge role the Qur'an should play in the true believer's life, which is not understood by many people today.
A believer reading this can imagine just how much Quranic wisdom she would be kept away from if she cannot come near the Quran for up to seven days! Another verse in which menstruation is mentioned is the following in prescribing the time period that should be considered before a divorce:
"In the case of those of your wives past the age of menstruation, if you have any doubt, their waiting period should be three months, and that also applies to those who never menstruate. The time for women who are pregnant is when they give birth. Whoever has fear of Allah - He will make matters easy for him." (Qur'an 65:4)
Let us appreciate the detail in which Allah describes certain matters in the Qur'an where He deems it necessary. He has laid all the details needed in the Qur'an including details on menstruation. Allah permits believing women to carry out all the acts of worship He has recommended in the Qur'an even during menstruation, except for what he has forbidden in verse 2:222.
If however, pain is experienced during menstruation, we apply our understanding of any ill person where Allah is Oft-Forgiving and merciful "
Allah does not wish to place any hardship on you" (Qur'an 5:6), and follow the advise of verses such as this:
"If any of you is ill or travelling, then the same number from different days; and as for those who can do so but with difficulty, they may redeem by feeding the needy." (Qur'an 2:184) (Verse is in the context of fasting in the month of Ramadan)
The Qur'an also does not require believers to make ablution in order to touch or hold a copy of the Qur'an to begin with for ablution to be a concern. One may argue that traditionalists only prohibit these rituals of worship due to physical not spiritual uncleanliness. This is not true. If it is not for spiritual uncleanliness, then what is wrong with a menstruating woman simply sitting inside a mosque, when she can function and be everywhere else?
Ablution is not required in order to be inside a mosque! Why can she not observe the fasts if she wants to keep them and feels fit to do so? Ablution is not required while keeping fasts either (in both cases, neither by Quranic nor traditional standards). Believing women in menstruation are permitted to carry out all forms of worship the Qur'an advises on. The only prohibition in the Qur'an during menstruation is sexual intercourse.
The Correct Time to break Fast in Ramadan
The times to begin and end fast are detailed in the following verse of Surah Al-Bakarah:
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْل
"Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black. Then fast to the night." (Qur'an 2:187)
The time to begin fasting in the morning is when light is first seen. The time to stop fasting is when it is "night (layl / ليل)". That is the actual word used in the Qur'an, not 'sunset'. 'Night' refers to the time when the sky becomes such that we would tell someone it is night time.
The verse reads atimmoo al-siyaam ilaa al-layl - اتموا الصيام الي الليل: "complete the fast to the night" literally, i.e. to fast "to the night". Some erroneous translations read "until night" or "until nightfall" - both are incorrect, the correct translation is "to the night".
The Qur'an is in a human language and uses human beings' understanding of how they use the vocabularies in the language. Many Muslims break fasts when the sun is setting, we would not call that 'night / ليل' at all as it is still bright outside - neither at the time of the prophet, nor today. At such a time, the word 'night / ليل' is never used to describe that time of day.
Argument: Allah says He merges night with day and day with night in the Qur'an (i.e. 3:27). This indicates there is an overlap in which day and night are merged (sunset and sunrise). This means it is Quranically correct to consider sunset to be night hence we can break our fast at that time.
This appears to be a valid point. However, there is a mistaken understanding here. The merging time 'zones' (sunrise and sunset) are being thought of as overlaps of complete night and complete day. This is not the correct way to visualise a 'merging'. When Allah is merging the day and night, for instance at sunset, it starts off as 100% day 0% night, then 99% day 1% night, so on until it is 0% day 100% night. It is not an overlap of complete night and day (then, no change in light would be observed!). Thus, the definition of the word "night (layl / ليل)" is not realised during sunset.
Argument: We start fasting when we first see day light, we do not wait for it to be fully day. Likewise, we do not have to wait for it to be fully night to consider it officially night to break our fasts.
The precise times for the two ends of fasting times are being described in the verse. During a 'sunset', it is not 'night', which is what the verse specifies as the time to end fast. Here, one is trying to superimpose the start time of fasting onto the end time, even though the end time has been clearly stated separately - the motive here is to find a way to believe it is sunset. A believer has to take the teaching of the verse first and foremost, and not apply a preconceived understanding of fasting times to suit his own needs.
Argument: How do you know how to define 'night' ? Maghrib / sunset can be the start of night because the Qur'an does not define for us what night is.
Besides the point that the use of the word "night" is in its self sufficient, the Qur'an has expressions for 'night', 'day' as well as 'sunrise' and 'sunset'. For example:
أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
"Establish the prayer from declining of the sun / sunset (dulook al-shams / دلوك الشمس) to the darkness of the night (ليل / layl), and the Qur'an at dawn, surely the Qur'an at dawn is witnessed" (Qur'an 17:78)
The words "dulook al-shams / دلوك الشمس" used in the verse means 'setting of the sun / sunset'. Therefore, there is an expression for maghrib / sunset in the Qur'an. Furthermore, the word "layl / ليل", 'night'is used in the above verse too. Here we can see that in the Qur'an, there are words for 'sunset' and 'night', and also notice that night is not the same as sunset (since both are identified separately). The verse of fasting (2:187) uses the word "layl / ليل", 'night' to describe when to finish fasting. If Allah meant sunset, he would have chosen the right word for it. Furthermore, "night / layl" is described as "darkness (غسق / ghasaq)", i.e. "darkness of the night (غسق اليل / ghasaq al-layl)", further emphasising what night is.
In another verse, the phrase "maghrib al-shams", is used again to refer specifically to sunset. This time, by the more commonly known word across the world, "maghrib":
حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا قَوْمًا قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا
"Then, when he came to the sunset / setting of the sun (maghrib al-shams / مغرب الشمس), he found it setting into a muddy spring. Nearby he found some people and We said, ‘Dhu ’l-Qarnayn, you may choose to punish or show kindness." (Qur'an 18:86)
Reference:
Dictionary of the Holy Qur'an
Index-cum-Concordance for the Holy Qur'an a key to the Holy Qu'ran
http://www.quranicpath.com/
http://free-minds.org/
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