It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are a clothing for you and you are a clothing1 for them. Allāh knows that you used to deceive yourselves,2 so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allāh has decreed for you [i.e., offspring]. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night [i.e., sunset]. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allāh, so do not approach them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that they may become righteous.
Translation: Saheeh International (English)
1 Also a source of tranquility and rest.
2 Prior to this revelation, marital relations were unlawful during nights preceding fasting. Some were unable to refrain and secretly disobeyed, but they did not deceive Allāh.
تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّhave relations with themtubāshirūhunna
وَأَنتُمۡwhile youwa-antum
عَٰكِفُونَ(are) secludedʿākifūna
فِيinfī
ٱلۡمَسَٰجِدِۗthe masajidl-masājidi
تِلۡكَThesetil'ka
حُدُودُ(are the) limitsḥudūdu
ٱللَّهِ(set by) Allahl-lahi
فَلَاso (do) notfalā
تَقۡرَبُوهَاۗapproach themtaqrabūhā
كَذَٰلِكَThuskadhālika
يُبَيِّنُmakes clearyubayyinu
ٱللَّهُAllahl-lahu
ءَايَٰتِهِۦHis versesāyātihi
لِلنَّاسِfor [the] peoplelilnnāsi
لَعَلَّهُمۡso that they maylaʿallahum
يَتَّقُونَ(become) righteousyattaqūna
Tafsir
At first it was not allowed for a man, if he had gone to sleep on the night of the fast and then woke up before dawn, to eat or drink, or approach his wife. Allah replaced this ruling, allowing you, O believers, to have relations with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are a protection for you, keeping you pure, and you are a cover for them, keeping them pure. You both need each other. Allah knew that you were betraying yourselves by doing what you were not allowed to, so He had mercy on you, turning to you when you asked for forgiveness, and made things easier for you. So, have relations with them, and seek the children Allah has decreed you, and eat and drink during the whole of the night, until the break of true dawn is clear to you. Then complete your fast, not consuming anything from the break of dawn until sunset. But do not have relations with your wives when you are in spiritual retreat in the mosques, because that invalidates the retreat. These laws are the limits of Allah: between what is allowed and what is forbidden– so do not go near them. Whoever goes near the limits of Allah is close to falling into what is prohibited. By clearly setting out such laws, Allah makes His signs obvious to people so that they may be mindful of Him, and do what He instructs and leave what He has prohibited.