65/2.28. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4510 — The Darkness of Night and Whiteness of Day
"...And eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of the night)..." (V.2:187)
إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {تَتَّقُونَ} الْعَاكِفُ: الْمُقِيمُ
White Thread of Dawn Hadith: Night and Day Made Clear
Sahih Bukhari : 4510
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4510
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ أَهُمَا الْخَيْطَانِ قَالَ " إِنَّكَ لَعَرِيضُ الْقَفَا إِنْ أَبْصَرْتَ الْخَيْطَيْنِ ". ثُمَّ قَالَ " لاَ بَلْ هُوَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَبَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ ".
`Adi bin Hatim Narrated from:
I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What is the meaning of the white thread distinct from the black thread? Are these two threads?" He said, "You are not intelligent if you watch the two threads." He then added, "No, it is the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the day.''
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4510In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 37USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 37
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4510
This Hadith about the white thread of dawn records Adi bin Hatim asking Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم what the white thread distinct from the black thread means. He asked whether they were two actual threads. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected him and then explained the meaning plainly: it is the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the day. This is a key Hadith for searches such as suhoor end time hadith, white thread black thread meaning, and Quran 2:187 explanation. The Hadith is not giving a broad timetable discussion. It gives the meaning of the expression in the verse so that people know it refers to the change from night to dawn.
What we learn from this hadith
- The white and black thread in the verse are not two physical threads.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained the phrase as night’s darkness and day’s whiteness.
- Questions are a way to remove confusion in religious practice.
- The start of fasting is tied to the clear sign of dawn mentioned in the verse.
