Lesson 5:Fiqh during the time of the Prophet ﷺ

Question 1

العهد النبوي | The Prophetic era/period

Answer 1

It is

الزمن المتد من بعثة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم
The period starting from the prophets mission ﷺ

Not before he was a prophet, but when his mission started, 13 years prior to migration, until he passed away in rabi al awwal and the year was 11 AH ﷺ.

This era, as mentioned by ibn Hazm, Ibn taymiyyah, Ibn Qayyim in i’lam al muwaqe’een that this period was the most important period of time

Question 2

Issues during prophetic era

Answer 2

• Issues of Usul ad-deen- fundamental matters of religion
• قواعد التشريع- principles of Legislation
• أصول الأدلة-Principles of evidence-what constitutes an evidence and what doesn’t

Question 3

What was the prophetic era divided into?

Answer 3

Mecci,Medini

Question 4

What was the Mecci stage

Answer 4

The first 13 years, from when he ﷺ became a prophet until he migrated. this is importantly to remember so one may know the abrogations and their origins.

Question 5

What were the legislations and issues during the Mecci stage

Answer 5

The legislations were focused on Tawheed, and تأسيس العقيدة-grounding/establishing ‘Aqeedah. And cleansing and stripping the people from شوائب الوثنية the impurities of idol worshiping/paganism. It also focused on Tazkiyyah, purification of the soul, good manners and etiquettes and warning and prohibiting from the practices and etiquette from Jahiliyyah, like burying their daughters, eating that which does not have the name of ﷲ ﷻ such as in the ayah

Al-An’am - 6:121
Arabic
وَلَا تَأۡكُلُواْ مِمَّا لَمۡ يُذۡكَرِ ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡهِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِسۡقٌۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَوۡلِيَآئِهِمۡ لِيُجَٰدِلُوكُمْۖ وَإِنۡ أَطَعۡتُمُوهُمۡ إِنَّكُمۡ لَمُشۡرِكُونَ
English - Sahih International
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience. And indeed do the devils inspire their allies [among men] to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators [of others with Him].

This ayah is similar to many other ayat on this issue.

As for burying their daughters:

An-Nahl - 16:58
Arabic
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
English - Sahih International
And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.

Al-An’am - 6:137
Arabic
وَكَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٍ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ قَتۡلَ أَوۡلَٰدِهِمۡ شُرَكَآؤُهُمۡ لِيُرۡدُوهُمۡ وَلِيَلۡبِسُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ دِينَهُمْۖ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُۖ فَذَرۡهُمۡ وَمَا يَفۡتَرُونَ
English - Sahih International
And likewise, to many of the polytheists their partners have made [to seem] pleasing the killing of their children {daughters} in order to bring about their destruction and to cover them with confusion in their religion. And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them and that which they invent.

Al-An’am - 6:140
Arabic
قَدۡ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَتَلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَهُمۡ سَفَهًۢا بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ وَحَرَّمُواْ مَا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱفۡتِرَآءً عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهۡتَدِينَ
English - Sahih International
Those will have lost who killed their children in foolishness without knowledge and prohibited what Allah had provided for them, inventing untruth about Allah . They have gone astray and were not [rightly] guided.

these practices were also focused on during their time period, and not just Tawheed and ‘Aqeedah.

Question 6

What was the Madani stage and what occurred?

Answer 6

From the migration of the messenger ﷺ until he passed away, and it lasted 10 years.

Most of the legislations were passed in this year, some people think Aqeedah and Tawheed was in Mecca, while Medina was more furoo’ ash shariyyah, and this is incorrect. There was also emphasis on إصلاح العقيدة- correction of belief in Medina as well. In fact, in medina it was emphasised on a deeper level. This is due to ﷲ ﷻ wanting to solidify it in their hearts.

Ahkaam al amaliyya- jurisprudent ruling were also passed, issues related to ibadat like fasting (was made obligatory in this period) issues of mu’amalat-transactions crimes, issues of politics etc were also expanded more in medina.

Question 7

مصادر تشريع في عهد النبوي | Sources of legislation during the Prophetic era

Answer 7

Quran

Sunnah

Other sources like Qiyas and Ijma were not needed

Question 8

Why did the Quran come gradually?

Answer 8

Al-Furqan - 25:32

Arabic
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ جُمۡلَةً وَٰحِدَةًۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۖ وَرَتَّلۡنَٰهُ تَرۡتِيلًا
English - Sahih International
And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.

there are several wisdoms for it coming gradually as mentioned by the scholars such as Abu Ishaq ash shatibi in his work al Muwafaqat, Ibn Qayyim in i’lam al muwaqi’een, Ibn Taymiyyah in his muqadimah fi usul at tafsir, ibn hazm in his ihkam

• To solidify the prophets ﷺ heart | تثبيت فؤاد النبي ﷺ as mentioned in the ayah above
• To look at the the the wisdoms, it’s ruling memorization etc | تيسير حفظ القرآن وتدبر معانيه

this is importantly as the Quran wasn’t just sent to be recited, rather as ﷲ mentions

Al-‘Ankabut - 29:49

Arabic
بَلۡ هُوَ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَۚ وَمَا يَجۡحَدُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَّا ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

English - Sahih International
Rather, the Qur’an is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge. And none reject Our verses except the wrongdoers.

as such, as we will learn in ‘Uloom al Quran, the Qurans compilation was initially by way of memorization only later in its entirety (as at times it was written during the messengers ﷺ life)

The first time it came to the messenger ﷺ ﷲ ﷻ told him

Al-Qiyamah - 75:16
Arabic
لَا تُحَرِّكۡ بِهِۦ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعۡجَلَ بِهِۦٓ
English - Sahih International
Move not your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of the Qur’an.
Al-Qiyamah - 75:17
Arabic
إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا جَمۡعَهُۥ وَقُرۡءَانَهُۥ
English - Sahih International
Indeed, upon Us is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation.

In other ayat ﷲ says

Ash-Shu’ara’ - 26:192
Arabic
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

English - Sahih International
And indeed, the Qur’an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.

Ash-Shu’ara’ - 26:193
Arabic
نَزَلَ بِهِ ٱلرُّوحُ ٱلۡأَمِينُ
English - Sahih International
The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down

Ash-Shu’ara’ - 26:194
Arabic
عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنذِرِينَ
English - Sahih International
Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners ->
Ash-Shu’ara’ - 26:195

Arabic
بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ
English - Sahih International
In a clear Arabic language.

• مسايرة الحوادث والوقائع-Keeping pace with events and occurrences

The Quran has a purpose for when it decides something for instances, and this was a wisdom Imām izz ibn abdis salam who was called Sultan al ulema in his kitab qawaid ul anam, mentioned and said one of the reasons the Quran is fitting for every time and place and every situation is because when the Quran first started, it was in line/conjunction with what was taking place

• التدرج في التشريع-gradually putting things into effect,the best example of this is alcohol

Question 9

Is categorizing the Sunnah after the Quran belittling it?

Answer 9

this is not something to worry, as this is just to organize the evidences. This is when the Mujtahid wants to tarjeeh-strengthening the evidences from one another-the Sunnah and Quran it’s to organise it in simplifying it.

ﷲ commanded us to follow his messenger ﷺ-which is following his sunnah

Al-Hashr - 59:7

Arabic
** مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَىۡ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةًۢ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡأَغۡنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ
**
English - Sahih International
And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty

Question 10

Relationship between the Quran and Sunnah

Answer 10

**- The sunnah is in line with the Quran | أن تكون موافقة لما جاء في القرآن-it emphasising on what the Quran has already emphasized on. For example, the Quran says,
**
وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
And establish prayer and give zakah

The sunnah comes along, and it commands us with what was commanded in the Quran such as the Hadith
**
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْت رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَقُولُ: “ بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ”.
[رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ]
،
[وَمُسْلِمٌ]
.**
On the authority of Abdullah, the son of Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra), who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadhan.” [Bukhari&Muslim

• أن تكو**ن مبينة لما جاء في القرآن وهي

**على أربعة أوجه | “To clarify what has come in the Qur’an, and it is in four aspects.”
**
An-Nahl - 16:44
Arabic
بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِۗ وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلذِّكۡرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
English - Sahih International
[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.

**1. أن تفسر مجمل القرآن | “To interpret the generalities of the Qur’an.”
**
this is to interpret the verses which are vague, can’t be acted upon, so the sunnah sheds light and gives us understanding of it.

For example when ﷲ ﷻ said establish the prayer, we don’t know which prayer this is, and the sunnah comes and clarified the timing, the description and the way the verse wants us to pray, and what nullifies the prayer.

• أن تقيد مطلقه | To restrict an unrestricted verse (to restrict its generalities)

for example, ﷲ says

An-Nisa’ - 4:12
Arabic
وَلَكُمۡ نِصۡفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزۡوَٰجُكُمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكۡنَۚ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَآ أَوۡ دَيۡنٍۚ وَلَهُنَّ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكۡتُمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يَكُن لَّكُمۡ وَلَدٌۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكۡتُمۚ مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَآ أَوۡ دَيۡنٍۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَٰلَةً أَوِ ٱمۡرَأَةٌ وَلَهُۥٓ أَخٌ أَوۡ أُخۡتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُۚ فَإِن كَانُوٓاْ أَكۡثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فِى ٱلثُّلُثِۚ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَآ أَوۡ دَيۡنٍ غَيۡرَ مُضَآرٍّۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ
English - Sahih International
And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, for you is one fourth of what they leave, after any bequest they [may have] made or debt. And for the wives is one fourth if you leave no child. But if you leave a child, then for them is an eighth of what you leave, after any bequest you [may have] made or debt. And if a man or woman leaves neither ascendants nor descendants but has a brother or a sister, then for each one of them is a sixth. But if they are more than two, they share a third, after any bequest which was made or debt, as long as there is no detriment [caused]. [This is] an ordinance from Allah, and Allah is Knowing and Forbearing.
>

We then have a Hadith

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَامِرُ بْنُ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ مَرِضْتُ بِمَكَّةَ مَرَضًا، فَأَشْفَيْتُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ، فَأَتَانِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي مَالاً كَثِيرًا، وَلَيْسَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَتِي، أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالشَّطْرُ قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ الثُّلُثُ قَالَ ‏”‏ الثُّلُثُ كَبِيرٌ (أو كثيرٌ) إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَرَكْتَ وَلَدَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَتْرُكَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ، وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا، حَتَّى اللُّقْمَةَ تَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى فِي امْرَأَتِكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَأُخَلَّفُ عَنْ هِجْرَتِي فَقَالَ ‏”‏ لَنْ تُخَلَّفَ بَعْدِي فَتَعْمَلَ عَمَلاً تُرِيدُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ، إِلاَّ ازْدَدْتَ بِهِ رِفْعَةً وَدَرَجَةً، وَلَعَلَّ أَنْ تُخَلَّفَ بَعْدِي حَتَّى يَنْتَفِعَ بِكَ أَقْوَامٌ وَيُضَرَّ بِكَ آخَرُونَ، لَكِنِ الْبَائِسُ سَعْدُ ابْنُ خَوْلَةَ يَرْثِي لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ مَاتَ بِمَكَّةَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَسَعْدُ بْنُ خَوْلَةَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ‏.‏

Narrated Sad bin Abi Waqqas: I was stricken by an ailment that led me to the verge of death. The Prophet (ﷺ) came to pay me a visit. I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have much property and no heir except my single daughter. Shall I give two-thirds of my property in charity?" He said, "No." I said, "Half of it?" He said, "No." I said, "Onethird of it?" He said, "You may do so) though one-third is also to a much, for it is better for you to leave your off-spring wealthy than to leave them poor, asking others for help. And whatever you spend (for Allah's sake) you will be rewarded for it, even for a morsel of food which you may put in the mouth of your wife." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will I remain behind and fail to complete my emigration?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If you are left behind after me, whatever good deeds you will do for Allah's sake, that will upgrade you and raise you high. May be you will have long life so that some people may benefit by you and others (the enemies) be harmed by you." But Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt sorry for Sad bin Khaula as he died in Mecca. (Sufyan, a sub-narrator said that Sa`d bin Khaula was a man from the tribe of Bani ‘Amir bin Lu’ai.)*

The verse is unrestricted, “ مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ وَصِيَّةٍ“ can give however much you want, then the sunnah came and restricted it to a third “الثُّلُثُ كَبِيرٌ”

• . أن تخصص عامه | to specify its generalities (specifies a general verse)

For example, when ﷲ says

An-Nisa’ - 4:11
Arabic
يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَوۡلَٰدِكُمْۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثۡلُ حَظِّ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءً فَوۡقَ ٱثۡنَتَيۡنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَۖ وَإِن كَانَتۡ وَٰحِدَةً فَلَهَا ٱلنِّصۡفُۚ وَلِأَبَوَيۡهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌۚ فَإِن لَّمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلثُّلُثُۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُۥٓ إِخۡوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلسُّدُسُۚ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِى بِهَآ أَوۡ دَيۡنٍۗ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَأَبۡنَآؤُكُمۡ لَا تَدۡرُونَ أَيُّهُمۡ أَقۡرَبُ لَكُمۡ نَفۡعًاۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

English - Sahih International
Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one’s estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one’s parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah . Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

The Hadith comes in that states:
عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

“‏ لاَ يَرِثُ الْمُسْلِمُ الْكَافِرَ وَلاَ يَرِثُ الْكَافِرُ الْمُسْلِمَ ‏”
‏ ‏.‏**

Usama b. Zaid reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

A Muslim is not entitled to inherit from a non-Muslim, and a non-Muslim is not entitled to inherit from a Muslim.

So to ayah was general, but the ayah specifies it and says that you can’t inherit wealth from a non Muslim who passed, and he/she can’t inherit your wealth.

• أن توضح مشكل القرآن | to clarify the ambiguities in the Quran (there could be many interpretations, and the sunnah narrows it down)

for example, the ayah

Al-Baqarah - 2:187
Arabic
أُحِلَّ لَكُمۡ لَيۡلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْۖ فَٱلۡـَٰٔنَ بَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْۚ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَيۡطُ ٱلۡأَبۡيَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡطِ ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيۡلِۚ وَلَا تُبَٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمۡ عَٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلۡمَسَٰجِدِۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهَاۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ
English - Sahih International
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. 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 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] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.

This ayah was ambiguous for some of the companions and took the thread to be literal, and the sunnah clarified it to them.

**عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ ‏

{‏حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ‏}
‏ عَمَدْتُ إِلَى عِقَالٍ أَسْوَدَ وَإِلَى عِقَالٍ أَبْيَضَ، فَجَعَلْتُهُمَا تَحْتَ وِسَادَتِي، فَجَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ فِي اللَّيْلِ، فَلاَ يَسْتَبِينُ لِي، فَغَدَوْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَبَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ**

Narrated `Adi bin Hatim:

When the above verses were revealed: ‘Until the white thread appears to you, distinct from the black thread,’ I took two (hair) strings, one black and the other white, and kept them under my pillow and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it. So, the next morning I went to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and told him the whole story. He explained to me, “That verse means the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn.”

• أن تأتى السنة بحكم سكت عنه القرآن | That the Sunnah provides a ruling on something the Qur’an has remained silent about

Imam ibn qayyim said it initiates a ruling the Quran hasn’t mentioned.

And this is a right of the messenger ﷺ as he is speaking on behalf of ﷲ, as mentioned in surah najm

An-Najm 53:3
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

English - Sahih International
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.

English - Mohsin Khan/Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.

An-Najm - 53:4

Arabic
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ يُوحَىٰ

English - Sahih International
It is not but a revelation revealed,

For example, who can’t inherit from wealth as mentioned earlier, of breastfeeding, as we knew in the Quran those that are haram for you are siblings uncles etc, but we didn’t know that breastfeeding can make marrying someone haram for you, or that a person can be a singling by breastfeeding. Also, all animals that have claws, this was mentioned in the sunnah not the Quran.