184 Ayyaamam ma'doodaat

اَيَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدٰتٍ ۭ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَّرِيْضًا اَوْ عَلٰي سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ اَ يَّامٍ اُخَرَ ۭ وَعَلَي الَّذِيْنَ يُطِيْقُوْنَهٗ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِيْنٍ ۭ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهٗ ۭ وَاَنْ تَصُوْمُوْا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ

أَيَّامًا : (Fasting for) days  
  مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۚ : numbered.  
  فَمَن : So whoever  
  كَانَ : is  
  مِنكُم : among you  
  مَّرِيضًا : sick  
  أَوْ : or  
  عَلَىٰ : on  
  سَفَرٍ : a journey,  
  فَعِدَّةٌ : then a prescribed number  
  مِّنْ : of  
  أَيَّامٍ : days  
  أُخَرَۚ : other.  
  وَعَلَى : And on  
  ٱلَّذِينَ : those who  
  يُطِيقُونَهُۥ : can afford it,  
  فِدْيَةٌ : a ransom  
  طَعَامُ : (of) feeding  
  مِسْكِينٍۖ : a poor.  
  فَمَن : So whoever  
  تَطَوَّعَ : volunteers  
  خَيْرًا : good  
  فَهُوَ : then it  
  خَيْرٌ : (is) better  
  لَّهُۥۚ : for him.  
  وَأَن : And to  
  تَصُومُوا۟ : fast  
  خَيْرٌ : (is) better  
  لَّكُمْۖ : for you,  
  إِن : if  
  كُنتُمْ : you  
  تَعْلَمُونَ : know.

Ayyaamam ma'doodaat; faman kaana minkum mareedan aw'alaa safarin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin ukhar; wa 'alal lazeena yuteeqoonahoo fidyatun ta'aamu miskeenin faman tatawwa'a khairan fahuwa khairul lahoo wa an tasoomoo khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon

[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

Interpretation