The example of the white and black threads

Rights of the Qur’an

حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ
Until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread. (2:187)

ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim initially understood the threads literally; the Prophet ﷺ explained that the contrast means the light of dawn and darkness of night.

This illustrates the need for Arabic idiom and prophetic explanation.