What is the ruling of the Sharia on someone who had intercourse with his wife before the dawn call to prayer (adhan), and continued to have intercourse after the adhan, thinking that the time had not yet begun, and fearing arousal during the day in Ramadan?

In this matter, there are two possible scenarios:

1. If the Adhan (definition) usually occurs before Fajr, or it happened that way on that particular night, then there is nothing incumbent upon you, as the determining factor is the dawn's true advent. 2. If the muezzin endeavors to call the Adhan precisely at the advent of Fajr, then you are obligated to make up for the fast (qada') and offer expiation (kaffarah (definition)) because the intercourse occurred intentionally after Fajr. Your wife must also make up for the fast if she complied with you. The fundamental principle is that the Adhan is called at the commencement of the prayer's time.