يَسۡـئَلُوۡنَكَ مَاذَا يُنۡفِقُوۡنَ ؕ قُلۡ مَآ اَنۡفَقۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ خَيۡرٍ فَلِلۡوَالِدَيۡنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبِيۡنَ وَالۡيَتٰمٰى وَالۡمَسٰكِيۡنِ وَابۡنِ السَّبِيۡلِ​ؕ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُوۡا مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِهٖ عَلِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:215﴾كُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الۡقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرۡهٌ لَّـكُمۡ​ۚ وَعَسٰۤى اَنۡ تَكۡرَهُوۡا شَيۡـئًا وَّهُوَ خَيۡرٌ لَّـکُمۡ​ۚ وَعَسٰۤى اَنۡ تُحِبُّوۡا شَيۡـئًا وَّهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّـكُمۡؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:216﴾

(2:215) People ask you what they should spend. Say: “Whatever wealth you spend let it be for your parents and kinsmen, the orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; Allah is aware of whatever good you do.” (2:216) Fighting is ordained upon you and it is disliked by you; it may well be that you dislike a thing even though it is good for you, and it may well be that you like a thing even though it is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. 

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Notes

اَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تَدۡخُلُوا الۡجَـنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا يَاۡتِكُمۡ مَّثَلُ الَّذِيۡنَ خَلَوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلِكُمۡؕ مَسَّتۡهُمُ الۡبَاۡسَآءُ وَالضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلۡزِلُوۡا حَتّٰى يَقُوۡلَ الرَّسُوۡلُ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مَعَهٗ مَتٰى نَصۡرُ اللّٰهِؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصۡرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ‏ ﴿2:214﴾

(2:214) Do you suppose²³¹ that you will enter Paradise untouched by the suffering endured by the people of faith who passed away before you? They were afflicted by misery and hardship and were so convulsed that the Messenger and the believers with him cried out: “When will Allah’s help arrive?” They were assured: “Behold, Allah’s help is close by.” 

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Notes

231. In between this verse and the one above comes a whole story which has been left untold, a story which is alluded to in the present verse and which is mentioned in some detail in the Makkan surahs of the Qur’an (these were revealed earlier than the present surah). The point emphasized here is that whenever the Prophets came into the world they, and their followers, were confronted with severe resistance from those in rebellion against God. At grave risk to themselves they strove to establish the hegemony of the true religion over the false ways of life. To follow this religion has, therefore, never been easy; it is not merely a matter of declaring one’s faith and then sitting back in ease and comfort. On the contrary, the profession of faith has always demanded that one should strive to establish the religion, which one has adopted as one’s faith, as a living reality and that one should spare no effort in undermining the power of the Devil who seeks to resist it.

كَانَ النَّاسُ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً  فَبَعَثَ اللّٰهُ النَّبِيّٖنَ مُبَشِّرِيۡنَ وَمُنۡذِرِيۡنَ وَاَنۡزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الۡكِتٰبَ بِالۡحَـقِّ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ النَّاسِ فِيۡمَا اخۡتَلَفُوۡا فِيۡهِ ​ؕ وَمَا اخۡتَلَفَ فِيۡهِ اِلَّا الَّذِيۡنَ اُوۡتُوۡهُ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ الۡبَيِّنٰتُ بَغۡيًا ۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡ​ۚ فَهَدَى اللّٰهُ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لِمَا اخۡتَلَفُوۡا فِيۡهِ مِنَ الۡحَـقِّ بِاِذۡنِهٖ​ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ‏ ﴿2:213﴾

(2:213) In the beginning mankind followed one single way. (Later on this state ended and differences arose.) Then Allah sent forth Prophets as heralds of good tidings for the righteous and as warners against the consequences of evil-doing. He sent down with them the Book embodying the Truth so that it might judge among people in their disputes. And those who innovated divergent ways rather than follow the Truth were none other than those who had received the knowledge of the Truth and clear guidance; and they did so to commit excesses against each other.²³⁰ So by His leave Allah directed the believers to the Right Way in matters on which they disagreed. Allah guides whomsoever He wills onto a Straight Way. 

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Notes

230. When ignorant people attempt to trace the history of ‘religion’ they tend to the view that man began his life in the darkness of polytheisrn and that in the course of time, corresponding to man’s progress, this darkness gradually receded and light increased till man arrived at monotheism. 

The Qur’anic version, however, proclaims that man began his life in full light of the Truth. God revealed this Truth to the very first man He created, one to whom He intimated the right way of life for man. Thereafter the human race remained on the Right Way for some time and lived as one community. Later, however, people invented deviating ways. This did not happen because Truth had not been communicated to them. The cause was rather that some people wilfully sought to acquire privileges, benefits and advantages beyond their legitimate limits, and thus subjected others to injustices. It was in order to enable people to overcome this corruption that God sent His Prophets. These Prophets were not sent to found separate religions in their own names and bring new religious communities into existence. Rather the purpose of the Prophets was to illuminate before people the Truth which they had allowed to be lost, and once again make them into one community.

سَلۡ بَنِىۡٓ اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ كَمۡ اٰتَيۡنٰهُمۡ مِّنۡ اٰيَةٍۢ بَيِّنَةٍ ​ؕ وَمَنۡ يُّبَدِّلۡ نِعۡمَةَ اللّٰهِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِيۡدُ الۡعِقَابِ‏ ﴿2:211﴾زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوا الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا وَيَسۡخَرُوۡنَ مِنَ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ​ ۘ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا فَوۡقَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيٰمَةِ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَرۡزُقُ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ‏ ﴿2:212﴾

(2:211) Ask the Children of Israel how many Clear Signs We gave them! And when a people tamper with Allah’s bounty after it has been bestowed on them – then indeed Allah is severe in punishment.²²⁹ (2:212) Worldly life has been made attractive to those who have denied the Truth. Such men deride the men of faith, but the pious shall rank higher than them on the Day of Resurrection. As for worldly livelihood, Allah grants it to whomsoever He wills without measure. 

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Notes

229. There are two reasons why this query is addressed to the Children of Israel. In the first place, a group of living human beings provide a better source of instruction and admonition than mute archaeological findings. In the second place, the Israelites were a people who, having been endowed with Scripture and prophethood, were entrusted with the leadership of the world. By falling prey to worldliness, hypocrisy and other errors of belief and conduct they subsequently lost God’s favour. A people entrusted with the task of universal leadership could derive no better lesson from another people than this one.

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا ادۡخُلُوۡا فِى السِّلۡمِ کَآفَّةً  وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوۡا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّيۡطٰنِ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ لَـکُمۡ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيۡنٌ‏ ﴿2:208﴾ فَاِنۡ زَلَـلۡتُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡکُمُ الۡبَيِّنٰتُ فَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيۡزٌ حَکِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:209﴾ هَلۡ يَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّاۡتِيَهُمُ اللّٰهُ فِىۡ ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ الۡغَمَامِ وَالۡمَلٰٓـئِکَةُ وَقُضِىَ الۡاَمۡرُ​ؕ وَاِلَى اللّٰهِ تُرۡجَعُ الۡاُمُوۡرُ‏ ﴿2:210﴾

(2:208) Believers! Enter wholly into Islam²²⁶and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan for he is your open enemy. (2:209) And if you stumble in spite of the clear instructions which have come to you, then know well that Allah is Most Mighty, Most Wise.²²⁷ (2:210) Are those people (who are not following the Right Path in spite of admonition and instruction) waiting for Allah to come to them in canopies of clouds with a retinue of angels and settle the matter finally?²²⁸ To Allah shall all matters ultimately be referred. 

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Notes

226. God demands that man should submit, without reservation, the whole of his being to His will. Man’s outlook, intellectual pursuits, behaviour, interaction with other people and modes of endeavour should all be completely subordinate to Islam. God does not accept the splitting up of human life into separate compartments, some governed by the teachings of Islam and others exempt. 

227. The point is that God has enormous power and knows well how to punish criminals. 

228. These words are indicative of an important fact. Man’s test lies in showing whether he accepts reality even though he cannot perceive it directly through his senses; and whether, after having accepted it, he has the required moral stamina to obey God even though he is endowed with the capacity to disobey Him. In sending the Prophets, in revealing the Scriptures, indeed, even in performing miracles, God has always taken care to leave scope for testing man’s power of judgement and his moral stamina. He has never disclosed reality to such a degree that man would be inevitably compelled to accept it. For if that were done, nothing would remain to be tested and the very idea of man’s success or failure would be meaningless. 

It is pointed out, therefore, that people should not keep waiting for God and the angels – the devoted servants of His realm – to appear before them. If that were to happen, it would mark the end of everything and there would be no occasion left for man to decide anything. To believe and to bow in submission and obedience to God are of value only so long as the reality is presented in such a way as to make its rejection possible. 

For, if the Truth were to be fully disclosed and if men were to see with their own eyes God on His Throne of Majesty with the entire universe acting according to His command, what would be the worth of their faith and obedience? If all these things were physically observable not even the most stubborn unbelievers and the worst sinners would dare either to disbelieve or disobey. Acceptance of faith and obedience has value only as long as there remains a veil over reality. The moment when reality is totally unveiled would mark the end of the period granted to man to decide, and of the testing period for him. It would, in fact, be the Day of Judgement.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يُّعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهٗ فِى الۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا وَيُشۡهِدُ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا فِىۡ قَلۡبِهٖۙ وَهُوَ اَلَدُّ الۡخِصَامِ‏ ﴿2:204﴾ وَاِذَا تَوَلّٰى سَعٰى فِى الۡاَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيۡهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ الۡحَـرۡثَ وَالنَّسۡلَ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡفَسَادَ‏ ﴿2:205﴾وَاِذَا قِيۡلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللّٰهَ اَخَذَتۡهُ الۡعِزَّةُ بِالۡاِثۡمِ​ فَحَسۡبُهٗ جَهَنَّمُ​ؕ وَلَبِئۡسَ الۡمِهَادُ‏﴿2:206﴾ وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يَّشۡرِىۡ نَفۡسَهُ ابۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ اللّٰهِ​ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ رَءُوۡفٌ ۢ بِالۡعِبَادِ‏ ﴿2:207﴾

(2:204) Among people there is a kind whose sayings on the affairs of the world fascinate you: he calls Allah again and again to bear testimony to his sincerity;²²³ yet he is most fierce in enmity.²²⁴ (2:205) Whenever he attains authority,²²⁵ he goes about the earth spreading mischief and laying to waste crops and human life, even though Allah (whose testimony he invokes) does not love mischief. (2:206) Whenever he is told: “Fear Allah,” his vainglory seizes him in his sin. So Hell shall suffice for him; what a wretched resting place! (2:207) On the other hand, among men there is a kind who dedicates his life seeking to please Allah; Allah is Immensely Kind to such devoted servants.

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Notes

223. Such a person tends to claim again and again that he was merely a well-wisher and was simply striving to uphold what is true and right, and to promote the welfare of the people rather than doing things for the sake of personal aggrandizement.

224. The words aladd al-khisam mean ‘the most fierce in enmity’. This would apply to someone who concentrates all his energies on opposing truth, and who resorts to whatever falsehood, dishonesty, treachery and breach of faith he thinks necessary to achieve his ends. 

225. The expression idha tawalla can be translated in two ways. First, in the manner of our translation of the text. It can also be translated to make the verse mean that when such people return from sweet and apparently genuine talk, they engage in arrogant and destructive action.

اَلۡحَجُّ اَشۡهُرٌ مَّعۡلُوۡمٰتٌ ​ۚ فَمَنۡ فَرَضَ فِيۡهِنَّ الۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوۡقَۙ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى الۡحَجِّ ؕ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُوۡا مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ يَّعۡلَمۡهُ اللّٰهُ ​ؕ وَتَزَوَّدُوۡا فَاِنَّ خَيۡرَ الزَّادِ التَّقۡوٰى وَاتَّقُوۡنِ يٰٓاُولِى الۡاَلۡبَابِ‏ ﴿2:197﴾ ​لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡکُمۡ جُنَاحٌ اَنۡ تَبۡتَغُوۡا فَضۡلًا مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡؕ فَاِذَآ اَفَضۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ عَرَفٰتٍ فَاذۡکُرُوا اللّٰهَ عِنۡدَ الۡمَشۡعَرِ الۡحَـرَامِ وَاذۡکُرُوۡهُ کَمَا هَدٰٮکُمۡ​ۚ وَاِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِهٖ لَمِنَ الضَّآ لِّيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:198﴾ ثُمَّ اَفِيۡضُوۡا مِنۡ حَيۡثُ اَفَاضَ النَّاسُ وَاسۡتَغۡفِرُوا اللّٰهَ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿2:199﴾  فَاِذَا قَضَيۡتُمۡ مَّنَاسِكَکُمۡ فَاذۡکُرُوا اللّٰهَ كَذِكۡرِكُمۡ اٰبَآءَکُمۡ اَوۡ اَشَدَّ ذِکۡرًا ؕ فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يَّقُوۡلُ رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَمَا لَهٗ فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ مِنۡ خَلَاقٍ‏ ﴿2:200﴾ وَمِنۡهُمۡ مَّنۡ يَّقُوۡلُ رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ‏ ﴿2:201﴾اُولٰٓـئِكَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوۡا ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَرِيۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ‏  ﴿2:202﴾ وَاذۡكُرُوا اللّٰهَ فِىۡٓ اَيَّامٍ مَّعۡدُوۡدٰتٍ​ؕ فَمَنۡ تَعَجَّلَ فِىۡ يَوۡمَيۡنِ فَلَاۤ اِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ ۚ وَمَنۡ تَاَخَّرَ فَلَاۤ اِثۡمَ عَلَيۡه​ِ ۙ لِمَنِ اتَّقٰى ؕ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّکُمۡ اِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُوۡنَ‏ ﴿2:203﴾

(2:197) The months of Hajj are well known. Whoever intends to perform Pilgrimage in these months shall abstain from sensual indulgence,²¹⁴ wicked conduct²¹⁵ and quarrelling;²¹⁶ and whatever good you do, Allah knows it. Take your provisions for the Pilgrimage; but, in truth, the best provision is piety. Men of understanding, beware of disobeying Me.²¹⁷ (2:198) It is no offence for you to seek the bounty of your Lord during Pilgrimage.²¹⁸ When you hasten back from [Arafat then remember Allah at al- Mash[ar al-Haram (i.e. al-Muzdalifah), and remember Him in the manner He has directed you, for before this you were surely in error.²¹⁹ (2:199) Then press on even as others press on and implore Allah’s forgiveness;²²⁰ Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (2:200) And when you have performed your rites remember Allah as you remember your fathers; or remember Him even more.²²¹ There are some (among those that remember Allah) who say: “Our Lord, grant us what is good in this world;” such shall have no share in the Hereafter. (2:201) There are others who say: “Our Lord, grant us what is good in this world and what is good in the World to Come, and protect us from the chastisement of the Fire.” (2:202) They shall have a portion from what they earned; Allah is quick in reckoning. (2:203) And remember Allah through the appointed days. It is no sin for him who hastens off and returns in two days, and it is no sin for him who delays the return²²²provided he has spent the days in piety. Beware of disobeying Allah and know well that to Him you all shall be mustered. 

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Notes

214. In the state of consecration (ihram) the husband and wife are required to refrain not only from sexual intercourse but also from lascivious conversation (and, for that matter, from any act which either stems from or is likely to stimulate sexual desire – Ed). 

215. Even though all sinful acts are evil, the sinfulness of such acts is aggravated when they are committed in the state of consecration (ihram). 

216. In this state it is not even permitted to rebuke one’s servant. 

217. In the pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance it was considered an act of gross worldliness for anyone to carry provisions while on the Pilgrimage. A pious man was expected to go to the House of God without any worldly goods. This misconception is removed here and it is pointed out that abstention from carrying provisions is not necessarily an act of righteousness. True righteousness lies in the fear of God, in abstaining from violating His commands, and in leading a pure and decent life. If a pilgrim’s conduct is not good and he resorts to wickedness the mere fact of not carrying provisions, thus parading his detachment from worldly goods, will do him no good. For his wickedness he will suffer humiliation both in the sight of God and man, and his action will be a desecration of the religious duty for which he undertook the journey. On the other hand, if a person’s heart is full of the fear of God, and his moral conduct is good, he will be exalted by God and will be held in high esteem by human beings on his return from the Pilgrimage, regardless of the amount of provisions he carried. 

218. This was another misconception entertained by the pre-Islamic Arabs. They considered it objectionable to do anything relating to one’s livelihood during the Pilgrimage. In their view earning one’s living was an act of pure worldliness and hence it was bad to indulge in it while engaged in the performance of a religious duty. The Qur’an refutes this and expounds the view that if a person strives to earn his living while observing fully the laws of God his action is tantamount to seeking God’s grace and bounty. See( 62: 10 – Ed.)It is no sin if a man sets out to seek God’s good pleasure and during the same journey tries to combine that purpose with the quest for permissible worldly benefits. 

219. The Muslims were asked to give up all those polytheistic and pagan practices that had arisen among the Arabs during the Age of Ignorance and which ran alongside the worship of God thereby adulterating the latter. They were required to consecrate their worship and adoration to God alone according to the guidance He had now revealed through the Prophet. 

220. Since the time of Abraham and Ishmael the recognized practice of the Arabs with regard to Hajj was that on the 9th, Dhu al-Hijjah, they went from Mina to ‘Arafat, returning on the morning of the 10th to stay at Muzdalifah. Later, as the priestly monopoly of the Quraysh became well established, they claimed that it was below their dignity to go to ‘Arafat with the ordinary people of Arabia. As a mark of what they called their distinction, they went to Muzdalifah only (without going to ‘Arafat) and returned from there, leaving it to the commoners to go to ‘Arafat. Subsequently Banu Khuza’ah, Banu Kananah and those tribes which were linked by marriage with the Quraysh acquired the same privilege. Eventually, the status of the tribes allied to the Quraysh came to be considered higher than that of the ordinary Arabs, and these tribes too abandoned the practice of going to ‘Arafat. 

It is this pride and vainglory which the present verse seeks to undermine. It is addressed to the Quraysh and the tribes associated with them either through marriage or alliance, and to all those who might be inclined to claim for themselves special privileges and distinctions in the future. Such people are asked to go to the place to which all others go, to stay with them, to return with them and to seek pardon from God for the fact that they violated the way of Abraham.

221. After the Hajj the Arabs used to hold rallies at Mind. At these rallies people from different tribes proudly narrated the achievements of their forefathers and indulged in much extravagant self-praise. Here they are asked to renounce all such things and devote the time which they formerly spent on trivialities to remembering and celebrating God. 

Dhikr refers to the remembrance of God at Mina. 

222 Whether a person returned on the 12th or on the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah from Mina to Makka during the day of tashriq (i.e. from the 10th to 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah) was immaterial. What was of real importance was not the number of days spent at Mina but the intensity of one’s devotion to God during the period of one’s stay.

وَاَتِمُّوا الۡحَجَّ وَالۡعُمۡرَةَ لِلّٰهِؕ فَاِنۡ اُحۡصِرۡتُمۡ فَمَا اسۡتَيۡسَرَ مِنَ الۡهَدۡىِ​ۚ وَلَا تَحۡلِقُوۡا رُءُوۡسَكُمۡ حَتّٰى يَبۡلُغَ الۡهَدۡىُ مَحِلَّهٗ ؕ فَمَنۡ كَانَ مِنۡكُمۡ مَّرِيۡضًا اَوۡ بِهٖۤ اَذًى مِّنۡ رَّاۡسِهٖ فَفِدۡيَةٌ مِّنۡ صِيَامٍ اَوۡ صَدَقَةٍ اَوۡ نُسُكٍۚ فَاِذَآ اَمِنۡتُمۡ فَمَنۡ تَمَتَّعَ بِالۡعُمۡرَةِ اِلَى الۡحَجِّ فَمَا اسۡتَيۡسَرَ مِنَ الۡهَدۡىِ​ۚ فَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ ثَلٰثَةِ اَيَّامٍ فِى الۡحَجِّ وَسَبۡعَةٍ اِذَا رَجَعۡتُمۡؕ تِلۡكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ  ؕ ذٰلِكَ لِمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَكُنۡ اَهۡلُهٗ حَاضِرِىۡ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَـرَامِ​ؕ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِيۡدُ الۡعِقَابِ‏ ﴿2:196﴾

(2:196) Complete Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah. And if you are prevented from doing so, then make the offering which is available to you,²⁰⁹and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its appointed place.²¹⁰

If any of you should have to shave your head before that because of illness, or injury to the head, then you should make redemption by fasting, or almsgiving, or ritual sacrifice.²¹¹ And when you are secure,²¹² then he who avails of ‘Umrah before the time of Hajj shall give the offering he can afford; and if he cannot afford the offering, he shall fast for three days during Hajj and for seven days after he returns home; that is, ten days in all. This privilege is for those whose families do not live near the Holy Mosque.²¹³ Guard against violating these ordinances of Allah and be mindful that Allah is severe in chastisement. 

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Notes

209. If any obstruction prevents a person from proceeding with the Pilgrimage and he is forced to stay behind, he should make a sacrificial offering to God of whatever is available – for example, either a camel, a cow, a goat or a sheep

210. The statement: ‘until the offering reaches its appointed place’ has been variously interpreted by the jurists. The Hanafi jurists consider this to signify the area which lies within the boundaries of the Haram. In their view this injunction means that if a man has been prevented from Pilgrimage he ought to send to the Haram either the animal itself or the money to purchase it, and have a sacrificial offering made on his behalf. According to Malik and al-Shafi’i this verse enjoins one to perform a sacrifice at the very spot where one is prevented from going any further. (See also Qurtubi’s commentary on the verse – Ed.) The injunction regarding ‘shaving the head’ means that one may not have one’s hair cut until a sacrificial offering has been made. 

211. According to the Hadith, in such a situation the Prophet (peace be on him) ordered three days of fasting, or the feeding of six poor people, or the slaughter of one sheep or goat. (See Bukhari, ‘Maghazi’, 35; Muslim, ‘Hajj’, 83 – Ed.) 

212. This refers to the change in the situation when the obstacle to proceeding with the Pilgrimage has been removed. Since, in those days, the circumstances which most commonly prevented people from proceeding with their Pilgrimage was the danger of armed attack from tribes hostile to Islam, the removal of that circumstance is described by the words: ‘when you are secure’. ‘To become secure’ refers not only to the removal of the danger of armed attack but to the removal of all such dangers. 

213. In pre-Islamic Arabia it was considered a serious sin to perform Hajj and ‘Umrah in one and the same journey. According to the self-made law of the pre-Islamic Arabs, each of these Pilgrimages required a separate journey. God declared this law void for those coming from abroad and who were granted the privilege of performing both types of pilgrimage in the same journey. This privilege, however, was not extended to those living in the environs of Makka, within the miqat, since it is not difficult for them to proceed separately for the major and minor Pilgrimages. 

‘Then you who take advantage of ‘Umrah before the time of Hajj’ means that a person may perform ‘Umrah (minor Pilgrimage) and then may interrupt the state of consecration (ihram) and free himself of the prohibitions and limitations incumbent upon him in that state. Later, when the time for the Hajj (major Pilgrimage) arrives, he should once again assume the state of consecration (ihram).

وَاَنۡفِقُوۡا فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَلَا تُلۡقُوۡا بِاَيۡدِيۡكُمۡ اِلَى التَّهۡلُكَةِ ۖ  ۛۚ وَاَحۡسِنُوۡا  ۛۚ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:195﴾

(2:195) Spend in the Way of Allah and do not cast yourselves into destruction with your own hands;²⁰⁷ do good, for Allah loves those who do good.²⁰⁸

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Notes

207. ‘To spend in the way of Allah’ signifies financial sacrifice in order to establish God’s religion. Not to make any financial sacrifice but to be inclined, instead, to hold personal interests dear to one’s heart will lead to one’s ruin both in this world and in the Next. Allah will set the unbelievers to dominate over you in this world and condemn you in the Next world. 

208. The root of the word ihsan is HSN, which means doing something in a goodly manner. 

One standard of conduct is merely to perform the task entrusted to one. The other and higher standard is to perform that task in a wholesome manner, to devote all one’s capacities and resources to its fulfilment, to do one’s duty with all one’s heart. The first standard is that of ordinary obedience for which it is enough that a man should fear God. The other and higher standard is that of ihsan (moral and spiritual excellence) for which it is necessary that one should have a strong love for God and a profound attachment to Him.

اَلشَّهۡرُ الۡحَـرَامُ بِالشَّهۡرِ الۡحَـرَامِ وَالۡحُرُمٰتُ قِصَاصٌ​ؕ فَمَنِ اعۡتَدٰى عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَاعۡتَدُوۡا عَلَيۡهِ بِمِثۡلِ مَا اعۡتَدٰى عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعۡلَمُوۡٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ‏ ﴿2:194﴾

(2:194) The sacred month for the sacred month; sanctities should be respected alike (by all concerned). Thus, if someone has attacked you, attack him just as he attacked you, and fear Allah and remain conscious that Allah is with those who guard against violating the bounds set by Him.²⁰⁶

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Notes

206. From the time of Abraham three months – Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and Muharram – were consecrated for Hajj, and the month of Rajab was consecrated for ‘Umrah. For the duration of these four months warfare, killing and pillage were prohibited so that people could perform Pilgrimage and return home safely. For this reason these months were called the ‘sacred months’. 

The purpose of the verse is to stress that if the unbelievers respect the sanctity of the sacred months, the Muslims should do the same. If, however, they violate this sanctity and subject the Muslims to aggression, then the Muslims are also entitled to retribution even during the ‘sacred months’. 

The permission mentioned here was called forth by the introduction of nasi’, a practice which had been introduced by the Arabs in order to have an advantage over others in their battles and raids. The manner in which the Arabs used nasi’ was such that whenever they wished either to start a conflict in order to satisfy their vendetta or to loot and plunder they carried out their raid in one of the sacred months and then later on tried to compensate for this violation by treating one of the non-sacred months as a sacred month. The Muslims were, therefore, concerned as to what they should do in case the unbelievers resorted to this artifice and surprised them by an attack in one of the recognized sacred months. The verse refers to this problem.