Verse 196
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 196?
A:
وَأَتِمُّواْ ٱلۡحَجَّ وَٱلۡعُمۡرَةَ لِلَّهِۚ فَإِنۡ أُحۡصِرۡتُمۡ فَمَا ٱسۡتَيۡسَرَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَدۡيِۖ وَلَا تَحۡلِقُواْ رُءُوسَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡهَدۡيُ مَحِلَّهُۥۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ بِهِۦٓ أَذٗى مِّن رَّأۡسِهِۦ فَفِدۡيَةٞ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوۡ صَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ نُسُكٖۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمۡ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلۡعُمۡرَةِ إِلَى ٱلۡحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسۡتَيۡسَرَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَدۡيِۚ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٖ فِي ٱلۡحَجِّ وَسَبۡعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعۡتُمۡۗ تِلۡكَ عَشَرَةٞ كَامِلَةٞۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمۡ يَكُنۡ أَهۡلُهُۥ حَاضِرِي ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ
“When you make up your mind to perform Hajj and Umrah, accomplish these to please Allah. But if you are hemmed in somewhere, then offer to Allah whatever sacrifice you can afford. And do not shave your heads until the sacrifice reaches its place. But whoever among you is sick or has an ailment of the head and has his head shaved shall atone for this either by fasting or by alms-giving or by offering a sacrifice. However, when you are secure (and you reach Makkah before the Hajj season begins), whoever takes advantage of this opportunity to perform Umrah shall offer the sacrifice that he can afford. But if he cannot afford a sacrifice, he shall fast three days during the Hajj season and seven days after reaching home, that is, ten days in all. This concession is only for those whose homes are not near the Masjid Haram, refrain from transgressing these Commandments of Allah and know it well that Allah is very severe in punishment.”
Q: What should a pilgrim do if he is prevented from completing Hajj or Umrah?
A: If a person is obstructed and cannot proceed, he should make a sacrificial offering to Allah of whatever is available to him — such as a camel, a cow, a goat, or a sheep.
Q: What is the ruling on shaving the head if one is prevented from completing the pilgrimage?
A: One may not shave or cut the hair until the sacrificial offering has been made and reaches its appointed place. If someone is forced to shave due to illness or a head ailment, they must atone by fasting, giving alms, or offering a sacrifice.
Q: What do the Hanafi jurists and Imam Malik/al-Shafi’i say regarding where the sacrifice should be made when one is prevented from the pilgrimage?
A: The Hanafi jurists hold that the sacrifice must be made within the boundaries of the Haram — either by sending the animal there or sending money to purchase one on behalf of the pilgrim. Imam Malik and al-Shafi’i, however, hold that the sacrifice may be made at the very spot where the pilgrim is prevented from going further.
Q: What is the concession for someone who performs Umrah before Hajj in the same journey (Hajj al-Tamattu)?
A: Such a person should offer a sacrifice he can afford. If he cannot, he must fast for three days during the Hajj season and seven days after returning home, totaling ten days. This concession applies only to those whose homes are not near the Masjid al-Haram.
Q: Why did the pre-Islamic Arabs consider performing Hajj and Umrah in one journey sinful, and how did Islam address this?
A: Pre-Islamic Arabs believed each pilgrimage required a separate journey and considered combining them a serious sin. Islam declared this self-made law void, granting pilgrims coming from afar the privilege of performing both in a single journey. This concession was not extended to residents near the Masjid al-Haram, since it is not difficult for them to make separate trips.
Verse 197
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 197?
A:
ٱلۡحَجُّ أَشۡهُرٞ مَّعۡلُومَٰتٞۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي ٱلۡحَجِّۗ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٖ يَعۡلَمۡهُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيۡرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَـٰٓأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ
“The months for Hajj are well known to all; whoever makes up his mind to perform Hajj during these fixed months, let him totally abstain from all sorts of sexual indulgence, wickedness and wrangling during the Hajj and remember that Allah knows whatever good you do. Take necessary provisions for Hajj, and piety is the best of all provisions: so refrain from disobeying Me, O men of understanding!”
Q: What three major prohibitions must a pilgrim observe once in the state of Ihram?
A: A pilgrim must abstain from sexual indulgence (including lascivious conversation and any act stimulating desire), wicked conduct (all sinful acts, which are especially aggravated in the state of Ihram), and wrangling or quarreling (to the extent that even rebuking one’s servant is not permitted).
Q: What misconception did the pre-Islamic Arabs hold about carrying provisions for the pilgrimage, and how does this verse correct it?
A: Pre-Islamic Arabs believed that a truly pious person should travel to the House of God without any provisions, as carrying worldly goods was seen as a mark of materialism. The Quran corrects this by clarifying that true righteousness lies in the fear of God and good moral conduct, not in the outward display of detachment from worldly goods. A pilgrim who behaves wickedly gains nothing from traveling without provisions.
Verse 198
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 198?
A:
لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبۡتَغُواْ فَضۡلٗا مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۚ فَإِذَآ أَفَضۡتُم مِّنۡ عَرَفَٰتٖ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلۡمَشۡعَرِ ٱلۡحَرَامِۖ وَٱذۡكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمۡ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
“And there is nothing wrong if you also seek the bounty of your Lord during the pilgrimage. Moreover, when you return from ‘Arafat, stay at Mash’aril-Haram (Muzdalifah) and remember Allah. And remember Him just as He has enjoined you, for you had gone astray before this.”
Q: Is it permissible to engage in trade or seek livelihood during the pilgrimage?
A: Yes. The Quran explicitly states there is no sin in seeking Allah’s bounty (i.e., engaging in trade or earning one’s living) during the pilgrimage, provided one fully observes the laws of Allah. Striving for permissible worldly benefit during the same journey is considered tantamount to seeking Allah’s grace.
Q: What were the Muslims commanded to do after returning from ’Arafat, and what does “you had gone astray before” refer to?
A: Muslims were commanded to stop at Mash’ar al-Haram (Muzdalifah) and remember Allah according to the guidance He had revealed — free from all the polytheistic and pagan practices that had crept into Arab worship during the Age of Ignorance.
Verse 199
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 199?
A:
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُواْ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ
“Then return from where others return and ask Allah’s forgiveness. Most surely He is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Q: What historical practice did this verse address and seek to abolish?
A: Since the time of Abraham and Ishmael, the recognized practice was to travel from Mina to ’Arafat on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah and return through Muzdalifah on the 10th. Over time, the Quraysh, claiming a position of distinction, stopped going to ’Arafat and only went as far as Muzdalifah. Tribes linked to the Quraysh through marriage or alliance eventually adopted the same pride-driven practice. This verse commands all pilgrims — including the Quraysh and their allies — to join the common people at ’Arafat and seek forgiveness for having violated the way of Abraham.
Verse 200
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 200?
A:
فَإِذَا قَضَيۡتُم مَّنَٰسِكَكُمۡ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَذِكۡرِكُمۡ ءَابَآءَكُمۡ أَوۡ أَشَدَّ ذِكۡرٗاۗ فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مِنۡ خَلَٰقٖ
“And when you have performed your Hajj rites, remember Allah as you had been remembering your own forefathers, or even with greater zeal. (Even those who remember Allah do it in different ways). Some say, ‘Our Lord, give us all the good things here in this world.’ Such people shall have no share in the Hereafter.”
Q: What did the Arabs used to do at Mina after completing the Hajj rites, and what were they commanded to do instead?
A: After Hajj, the Arabs held tribal rallies at Mina where they boastfully recounted the achievements of their forefathers and indulged in self-praise. The Quran commands them to abandon this and instead devote that time to the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) — with at least as much zeal as they formerly gave to glorifying their ancestors.
Q: What is the outcome for those who pray only for worldly benefits?
A: Those who ask only for worldly good — saying “Our Lord, give us what is good in this world” — shall have no share in the Hereafter.
Verse 201
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 201?
A:
وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةٗ وَفِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ حَسَنَةٗ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
“Then there are others who say, ‘Our Lord, give us what is good in this world and also what is good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of Fire.’”
Q: What is the significance of the supplication in Verse 201?
A: This verse presents the model supplication of the true believer — one who seeks good in both this world and the Hereafter and asks for protection from the punishment of Hellfire. It balances worldly needs with the ultimate goal of salvation, in contrast to those in Verse 200 who focus only on worldly gain.
Verse 202
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 202?
A:
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ
“Such people shall have their due share (in both the worlds) according to what they earn. And Allah is swift at settling accounts.”
Q: What does Verse 202 teach about divine justice?
A: It affirms that those who pray for good in both worlds and act accordingly will receive their due portion of what they have earned. It also emphasizes that Allah is swift in reckoning — no deed goes unaccounted, and recompense is certain and prompt.
Verse 203
Q: What is the Arabic text and translation of Verse 203?
A:
۞وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فِيٓ أَيَّامٖ مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِي يَوۡمَيۡنِ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِۖ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّكُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ
“So pass these few appointed days in remembering Allah; then there is nothing wrong if one hastens on (from Mina) after two days or stays there (a day) longer, provided that he spends these days in piety. Do not disobey Him and remember that one day you shall be mustered before Him.”
Q: What are the “appointed days” referred to in this verse?
A: These are the days of Tashriq — the 10th through the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah — which the pilgrims spend at Mina, engaged in the remembrance of Allah.
Q: Is it permissible to leave Mina on the 12th rather than the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah?
A: Yes, both are permitted. A pilgrim may depart on the 12th (two days) or stay until the 13th (three days) without sin. What truly matters is not the number of days spent at Mina but the quality and intensity of one’s devotion to Allah during the stay.
Q: What is the closing reminder of this section of verses?
A: Pilgrims are reminded to fear Allah and be ever conscious that they will all be gathered before Him on the Day of Judgment — making sincere devotion, righteous conduct, and obedience to His commands the ultimate priority of the entire pilgrimage.
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