Surah Al Hajj Tafseer in English: Ibn Kathir Verse 1-38
Al-Hajj – (The Pilgrimage)
Verse Number 1-2
Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Another Version of this Hadith
At-Tirmidhi recorded from `Imran bin Husayn that when the words,
يَـأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ
(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord.) Until His saying,
وَلَـكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
(but Allah’s torment is severe.) were revealed, the Prophet was on a journey, and he said:
«أَتَدْرُونَ أَيُّ يَوْمٍ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالُوا: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: ذَلِكَ يَوْمٌ يَقُولُ اللهُ لِآدَمَ: ابْعَثْ بَعْثَ النَّارِ، قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ وَمَا بَعْثُ النَّارِ؟ قالَ: تِسْعُمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَوَاحِدٌ إِلَى الْجَنَّة»
(Do you know what Day that is) They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” (He said: That is the Day on which Allah will say to Adam, “Send forth (those of your progeny) who are to be sent to the Fire.” He will say, “O Lord, how many are to be sent to the Fire” He will say, “From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine will be in the Fire and one will be in Paradise.”) The Muslims started to weep, then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
«قَارِبُوا وَسَدِّدُوا، فَإِنَّهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ نُبُوَّةٌ قَطُّ إِلَّا كَانَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا جَاهِلِيَّةٌ، قَالَ: فَيُؤْخَذُ الْعَدَدُ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، فَإِنْ تَمَّتْ، وَإِلَّا كُمِّلَتْ مِنَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ، وَمَا مَثَلُكُمْ وَمَثَلُ الْأُمَمِ إِلَّا كَمَثَلِ الرَّقْمَةِ فِي ذِرَاعِ الدَّابَّةِ، أَوْ كَالشَّامَةِ فِي جَنْبِ الْبَعِير»
(Be close in your rank and be straight forward, for there was never any Prophet but there was a time of ignorance just before his advent, so the number will be taken from that time of ignorance, and if that is not enough, it will be made up from the hypocrites. A parable of yours in comparison to the other nations is that, you are like a mark on the foreleg of an animal, or a mole on the flank of a camel.) Then he said,
«إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا رُبُعَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّة»
(I hope that you will be a quarter of the people of Paradise.) They said, “Allahu Akbar!” Then he said,
«إِنِّييَلَأرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّة»
(I hope that you will be a third of the people of Paradise.) They said, “Allahu Akbar!” Then he said,
«إِنِّييَلَأرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا نِصْفَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّة»
(I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise.) They said, “Allahu Akbar!” Then he the narrator said, “I do not know if he said two-thirds or not.” This was also recorded by Imam Ahmad. Then At-Tirmidhi also said, “This is a Hasan Sahih Hadith.” In his Tafsir, under this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id said, “The Prophet said:
«يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ: يَا آدَمُ، فَيَقُولُ: لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا وَسَعْدَيْكَ، فَيُنَادَى بِصَوْتٍ: إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُخْرِجَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِكَ بَعْثًا إِلَى النَّارِ، قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ وَمَا بَعْثُ النَّارِ؟ قَالَ: مِنْ كُلِّ أَلْفٍ أُرَاهُ قَالَ تِسْعُمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ، فَحِينَئِذٍ تَضَعُ الْحَامِلُ حَمْلَهَا وَيَشِيبُ الْوَلِيدُ
وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَـرَى وَمَا هُم بِسُكَـرَى وَلَـكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
(On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will say: “O Adam.” He will say, “At Your service, O Lord.” Then a voice will call out: “Allah commands you to send forth from your progeny those who are destined for the Fire.” He will say, “O Lord, who is destined for the Fire” He will say, “From every thousand” — I think he said — “nine hundred and ninety-nine.” At that time every pregnant female will drop her load and children will turn grey. (and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but Allah’s torment is severe.)) That will be so difficult for mankind to bear that their faces will change. The Prophet said:
«مِنْ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ تِسْعُمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ، وَمِنْكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، أَنْتُمْ فِي النَّاسِ كَالشَّعْرَةِ السَّوْدَاءِ فِي جَنْبِ الثَّوْرِ الْأَبْيَضِ، أَوْ كَالشَّعْرَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ فِي جَنْبِ الثَّوْرِ الْأَسْوَدِ، وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا رُبُعَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ، فَكَبَّرْنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ، فَكَبَّرْنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: شَطْرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، فَكَبَّرْنا»
(Nine hundred and ninety-nine from Ya’juj and Ma’juj, and one from you. Among mankind you are like a black hair on the side of a white bull, or a white hair on the side of a black bull. I hope that you will be one quarter of the people of Paradise.) We said “Allahu Akbar!” Then he said, (A third of the people of Paradise.) We said, “Allahu Akbar!” Then he said, (One half of the people of Paradise.) We said: `Allahu Akbar!” Al-Bukhari also recorded this elsewhere. It was also recorded by Muslim, and An-Nasa’i in his Tafsir. The Hadiths and reports about the terrors of the Day of Resurrection are very many, and this is not the place to quote them all.
إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَىْءٌ عَظِيمٌ
(Verily, the earthquake of the Hour is a terrible thing.) means, a serious matter, a terrifying crisis, a horrendous event. This earthquake is what will happen to people when they are filled with terror, as Allah says:
هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِىَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُواْ زِلْزَالاً شَدِيداً
(There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking.) 33:11. Then Allah says:
يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّآ أَرْضَعَتْ
(The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling,) means, she will be distracted by the horror of what she is seeing, which will make her forget the one who is the dearest of all to her and to whom she shows the most compassion. Her shock will make her neglect her infant at the very moment of breastfeeding, Allah says,
كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ
(every nursing mother), and He did not say a mother who has an infant of breastfeeding age.
عَمَّآ أَرْضَعَتْ
(her nursling) means, her nursing infant that has not yet been weaned.
وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا
(and every pregnant one will drop her load,) means, before the pre- gnancy has reached full term, because of the intensity of the horror.
وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَـرَى
(and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state,) means, because of the severity of their situa- tion, when they will lose their minds, so that whoever sees them, will think, that they are drunk,
وَمَا هُم بِسُكَـرَى وَلَـكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
(yet they will not be drunken, but Allah’s torment is severe.)
Verse Number 3-4
Condemnation of the Followers of the Shaytan
Allah condemns those who deny the Resurrection and who deny that Allah is able to restore life to the dead, those who turn away from that which Allah has revealed to His Prophets and, in their views — denial and disbelief — follow every rebellious Shaytan among men and Jinn. This is the state of the followers of innovation and misguidance, who turn away from the truth and follow falsehood, following the words of the leaders of misguidance who call people to follow innovation and their own desires and opinions. Allah says concerning them and their like,
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
(And among mankind is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge,) meaning, without sound knowledge.
وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـنٍ مَّرِيدٍكُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ
(and follows every rebellious Shaytan. For him it is decreed.) Mujahid said, “This refers to that Shaytan.” meaning that is a matter written in the decree.
أَنَّهُ مَن تَوَلاَّهُ
(that whosoever follows him,) and imitates him,
فَأَنَّهُ يُضِلُّهُ وَيَهْدِيهِ إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ
(he will mislead him, and will drive him to the torment of the Fire.) means, he will mislead him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will drive him to the torment of the Fire, which is unbearably hot, painful and agonizing. As-Suddi reported that Abu Malik said, “This Ayah was revealed about An-Nadr bin Al-Harith. This was also the view of Ibn Jurayj.
Verse Number 5-7
Evidence of the Resurrection in the creation of Man and of Plants
When Allah speaks of disbelief in the Resurrection, He also mentions the evidence of His power and ability to resurrect that is evident from the way He initiates creation. Allah says:
يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّنَ الْبَعْثِ
(O mankind! If you are in doubt about the Resurrection,) which means the time when souls and bodies will be raised up on the Day of Resurrection,
فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَـكُمْ مِّن تُرَابٍ
(then verily, We have created you from dust,) meaning, `you were originally created from dust’, which is what Adam, peace be upon him, was created from.
ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ
(then from a Nutfah,) 32:8 meaning, then He made his offspring from semen of despised water.
The Development of the Nutfah and Embryo in the Womb
ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضْغَةٍ
(then from a clot then from a little lump of flesh) if the Nutfah establishes itself in the woman’s womb, it stays like that for forty days, then more material is added to it and it changes into a red clot, by the leave of Allah, and it remains like that for forty days. Then it changes and becomes a lump of flesh, like a piece of meat with no form or shape. Then it starts to take on a form and shape, developing a head, arms, chest, stomach, thighs, legs, feet and all its members. Sometimes a woman miscarries before the fetus is formed and sometimes she miscarries after it has formed. As Allah says:
ثُمَّ مِن مُّضْغَةٍ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ
(then from a little lump of flesh — some formed and some unformed) meaning, as you see.
لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَنُقِرُّ فِى الاٌّرْحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى
(that We may make (it) clear to you. And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term,) meaning that sometimes the fetus remains in the womb and is not miscarried.
مُّخَلَّقَةٍ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ
(some formed and some unformed, ) Mujahid said, “This means the miscarried fetus, formed or unformed. When forty days have passed of it being a lump of flesh, then Allah sends an angel to it who breathes the soul into it and forms it as Allah wills, handsome or ugly, male or female. He then writes its provision, its allotted length of life and whether it is to be one of the blessed or the wretched.” It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Mas`ud said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who is the true and truly inspired one, told us:
«إِنَّ خَلْقَ أَحَدِكُمْ يُجْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللهُ إِلَيْهِ الْمَلَكَ فَيُؤْمَرُ بِأَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ: بِكَتْبِ رِزْقِهِ وَعَمَلِهِ وَأَجَلِهِ، وَشَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ، ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِيهِ الرُّوح»
(Every one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for the first forty days, and then he becomes a clot for another forty days, and then a lump of flesh for another forty days. Then Allah sends an angel to write four words: He writes his provision, his deeds, his life span, and whether he will be blessed or wretched. Then he blows the soul into him.)”
Man’s Development from Infancy to Old Age His saying;
ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلاً
(then We bring you out as infants,) means, weak in his body, hearing, sight, senses, stamina and mind. Then Allah gives him strength, gradually and causes his parents to treat him with tender kindness night and day. Allah says:
ثُمَّ لِتَـبْلُغُواْ أَشُدَّكُـمْ
(then (give you growth) that you may reach your age of full strength.) meaning, his strength increases until he reaches the vitality and handsomeness of youth.
وَمِنكُمْ مَّن يُتَوَفَّى
(And among you there is he who dies,) means, when he is young and strong.
وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ
(and among you there is he who is brought back to the miserable old age,) meaning advanced old age with its weakness in mind and body, in steady decline in comprehension, and disability to grasp. As Allah says:
لِكَيْلاَ يَعْلَمَ مِن بَعْدِ عِلْمٍ شَيْئاً
(so that he knows nothing after having known.)
اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفاً وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ
(Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And it is He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful.) 30:54
Another Parable of the Resurrection from Plants
وَتَرَى الاٌّرْضَ هَامِدَةً
(And you see the earth Hamidatan,) This is another sign of the power of Allah to bring the dead back to life, just as He brings the dead, barren earth back to life, the lifeless earth in which nothing grows. Qatadah said, “(This means) the eroded, dusty earth.” As-Suddi said, “Dead.”
فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَآءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ
(but when We send down water on it, it is stirred (to life), and it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth).) When Allah sends the rain upon it, it is stirred to life, that is, vegetation begins to grow and it comes alive after it was dead. Then it rises after the soil had settled, then it puts forth its different kinds of fruit and crops with all their varied colours, tastes, fragrances, shapes and benefits. Allah says:
وَأَنبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ
(and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth).) meaning, beautiful in appearance and with delightful fragrances.
ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ
(That is because Allah: He is the Truth,) means, the Creator, the Controller, the One Who does as He wills.
وَأَنَّهُ يُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى
(and it is He Who gives life to the dead,) means, just as He gives life to the dead earth and brings forth from it all these kinds of vegetation.
إِنَّ الَّذِى أَحْيَـهَا لَمُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى إِنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is able to give life to the dead. Indeed He is able to do all things.) 41:39
إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْئاً أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
(Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!” — and it is!) 36:82.
وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ لاَّ رَيْبَ فِيهَا
(And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it;) meaning, it will inevitably come to pass.
وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ مَن فِى الْقُبُورِ
(and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves.) means, He will bring them back to life after they have become dust; He will create them anew after they have become nothing.
وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَن يُحىِ الْعِظَـمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ
قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِى أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ – الَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الاٌّخْضَرِ نَاراً فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْه تُوقِدُونَ
(And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: “Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust” Say: “He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!” He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold you kindle there- with.) 36:78-80. And there are many similar Ayat.
ومِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلاَ هُدًى وَلاَ كِتَـبٍ مُّنِيرٍ
Verse Number 8-10
Clarifying the State of the Leaders of the Innovators and Those Who lead People astray
Allah has already told us about the ignorant imitators who are led astray:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـنٍ مَّرِيدٍ
(And among mankind is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge, and follows every rebellious Shaytan.) And here He tells us about those who call others to misguidance, the leaders of disbelief and innovation:
ومِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلاَ هُدًى وَلاَ كِتَـبٍ مُّنِيرٍ
(And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah).) meaning, with no correct rational thought, and no clear transmitted text; what they say is based only on their opinions and whims. Allah’s saying,
ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِ
(Bending his neck in pride,) Ibn `Abbas and others said, “Too proud to follow the truth when he is called to it.” Mujahid, Qatadah and Malik said, narrating from Zayd bin Aslam:
ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِ
(Bending his neck in pride,) means, twisting his neck, i.e., turning away from the truth to which he is called, bending his neck out of pride and arrogance. This is like the Ayat:
وَفِى مُوسَى إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَـهُ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ فَتَوَلَّى بِرُكْنِهِ
(And in Musa, when We sent him to Fir`awn with a manifest authority. But (Fir`awn) turned away along with his hosts) 51:38-39,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى مَآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنكَ صُدُوداً
(And when it is said to them: “Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger,” you see the hypocrites turn away from you with aversion.) 4:61,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَوَّوْاْ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
(And when it is said to them: “Come, so that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ may ask forgiveness from Allah for you,” they twist their heads, and you would see them turning away their faces in pride.) 63:5, And Luqman said to his son:
وَلاَ تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ
(And turn not your face away from men with pride) 31:18 meaning, do not turn away from them in an arrogant manner. And Allah says:
وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـتُنَا وَلَّى مُسْتَكْبِراً
(And when Our verses are recited to him, he turns away in pride) 31:7.
لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
(and leading (others) too (far) astray from the path of Allah.) This either refers to those who are stubborn, or it means that the person who does this has been created like this so that he will be one of those who lead others astray from the path of Allah. Then Allah says:
لَهُ فِى الدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ
(For him there is disgrace in this worldly life,) meaning, humiliation and shame, such as when he is too arrogant to heed the signs of Allah, so Allah will send humiliation upon him in this world and will punish him in this world, before he reaches the Hereafter, because this world is all he cares about and all he knows.
وَنُذِيقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِذلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ
(and on the Day of Resurrection We shall make him taste the torment of burning. That is because of what your hands have sent forth,) means, this will be said to him by way of rebuke.
وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّـمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
(and verily, Allah is not unjust to the servants.) This is like the Ayah:
خُذُوهُ فَاعْتِلُوهُ إِلَى سَوَآءِ الْجَحِيمِ – ثُمَّ صُبُّواْ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْحَمِيمِ – ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْكَرِيمُ – إِنَّ هَـذَا مَا كُنتُمْ بِهِ تَمْتَرُونَ
((It will be said: ) “Seize him and drag him into the midst of blazing Fire, Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water. Taste you (this)! Verily, you were (pretending to be) the mighty, the generous! Verily, this is that whereof you used to doubt!”) 44:47-50
Verse Number 11-13
The meaning of worshipping Allah as it were upon the edge
Mujahid, Qatadah and others said:
عَلَى حَرْفٍ
(upon the edge) means, in doubt. Others said that it meant on the edge, such as on the edge or side of a mountain, i.e., (this person) enters Islam on the edge, and if he finds what he likes he will continue, otherwise he will leave. Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ
(And among mankind is he who worships Allah as it were upon the edge.) “People would come to Al-Madinah to declare their Islam and if their wives gave birth to sons and their mares gave birth to foals, they would say, `This is a good religion,’ but if their wives and their mares did not give birth, they would say, `This is a bad religion.”‘ Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “One of them would come to Al-Madinah, which was a land that was infected with a contagious disease. If he remained healthy there, and his mare foaled and his wife gave birth to a boy, he would be content, and would say, `I have not experienced anything but good since I started to follow this religion.”
وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ
(but if a Fitnah strikes him), Fitnah here means affliction, i.e., if the disease of Al-Madinah befalls him, and his wife gives birth to a babe girl and charity is delayed in coming to him, the Shaytan comes to him and says: `By Allah, since you started to follow this religion of yours, you have experienced nothing but bad things,’ and this is the Fitnah.” This was also mentioned by Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ibn Jurayj and others among the Salaf when explaining this Ayah. Mujahid said, concerning the Ayah:
انْقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ
(he turns back on his face.) “(This means), he becomes an apostate and a disbeliever.”
خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةَ
(He loses both this world and the Hereafter.) means, he does not gain anything in this world. As for the Hereafter, he has disbelieved in Allah the Almighty, so he will be utterly doomed and humiliated. So Allah says:
ذلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَنُ الْمُبِينُ
(That is the evident loss.), i.e., the greatest loss and the losing deal.
يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ يَضُرُّهُ وَمَا لاَ يَنفَعُهُ
(He calls besides Allah unto that which can neither harm him nor profit him.) means, the idols, rivals, and false gods which he calls upon for help, support and provision — they can neither benefit him nor harm him.
ذلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلاَلُ الْبَعِيدُ
(That is a straying far away.)
يَدْعُو لَمَنْ ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِ
(He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his profit;) means, he is more likely to harm him than benefit him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will most certainly cause him harm.
لَبِئْسَ الْمَوْلَى وَلَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ
(certainly an evil Mawla and certainly an evil `Ashir!) Mujahid said, “This means the idols.” The meaning is: “How evil a friend is this one upon whom he calls instead of Allah as a helper and supporter.”
وَلَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ
(and certainly an evil `Ashir!) means the one with whom one mixes and spends one’s time.
Verse Number 14-15
The Reward of the Righteous
The mention of the misguided who are doomed is followed by mention of the righteous who are blessed. They are those who believe firmly in their hearts and confirm their faith by their actions, doing all kinds of righteous deeds and avoiding evil actions. Because of this, they will inherit dwellings in the lofty ranks of the gardens of Paradise. So Allah tells us that He sends those astray and guides these, and says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
(Verily, Allah does what He wills.)
Verse Number 16
Allah will definitely help His Messenger
Ibn `Abbas said, “Whoever thinks that Allah will not help Muhammad ﷺ in this world and the Hereafter, let him stretch out a rope
إِلَى السَّمَآءِ
(to the ceiling) to the ceiling in his house,
ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ
(and let him strangle himself.) let him hang himself with it.” This was also the view of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, `Ata’, Abu Al-Jawza’, Qatadah and others. The meaning is: whoever thinks that Allah will not support Muhammad ﷺ and His Book and His Religion, let him go and kill himself if it annoys him so much. For Allah will most certainly help and support him. Allah says:
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الاٌّشْهَـدُ
(Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.) 40:51. Allah says here:
فَلْيَنْظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُ مَا يَغِيظُ
(Then let him see whether his plan will remove that whereat he rages!) As-Suddi said, “Meaning, in the case of Muhammad ” `Ata’ Al-Khurasani said, “Let him see whether that will cure the rage he feels in his heart.”
وَكَذلِكَ أَنزَلْنَـهُ
(Thus have We sent it down) the Qur’an.
ءَايَـتٌ بَيِّنَـتٌ
(as clear Ayat,) clear in its wording and its meaning, evidence from Allah to mankind.
وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يُرِيدُ
(and surely, Allah guides whom He wills.) He sends astray whomsoever He wills and He guides whomsoever He wills, and He has complete wisdom and definitive proof in doing so.
لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَلُونَ
(He cannot be questioned about what He does, while they will be questioned.) 21:23. Because of His wisdom, mercy, justice, knowledge, dominion and might, no one can overturn His ruling, and He is swift in bringing to account.
Verse Number 17
Allah will judge between the Sects on the Day of Resurrection
Allah tells us about the followers of these various religions, the believers (Muslims) and others such as the Jews and Sabians. We have already seen a definition of them in Surat Al-Baqarah and have noted how people differ over who they are. There are also the Christians, Majus and others who worship others alongside Allah. Allah will
يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيـمَةِ
(judge between them on the Day of Resurrection) with justice; He will admit those who believed in Him to Paradise and will send those who disbelieved in Him to Hell, for He is a Witness over their deeds, and He knows all that they say and all that they do in secret, and conceal in their breast.
Verse Number 18
Everything prostrates to Allah
Allah tells us that He alone, with no partner or associate, is deserving of worship. Everything prostrates to His might, willingly or unwillingly, and everything prostrates in a manner that befits its nature, as Allah says:
أَوَ لَمْيَرَوْاْ إِلَىخَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ يَتَفَيَّأُ ظِلَـلُهُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَالْشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًا لِلَّهِ وَهُمْ
(Have they not observed things that Allah has created: (how) their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly) 16:48. And Allah says here:
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَمَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ
(See you not that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth prostrate themselves to Him) means, the angels in the regions of the heavens, and all the living creatures, men, Jinn, animals and birds.
وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدَهِ
(and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise) 17:44.
وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ
(and the sun, and the moon, and the stars,) These are mentioned by name, because they are worshipped instead of Allah, so Allah explains that they too prostrate to their Creator and that they are subjected to Him.
لاَ تَسْجُدُواْ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلاَ لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ
(Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them) 41:37. In the Two Sahihs it was recorded that Abu Dharr said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me,
«أَتَدْرِي أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسُ؟»
(Do you know where this sun goes) I said, `Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said,
«فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ فَتَسْجُدُ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ، ثُمَّ تَسْتَأْمِرُ فَيُوشِكُ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَهَا: ارْجِعِي مِنْ حَيْثُ جِئْت»
(It goes (sets) and prostrates beneath the Throne, then it awaits the command. Soon it will be told, “Go back the way whence you came.”)” Ibn `Abbas said, “A man came and said, `O Messenger of Allah, I saw myself in a dream last night, as if I was praying behind a tree. I prostrated, and the tree prostrated when I did, and I heard it saying, “O Allah, write down a reward for me for that, and remove a sin from me for that, store it with You for me and accept it from me as You accepted from Your servant Dawud.”‘ Ibn `Abbas said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited an Ayah mentioning a prostration, then he prostrated, and I heard him saying the same words that the man had told him the tree said.” This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih.
وَالدَّوَآبِّ
(Ad-Dawabb) means all the animals. It was reported in a Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade using the backs of animals as platforms for speaking, for, perhaps the one who was being ridden was better and remembered Allah more than the one who was riding.
وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ
(and many of mankind) means, they prostrate willingly, submitting themselves to Allah of their own free will.
وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ
(But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified.) means, those who refuse prostration, are stubborn and arrogant.
وَمَن يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
(And whomsoever Allah disgraces, none can honor him. Verily, Allah does what He wills.) It was recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِذَا قَرَأَ ابْنُ آدَمَ السَّجْدَةَ اعْتَزَلَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَبْكِي، يَقُولُ: يَا وَيْلَهُ أُمِرَ ابْنُ آدَمَ بِالسُّجُودِ فَسَجَدَ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ، وَأُمِرْتُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَأَبَيْتُ فَلِيَ النَّار»
(When the son of Adam recites the Ayat containing the prostration, the Shaytan withdraws weeping and says, “Ah! Woe (to me)! the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so I am doomed to Hell.”) This was recorded by Muslim. In his book Al-Marasil, Abu Dawud recorded that Khalid bin Ma`dan, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said,
«فُضِّلَتْ سُورَةُ الْحَجِّ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْقُرْآنِ بِسَجْدَتَيْن»
(Surat Al-Hajj has been favored over the rest of the Qur’an with two prostrations.”) Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Isma`ili recorded from Abu Al-Jahm that `Umar did the two prostrations of Surat Al-Hajj when he was in Al-Jabiyah, and he said, “This Surah has been favored with two prostrations.”
Verse Number 19-22
The Reason for Revelation
It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Dharr swore that this Ayah —
هَـذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُواْ فِى رَبِّهِمْ
(These two opponents dispute with each other about their Lord;) was revealed concerning Hamzah and his two companions, and `Utbah and his two companions, on the day of Badr when they came forward to engage in single combat. This is the wording of Al-Bukhari in his Tafsir of this Ayah. Then Al-Bukhari recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib said, “I will be the first one to kneel down before the Most Merciful so that the dispute may be settled on the Day of Resurrection.” Qays (sub-narrator) said, “Concerning them the Ayah was revealed:
هَـذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُواْ فِى رَبِّهِمْ
(These two opponents dispute with each other about their Lord;) He (Qays) said, “They are the ones who came forward (for single combat) on the day of Badr: `Ali, Hamzah and `Ubaydah vs., Shaybah bin Rabi`ah, `Utbah bin Rabi`ah and Al-Walid bin `Utbah.” This was reported only by Al-Bukhari. Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid commented on this Ayah, “Such as the disbeliever and the believer disputing about the Resurrection.” According to one report Mujahid and `Ata’ commented on this Ayah, “This refers to the believers and the disbelievers.” The view of Mujahid and `Ata’ that this refers to the disbelievers and the believers, includes all opinions, the story of Badr as well as the others. For the believers want to support the religion of Allah, while the disbelievers want to extinguish the light of faith and to defeat the truth and cause falsehood to prevail. This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir, and it is good.
The Punishment of the Disbelievers
فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارِ
(then as for those who disbelieved, garments of fire will be cut out for them,) meaning, pieces of fire will be prepared for them. Sa`id bin Jubayr said: “Of copper, for it is the hottest of things when it is heated.” n
هَـذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُواْ فِى رَبِّهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارِ يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ – يُصْهَرُ بِهِ مَا فِى بُطُونِهِمْ وَالْجُلُودُ
(boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt (or vanish away) what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins.) meaning, when the boiling water –which is water that has been heated to the ultimate degree- is poured down over their heads. Ibn Jarir recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said:
«إِنَّ الْحَمِيمَ لَيُصَبُّ عَلَى رُؤُوسِهِمْ فَيَنْفُذُ الْجُمْجُمَةَ حَتَّى يَخْلُصَ إِلَى جَوْفِهِ، فَيَسْلُتَ مَا فِي جَوْفِهِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ قَدَمَيْهِ، وَهُوَ الصِّهْرُ، ثُمَّ يُعَادُ كَمَا كَان»
(The boiling water will be poured over their heads and will penetrate their skulls until it reaches what is inside, and what is inside will melt until it reaches their feet. This is the melting, then he will be restored to the state he was before.) It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said it is Hasan Sahih. This was also recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim, who then recorded that `Abdullah bin As-Sariy said, “The angel will come to him, carrying the vessel with a pair of tongs because of its heat. When he brings it near to his face, he will shy away from it. He will raise a hammer that he is carrying and will strike his head with it, and his brains will spill out, then he will pour the brains back into his head. This is what Allah says in the Ayah:
يُصْهَرُ بِهِ مَا فِى بُطُونِهِمْ وَالْجُلُودُ
(With it will melt what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins.)”
وَلَهُمْ مَّقَامِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ
(And for them are hooked rods of iron.) Ibn `Abbas said, “They will be struck with them, and with each blow, a limb will be severed, and they will cry out for oblivion.”
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُواْ أَن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا
(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein,) Al-A`mash reported from Abu Zibiyan that Salman said, “The fire of Hell is black and dark; its flames and coals do not glow or shine.” Then he recited:
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُواْ أَن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا
(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein,)
وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
(“Taste the torment of burning!”) This is like the Ayah:
وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ
(and it will be said to them: “Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.”) 32:20. The meaning is that they will be humiliated by words and actions.
Verse Number 23-24
The Reward of the Believers
When Allah tells us about the state of the people of Hell — we seek refuge with Allah from that state of punishment, vengeance, burning and chains — and the garments of fire that have been prepared for them, He then tells us about the state of the people of Paradise — we ask Allah by His grace and kindness to admit us therein. He tells us:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جَنَـتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ
(Truly, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous good deeds, to Gardens underneath which rivers flow,) means, these rivers flow throughout its regions, beneath its trees and palaces, and its inhabitants direct them to go wherever they want.
يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا
(wherein they will be adorned) — with jewelry —
مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤاً
(with bracelets of gold and pearls) means, on their arms, as the Prophet said in the agreed-upon Hadith:
«تَبْلُغُ الْحِلْيَةُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ حَيْثُ يَبْلُغُ الْوَضُوء»
(The jewelry of the believer in Paradise will reach as far as his Wudu’ reached.)
وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
(and their garments therein will be of silk. ) in contrast to the garments of fire worn by the inhabitants of Hell, the people of Paradise will have garments of silk, Sundus and Istabraq fine green silk and gold embroidery, as Allah says:
عَـلِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ وَحُلُّواْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَـهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَاباً طَهُوراً – إِنَّ هَـذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَآءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُوراً
(Their garments will be of green Sundus, and Istabraq. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. (And it will be said to them): “Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been accepted.”) 76:21-22. In the Sahih, it says:
«لَا تَلْبَسُوا الْحَرِيرَ وَلَا الدِّيبَاجَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَبِسَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَلْبَسْهُ فِي الْآخِرَة»
(Do not wear fine silk or gold embroidery in this world, for whoever wears them in this world, will not wear them in the Hereafter.) `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said, “Those who do not wear silk in the Hereafter are those who will not enter Paradise. Allah says:
وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
(and their garments therein will be of silk)”
وَهُدُواْ إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ
(And they are guided unto goodly speech.) This is like the Ayat:
وَأُدْخِلَ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَاتِ جَنَّـتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَـمٌ
(And those who believed and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow — to dwell therein forever, with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: “Salam (peace!)”) 14:23
جَنَّـتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالمَلَـئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ – سَلَـمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
(And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): “Salamun `Alaykum (peace be upon you!)”, for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!”) 13:23-24,
لاَ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْواً وَلاَ تَأْثِيماً – إِلاَّ قِيلاً سَلَـماً سَلَـماً
(No evil vain talk will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of, “Peace! Peace! (Salaman! Salaman!).”) 56:25-26 They will be guided to a place in which they will hear good speech.
وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَـماً
(Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.) 25:75, unlike the scorn which will be heaped upon the people of Hell by way of rebuke, when they are told:
ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ
(`Taste the torment of burning!”)
وَهُدُواْ إِلَى صِرَطِ الْحَمِيدِ
(and they are guided to the path of Him Who is Worthy of all praises. ) to a place in which they will give praise to their Lord for all His kindness, blessings and favors towards them, as it says in the Sahih Hadith:
«إِنَّهُمْ يُلْهَمُونَ التَّسْبِيحَ وَالتَّحْمِيدَ كَمَا يُلْهَمُونَ النَّفَس»
(They will be inspired with words of glorification and praise, just as they are inspired with breath.) Some scholars of Tafsir said that the Ayah,
وَهُدُواْ إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ
(And they are guided unto goodly speech) refers to the Qur’an; and it was said that it means La ilaha illallah or words of remembrance prescribed in Islam. And the Ayah:
وَهُدُواْ إِلَى صِرَطِ الْحَمِيدِ
(and they are guided to the path of Him Who is Worthy of all praises.) means, the straight path in this world. These interpretations do not contradict that mentioned above. And Allah knows best.
Verse Number 25
A Warning to Those Who hinder Others from the Path of Allah and from Al-Masj id Al-Haram and Who seek to do Evil Actions therein
Allah rebukes the disbelievers for preventing the believers from coming to Al-Masjid Al-Haram and performing their rites and rituals there, claiming that they were its guardians,
وَمَا كَانُواْ أَوْلِيَآءَهُ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقُونَ
(and they are not its guardians. None can be its guardians except those who have Taqwa) 8:34. In this Ayah there is proof that it was revealed in Al-Madinah, as Allah says in Surat Al-Baqarah:
يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ اللَّهِ
(They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months. Say, “Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and to drive out its inhabitants) 2:217 And Allah says here:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
(Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram) meaning, not only are they disbelievers, but they also hinder people from the path of Allah and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram. They prevent the believers who want to go there from reaching it, although the believers have more right than anyone else to go there. The structure of this phrase is like that to be found in the Ayah:
الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
(Those who believed, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.) 13:28 Not only are they believers, but their hearts also find rest in the remembrance of Allah.
The Issue of renting Houses in Makkah
الَّذِى جَعَلْنَـهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there) meaning that they prevent people from reaching Al-Masjid Al-Haram, which Allah has made equally accessible to all in Shari`ah, with no differentiation between those who live there and those who live far away from it.
سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,) Part of this equality is that everyone has equal access to all parts of the city and can live there, as `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas concerning the Ayah:
سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,) He Ibn `Abbas said: “Both the people of Makkah and others can stay in Al-Masjid Al-Haram.”
سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,) Mujahid said, “The people of Makkah and others are equally allowed to stay there.” This was also the view of Abu Salih, `Abdur-Rahman bin Sabit and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated from Ma`mar, from Qatadah who said: “Its own people and others are equal therein.” This is the issue about which Ash-Shafi`i and Ishaq bin Rahwayh differed in the Masjid of Al-Khayf, when Ahmad bin Hanbal was also present. Ash-Shafi`i was of the opinion that the various parts of Makkah can be owned, inherited and rented, and he used as evidence the Hadith of Usamah bin Zayd who said, “I said, O Messenger of Allah, will you go and stay tomorrow in your house in Makkah” He said,
«وَهَلْ تَرَكَ لَنَا عَقِيلٌ مِنْ رِبَاعٍ؟»
(Has `Aqil left us any property) Then he said,
«لَا يَرِثُ الْكَافِرُ الْمُسْلِمَ وَلَا الْمُسْلِمُ الْكَافِر»
(A disbeliever does not inherit from a Muslim and a Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever.) This Hadith was recorded in the Two Sahihs. He also used as evidence the report that `Umar bin Al-Khattab bought a house in Makkah from Safwan bin Umayyah for four thousand Dinars, and made it into a prison. This was also the view of Tawus and `Amr bin Dinar. Ishaq bin Rahwayh was of the opinion that they (houses in Makkah) could not be inherited or rented. This was the view of a number of the Salaf, and Mujahid and `Ata’ said likewise. Ishaq bin Rahwayh used as evidence the report recorded by Ibn Majah from `Alqamah bin Nadlah who said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr and `Umar died, and nobody claimed any property in Makkah except the grazing animals. Whoever needed to live there would take up residence there, and whoever did not need to live there would let others take up residence there.” `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, “It is not allowed to sell or rent the houses of Makkah.” He also said, narrating from Ibn Jurayj: “`Ata’ would not allow people to charge rent in the Haram, and he told me that `Umar bin Al-Khattab did not allow people to put gates on the houses of Makkah because the pilgrims used to stay in their courtyards. The first person to put a gate on his house was Suhayl bin `Amr. `Umar bin Al-Khattab sent for him about that and he said, `Listen to me, O Commander of the faithful, I am a man who engages in trade and I want to protect my back.’ He said, `Then you may do that.”‘ `Abdur-Razzaq recorded from Mujahid that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, “O people of Makkah, do not put gates on your houses, and let the bedouins stay wherever they want.” He said: Ma`mar told us, narrating from someone who heard `Ata’ say about the Ayah, x
سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there, ) “They may stay wherever they want.” Ad-Daraqutni recorded a saying reported from `Abdullah bin `Amr: “Whoever charges rent for the houses of Makkah, consumes fire.” Imam Ahmad took a middle path, according to what his son Salih narrated from him, and he said, “They may be owned and inherited, but they should not be rented, so as to reconcile between all the proofs.” And Allah knows best.
A Warning to Those Who want to commit Evil Actions in the Haram
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.)
بِظُلْمٍ
(or to do wrong,) means, he aims deliberately to do wrong, and it is not the matter of misunderstanding. As Ibn Jurayj said narrating from Ibn `Abbas, “This means someone whose actions are intentional.” `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “The evil action of Shirk.” Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “The evil action is allowing in the Haram what Allah has forbidden, such as mistreating and killing, whereby you do wrong to those who have done you no wrong and you kill those who have not fought you. If a person does this, then he deserves to suffer a painful torment.”
بِظُلْمٍ
(or to do wrong,) Mujahid said, “To do some bad action therein. This is one of the unique features of Al-Haram, that the person who is about to do some evil action should be punished if this is his intention, even if he has not yet commenced the action.” Ibn Abi Hatim recorded in his Tafsir that `Abdullah (i.e., Ibn Mas`ud) commented about the Ayah,
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) “If a man intends to do some evil action therein, Allah will make him taste a painful torment.” This was also recorded by Ahmad. I say, its chain is Sahih according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari, and it is more likely Mawquf than Marfu`. And Allah knows best. Sa`id bin Jubayr said, “Insulting a servant and anything more than that is (counted as) wrongdoing.” Habib bin Abi Thabit said:
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) “Hoarding (goods) in Makkah.” This was also the view of others.
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) Ibn `Abbas said, “This was revealed about `Abdullah bin Unays. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent him with two men, one of whom was a Muhajir and the other from among the Ansar. They began to boast about their lineages and `Abdullah bin Unays got angry and killed the Ansari. Then he reverted from Islam (became an apostate) and fled to Makkah. Then these words were revealed concerning him:
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) meaning, whoever flees to Al-Haram to do evil actions, i.e., by leaving Islam.” These reports indicate some meanings of the phrase “evil actions”, but the meaning is more general than that and includes things which are more serious. Hence when the owners of the Elephant planned to destroy the House (the Ka`bah), Allah sent against them birds in flocks,
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ – فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولِ
(Striking them with stones of Sijjil. And He made them like (an empty field of) stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle).) 105:4-5. means He destroyed them and made them a lesson and a warning for everyone who intends to commit evil actions there. Hence it was reported in a Hadith that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«يَغْزُو هَذَا الْبَيْتَ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ خُسِفَ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ وَآخِرِهِم»
(This House will be attacked by an army, then when they are in a wide open space, the first of them and the last of them will be swallowed up by the earth.)
Verse Number 26-27
Building of the Ka`bah and the Proclamation of the Hajj
This is a rebuke to those among Quraysh who worshipped others than Allah and joined partners with Him in the place which from the outset had been established on the basis of Tawhid and the worship of Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. Allah tells us that He showed Ibrahim the site of the `Atiq House, i.e., He guided him to it, entrusted it to him and granted him permission to build it. Many scholars take this as evidence to support their view that Ibrahim was the first one to build the House and that it was not built before his time. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Dharr said, “I said, `O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which Masjid was the first to be built’ He said,
«الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَام»
(Al-Masjid Al-Haram.) I said, `Then which’ He said,
«بَيْتُ الْمَقْدِس»
(Bayt Al-Maqdis.) I said, `How long between them’ He said,
«أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَة»
(Forty years.)” And Allah says:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكاً
(Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing) 3:96 until the end of following two Ayat. Allah says:
وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ وَإِسْمَـعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَالْعَـكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
(and We commanded Ibrahim and Isma`il that they should purify My House for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I`tikaf), or bowing or prostrating themselves.) 2:125 And Allah says here:
أَن لاَّ تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْئاً
(Associate not anything with Me,) meaning, `Build it in My Name Alone.’
وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ
(and sanctify My House) Qatadah and Mujahid said, “And purify it from Shirk.
لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَالْقَآئِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
(for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up, and those who bow, and make prostration (in prayer)) means, `and make it purely for those who worship Allah Alone, with no partner or associate.’ What is meant by “those who circumambulate it” is obvious, since this is an act of worship that is done only at the Ka`bah and not at any other spot on earth.
وَالْقَآئِمِينَ
(and those who stand up) means, in prayer. Allah says:
وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
(and those who bow, and make prostration.) Tawaf and prayer are mentioned together because they are not prescribed together anywhere except in relation to the House. Tawaf is done around the Ka`bah and prayer is offered facing its direction in the majority of cases, with a few exceptions, such as when one is uncertain of the direction of the Qiblah, during battle and when praying optional prayers while traveling. And Allah knows best.
وَأَذِّن فِى النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ
(And proclaim to mankind the Hajj) meaning, `announce the pilgrimage to mankind and call them to perform pilgrimage to this House which We have commanded you to build.’ It was said that Ibrahim said: “O Lord, how can I convey this to people when my voice will not reach them” It was said: “Call them and We will convey it.” So Ibrahim stood up and said, “O mankind! Your Lord has established a House so come on pilgrimage to it.” It is said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice would reach all the regions of the earth, and those who were still in their mothers’ wombs and their fathers’ loins would hear the call. The response came from everyone in the cities, deserts and countryside, and those whom Allah has decreed will make the pilgrimage, until the Day of Resurrection: “At Your service, O Allah, at Your service.” This is a summary of the narrations from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others among the Salaf. And Allah knows best. This was recorded by Ibn Jarir and by Ibn Abi Hatim at length.
يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاً وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ
(They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel,) This Ayah was used as evidence by those scholars whose view is that Hajj performed on foot by those who are able, is better than Hajj performed riding, because the phrase “on foot” is mentioned first, and because it is an indication of their keenness and resolve. Waki` narrated from Abu Al-`Umays from Abu Halhalah from Muhammad bin Ka`b that Ibn `Abbas said, “I do not regret anything except for the fact that I wish I had performed Hajj on foot, because Allah says,
يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاً
(They will come to you on foot).” But the majority are of the view that performing Hajj while riding is better, following the example of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, because he performed Hajj riding, although his physical ability was sound.
يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ
(they will come from every Fajj) means every route, as Allah says:
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجاً سُبُلاً
(and We placed therein Fijaj for them to pass) 21:31.
عَميِقٍ
(`Amiq) means dis- tant. This was the view of Mujahid, `Ata’, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Muqatil bin Hayan, Ath-Thawri and others. This Ayah is like the Ayah in which Allah tells us how Ibrahim prayed for his family,
فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مَّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِى إِلَيْهِمْ
(So fill some hearts among men with love towards them) 14:37. There is no one among the Muslims who does not long to see the Ka`bah and perform Tawaf, people come to this spot from every corner of the world.
Verse Number 28-31
The Reward for avoiding Sin
Allah says: `This is what We have commanded you to do in the rituals (of Hajj), and this is the great reward that the person who does that will gain.’
وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَـتِ اللَّهِ
(whoever honors the sacred things of Allah,) means, whoever avoids disobeying Him and does not transgress that which is sacred, and regards committing sin as a very serious matter,
فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ
(then that is better for him with his Lord.) means, he will attain much good and a great reward for doing that. Just as the one who does acts of obedience will earn a great reward, so too, the one who avoids sin will earn a great reward.
Cattle are Lawful
وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ الاٌّنْعَـمُ إِلاَّ مَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ
(The cattle are lawful to you, except those (that will be) mentioned to you.) means, `We have made permissible for you all the An`am (cattle etc.),’ and Allah has not instituted things like Bahirah or a Sa’ibah or a Wasilah or a Ham.
إِلاَّ مَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ
(except those mentioned to you.) the prohibition of Al-Maytah, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns — and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal — unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) – and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An-Nusub. This was the view of Ibn Jarir, who recorded it from Qatadah.
The Command to shun Shirk and Lying
فَاجْتَنِبُواْ الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الاٌّوْثَـنِ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ
(So shun the Rijis of the idols, and shun false speech.) From this it is clear what Ar-Rijs means, i.e., avoid the abomination, which means idols. Shirk is mentioned in conjunction with false speech, as in the Ayah:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُواْ بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَـناً وَأَن تَقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
(Say: “(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge”.) 7:33 This includes bearing false witness. In the Two Sahihs it was reported from Abu Bakrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«أَلَا أُنَبِّــئُكُمْ بِأَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ؟»
(Shall I not tell you about the worst of major sins) We said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said:
«الْإِشْرَاكُ بِاللهِ وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ (Associating others with Allah, disobeying one’s parents.) He was reclining, then he sat up and said: أَلَا وَقَوْلُ الزُّورِ،أَلَا وَشَهَادَةُ الزُّور»
(and indeed giving false statements, and indeed bearing false witness…) and he kept on repeating it until we wished that he would stop.” Imam Ahmad recorded that Khuraym bin Fatik Al-Asadi said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed As-Subh (Al-Fajr), and when he had finished, he stood up and said:
«عَدَلَتْ شَهَادَةُ الزُّورِ الْإِشْرَاكَ بِاللهِ عَزَّ وَجَل»
(Bearing false witness is on a par with the association of others with Allah.) Then he recited this Ayah:
فَاجْتَنِبُواْ الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الاٌّوْثَـنِ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِحُنَفَآءَ للَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ
(So shun the Rijs of the idols, and shun lying speech. Hunafa’ Lillah, not associating partners unto Him;)
حُنَفَآءَ للَّهِ
(Hunafa’ Lillah) means, sincerely submitting to Him Alone, shunning falsehood and seeking the truth. Allah says:
غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ
(not associating partners unto Him;) Then Allah gives a likeness of the idolator in his misguidance and being doomed and being far away from true guidance, and says:
وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ
(and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky,) meaning,
فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ
(the birds caught him in midair,)
أَوْ تَهْوِى بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِى مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ
(or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.) means, remote and desolate, dangerous for anyone who lands there. Hence it says in the Hadith of Al-Bara’:
«إِنَّ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُ مَلَائِكَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَصَعِدُوا بِرُوحِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، فَلَا تُفْتَحُ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ بَلْ تُطْرَحُ رُوحُهُ طَرْحًا مِنْ هُنَاك»
(When the angels of death take the soul of the disbeliever in death, they take his soul up to the heaven, but the gates of heaven are not opened for him; on the contrary, his soul is thrown down from there.) Then he recited this Ayah. The Hadith has already been quoted in our explanation of Surah Ibrahim. Allah gives another parable of the idolators in Surat Al-An`am, where He says:
قُلْ أَنَدْعُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ يَنفَعُنَا وَلاَ يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَى أَعْقَـبِنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ كَالَّذِى اسْتَهْوَتْهُ الشَّيَـطِينُ فِى الاٌّرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُ أَصْحَـبٌ يَدْعُونَهُ إِلَى الْهُدَى ائْتِنَا قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى
(Say: “Shall we invoke others besides Allah, that can do us neither good nor can harm us, and shall we turn back on our heels after Allah has guided us — like one whom the Shayaلtin have made to go astray in the land in confusion, his companions calling him to guidance (saying): `Come to us.”‘ Say: “Verily, Allah’s guidance is the only guidance.”) 6:71
Verse Number 32-33
Explanation of the Udhiyyah and the Sha`a’ir of Allah
وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَـئِرَ اللَّهِ
(and whosoever honors the Sha`a’ir of Allah,) means, His commands.
فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
(then it is truly from the Taqwa of the hearts.) This also includes obeying His commands in the best way when it comes to offering sacrifices, as Al-Hakam said narrating from Miqsam, from Ibn `Abbas: “Honoring them means choosing fat, healthy animals (for sacrifice).” Abu Umamah bin Sahl said: “We used to fatten the Udhiyyah in Al-Madinah, and the Muslims used to fatten them.” This was recorded by Al-Bukhari. In Sunan Ibn Majah, it was recorded from Abu Rafi` that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed two castrated, fat, horned rams. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded from Jabir: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed two castrated, fat, horned rams.” It was said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to examine their eyes and ears, and not to sacrifice the Muqabilah, the Mudabirah, the Sharqa, nor the Kharqa’.” This was recorded by Ahmad and the Sunan compilers, and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih. As for the Muqabilah, it is the one whose ear is cut at the front, Mudabirah is the one whose ear is cut at the back, the Shurqa is the one whose ear is split, as Ash-Shafi`i said. The Kharqa’ is the one whose ear is pierced with a hole. And Allah knows best. It was recorded that Al-Bara’ said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«أَرْبَعٌ لَاتَجُوزُ فِي الْأَضَاحِي: الْعَوْرَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ عَوَرُهَا، وَالْمَرِيضَةُ الْبَيِّنُ مَرَضُهَا، وَالْعَرْجَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ ظَلَعُهَا، وَالْكَسِيرَةُ الَّتِي لَاتُنْقِي»
(Four are not permitted for sacrifice: those that are obviously one-eyed, those that are obviously sick, those that are obviously lame and those that have broken bones, which no one would choose.) This was recorded by Ahmad and the Sunan compilers, and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih.
The Benefits of the Sacrificial Camels
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـفِعُ
(In them are benefits for you) meaning, in the Budn (sacrificial camels) you find benefits such as their milk their wool and hair, and their use for riding.
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـفِعُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى
(In them are benefits for you for an appointed term,) Miqsam reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “Until you decide to offer them as a sacrifice.” It was recorded in the Two Sahihs from Anas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a man driving his sacrificial camel and said,
«ارْكَبْهَا»
(Ride it.) The man said, “It is a sacrificial camel.” He said,
«ارْكَبْهَا وَيْحَك»
(Ride it, woe to you!) the second or third time. According to a report recorded by Muslim from Jabir, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«ارْكَبْهَا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ إِذَا أُلْجِئْتَ إِلَيْهَا»
(Ride it gently accor- ding to your needs.)
ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ
(and afterwards they are brought for sacrifice to the `Atiq House.) meaning, they are eventually brought to the `Atiq House — which is the Ka`bah — as Allah says:
هَدْياً بَـلِغَ الْكَعْبَةِ
(an offering, brought to the Ka`bah) 5:95
وَالْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفاً أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُ
(and detained the Hady, from reaching their place of sacrifice) 48:25
Verse Number 34-35
Rites of Sacrifice have been prescribed for every Nation in the World
Allah tells us that sacrifice and shedding blood in the Name of Allah has been prescribed for all nations. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said,
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا
(And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies,) “Festivals.” `Ikrimah said, “Sacrifices.”
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا
(And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies,) Zayd bin Aslam said, “This means Makkah; Allah did not appoint religious ceremonies anywhere else for any nation.”
لِّيَذْكُرُواْ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الاٌّنْعَـمِ
(that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food.) It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Anas said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ brought two fat, horned rams; he said Bismillah and Allahu Akbar, then he put his foot on their necks.
فَإِلَـهُكُمْ إِلَـهٌ وَحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُواْ
(And your God is One God, so you must submit to Him Alone.) Your God is One, even though the Laws of the Prophets may vary and may abrogate one another. All of the Prophets called mankind to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.) 21:25. Allah says:
فَلَهُ أَسْلِمُواْ
(so you must submit to Him Alone.) meaning, submit to His commands and obey Him in all sincerity.
وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ
(And give glad tidings to the Mukhbitin.) Mujahid said about Mukhbitin, “Those who find contentment in their faith.” Ath-Thawri said, “Those who find contentment in their faith and who accept the decree of Allah and submit to Him.” It is better to interpret it by what comes next, which is:
الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ
(Whose hearts are filled with fear when Allah is mentioned,) meaning, their hearts fear Him.
وَالصَّـبِرِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ
(and the patient who bear whatever may befall them) meaning, of afflictions.
وَالْمُقِيمِى الصَّلَوةِ
(and who perform the Salah,) they fulfill the duties which Allah has enjoined upon them, the duty of performing the obligatory prayers.
وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
(and who spend out of what We have provided for them.) the good provision which Allah has given them. They spend on their families and servants, and on the poor and needy; they treat people kindly while remaining within the limits set by Allah. This is in contrast to the hypocrites, who are the opposite of all this, as we have discussed in the Tafsir of Surah Bara’ah; to Allah be praise and blessings.
Verse Number 36
The Command to slaughter the Budn (Sacrificial Camel)
Here Allah reminds His servants of the blessing which He has bestowed on His servants, by creating the Budn for them and making them one of His symbols. For He has decreed that they should be brought to His Sacred House; indeed, they are the best of that which may be offered as a sacrifice to Allah, as He says:
لاَ تُحِلُّواْ شَعَآئِرَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ الشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَلاَ الْهَدْىَ وَلاَ الْقَلَـئِدَ وَلا ءَامِّينَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ
(Violate not the sanctity of the Sha`a’ir of Allah, nor of the Sacred Month, nor of the animals brought for sacrifice, nor the garlanded people or animals, and others, nor the people coming to the Sacred House)5:2
وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـهَا لَكُمْ مِّن شَعَـئِرِ اللَّهِ
(And the Budn, We have made them for you as among the symbols of Allah,) Ibn Jurayj said: “Ata’ commented on this Ayah, `Cattle and camels.”‘ A similar view was also reported from Ibn `Umar, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib and Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Mujahid said: “Al-Budn means camels.” According to Muslim, Jabir bin `Abdullah and others said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to share in offering the sacrifice, a Budn (camel) for seven people, and one cow for seven people.”
لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ
(wherein you have much good. ) means, reward in the Hereafter.
فَاذْكُرُواْ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ
(So mention the Name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines (for sacrifice).) It was reported from Al-Muttalib bin `Abdullah bin Hantab that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, “I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on `Id Al-Adha. When he finished, he brought a ram and slaughtered it, saying,
«بِاسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا عَنِّي وَعَمَّنْ لَمْ يُضَحِّ مِنْ أُمَّتِي»
(Bismillah, and Allahu Akbar. O Allah, this is on behalf of me and anyone of my Ummah who has not offered a sacrifice.) This was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi. Muhammad bin Ishaq recorded from Yazid bin Abi Habib from Ibn `Abbas that Jabir said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed two rams on the day of `Id, and when he lay them down to sacrifice them, he said:
«وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأُمَّتِه»
(I turn my face to the One Who created the heavens and the earth, being true and sincere in faith submitting myself to Him Alone, and I am not of the idolators. Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists for, with no partner or associate for Him. Thus am I commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. O Allah, from You and to You, on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah.) Then he said, `Bismillah’ and `Allahu Akbar’ and slaughtered them.” It was reported from `Ali bin Al-Husayn from Abu Rafi` that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to offer a sacrifice, he would buy two fat, horned, fine rams. When he had prayed and addressed the people, he would bring one of them to where he was standing in the prayer place, and would sacrifice it himself with a knife, then he would say:
«اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا عَنْ أُمَّتِي جَمِيعِهَا: مَنْ شَهِدَ لَكَ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ وَشَهِدَ لِي بِالْبَلَاغ»
(O Allah, this is on behalf of all of my Ummah, whoever bears witness of Tawhid of You and bears witness that I have conveyed.) Then he would bring the other ram and sacrifice it himself, and say,
«هَذَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّد»
(This is on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.) He would give them to the poor and he and his family would eat from it as well. This was recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Majah. Al-A`mash narrated from Abu Zabiyan from Ibn `Abbas,
فَاذْكُرُواْ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ
(So mention the Name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines (for sacrifice). ) “When they are standing on three legs, with the left foreleg tied up. He says Bismillah and Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahumma Minka wa Laka (In the Name of Allah and Allah is Most Great; there is no God but Allah. O Allah, from You and to You).” In the Two Sahihs it was recorded that Ibn `Umar came to a man who had made his camel kneel down in order to sacrifice it. He said, “Make it stand up fettered, (this is) the Sunnah of Abu Al-Qasim (i.e. the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ).”
فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا
(Then, when they are down on their sides,) Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid said, “This means, when it has fallen to the ground.” This was narrated from Ibn `Abbas, and a similar view was narrated from Muqatil bin Hayyan. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said,
فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا
(Then, when they are down on their sides,) “Meaning, when they have died.” This is what was meant by the comment of Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid, for it is not permitted to eat from the sacrifice when it has been slaughtered until it has died and its movements have ceased. It was reported in a Marfu` Hadith:
«لَا تُعَجِّلُوا النُّفُوسَ أَنْ تَزْهَق»
(Do not rush until you are sure that the animal is dead. ) Ath-Thawri narrated in his Jami` that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said that, and he supported it with the Hadith of Shaddad bin `Aws in Sahih Muslim:
«إِنَّ اللهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ، وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَه»
(Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things. If you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.) It was recorded that Abu Waqid Al-Laythi said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَا قُطِعَ مِنَ الْبَهِيمَةِ وَهِيَ حَيَّةٌ فَهُوَ مَيْتَة»
(Whatever is cut from an animal while it is still alive is Maytah (dead flesh).) This was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih.
فَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُواْ الْقَـنِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ
(eat thereof, and feed Qani` and the Mu`tarr…) This is a command which implies that this is permissible. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “Qani` is the one who is content with what he is given and he stays in his house, and the Mu`tarr is the one who comes to you and rubs shoulders with you so that you will give him some meat, but he does not ask for it. ” This was also the view of Mujahid and Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “Qani` is the one who is too proud to ask, and Mu`tarr is the one who does ask.” This was also the view of Qatadah, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and Mujahid, according to one report narrated from him. And the opposite was also suggested. This Ayah has been quoted as evidence by those scholars who said that the sacrifice should be divided into three: a third for the one who offers the sacrifice to eat from, a third to be given as gifts to his friends, and a third to be given in charity to the poor, because Allah says:
فَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُواْ الْقَـنِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ
(eat thereof, and feed the poor who does not ask, and the beggar who asks.) But there is no evidence in this Ayah for this view. According to a Sahih Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to the people: c
«إِنِّي كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنِ ادِّخَارِ لُحُومِ الْأَضَاحِي فَوْقَ ثَلَاثٍ، فَكُلُوا وَادَّخِرُوا مَا بَدَا لَكُم»
(I used to forbid you to keep the meat of the sacrifice for more than three days, but now eat from it and keep it as you see fit.) According to another report:
«فَكُلُوا وَادَّخِرُوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا»
(Eat some, keep some and give some in charity.) According to another report:
«فَكُلُوا وَأَطْعِمُوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا»
(Eat some, feed others, and give some in charity.) As for the animal skins, it was recorded in Musnad Ahmad from Qatadah bin An-Nu`man in the Hadith about the sacrifice:
«فَكُلُوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا، وَاسْتَمْتِعُوا بِجُلُودِهَا وَلَا تَبِيعُوهَا»
(Eat and give in charity, and make use of the skins, but do not sell them.) (Note) It was recorded that Al-Bara’ bin `Azib said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا نَبْدَأُ بِهِ فِي يَوْمِنَا هَذَا أَنْ نُصَلِّيَ، ثُمَّ نَرْجِعَ فَنَنْحَرَ، فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ أَصَابَ سُنَّتَنَا، وَمَنْ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ لَحْمٌ قَدَّمَهُ لِأَهْلِهِ لَيْسَ مِنَ النُّسُكِ فِي شَيْء»
(The first thing that we should do on this day of ours (`Id) is to pray, then we return and offer the sacrifice. Whoever does that will have followed our Sunnah. Whoever slaughters his animal before the prayer, this is just meat which he has brought for his family, it is not a sacrifice at all.) This was recorded by (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). And in Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that one is not to offer the sacrifice until the Imam (leader) has offered his. It is prescribed to offer the sacrifice on the day of Nahr and the following three days of Tashriq, because of the Hadith of Jubayr bin Mut`im who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ كُلُّهَا ذَبْح»
(The days of Tashriq are all (for) sacrifice.) This was recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban.
كَذلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
(Thus have We made them subject to you that you may be grateful.) means, for this reason.
سَخَّرْنَـهَا لَكُمْ
(Thus have We made them subject to you) means, `We have subjugated them to you, i.e., We have made them submissive towards you, so that if you wish you can ride them, or if you wish you can milk them, or if you wish you can slaughter them,’ as Allah says:
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعـماً فَهُمْ لَهَا مَـلِكُونَ
(Do they not see that We have created for them of what Our Hands have created, the cattle, so that they are their owners.)36:71 until He said:
أَفَلاَ يَشْكُرُونَ
(Will they not then be grateful) 36:73 And Allah says in this Ayah:
كَذلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
(Thus have We made them subject to you that you may be grateful.)
Verse Number 37
The Goal of the Udhiyyah (Sacrifice) according to Allah is the Sincerity and Taqwa of His Servant
Allah says: this sacrifice is prescribed for you so that you will remember Him at the time of slaughter, for He is the Creator and Provider. Nothing of its flesh or blood reaches Him, for He has no need of anything other than Himself. During the time of Jahiliyyah, when they offered sacrifices to their gods, they would put some of the meat of their sacrifices on their idols, and sprinkle the blood over them. But Allah says:
لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلاَ دِمَآؤُهَا
(It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah,) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Jurayj said, “The people of the Jahiliyyah used to put the meat of their sacrifices and sprinkle the blood on the House, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “We have more right to do that.” Then Allah revealed the words:
لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلاَ دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنكُمْ
(It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwa from you that reaches Him.) That is what He will accept and reward for, as mentioned in the Sahih,
«إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَلَا إِلَى أَلْوَانِكُمْ، وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُم»
(Allah does not look to your appearance or your colors, but He looks to your hearts and deeds.) And in the Hadith; (Indeed charity falls in the Hand of Ar-Rahman before it falls in the hand of the one asking.)
كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ
(Thus have We made them subject to you) meaning, `for this purpose We have subjugated the Budn for you,’
لِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ
(that you may proclaim Allah’s greatness for His guidance to you.) means, that you may glorify Him for guiding you to His religion and His way which He loves and is pleased with, and has forbidden you to do all that He hates and rejects.
وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
(And give glad tidings to the doers of good.) means, `give good news, O Muhammad, to those who do good,’ i.e., whose deeds are good and who remain within the limits prescribed by Allah, who follow that which has been prescribed for them, who believe in the Messenger and follow that which he has conveyed from his Lord.
(Note) The Udhiyyah is Sunnah Mustahabbah One animal is sufficient on behalf of all the members of one household. Ibn `Umar said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to offer sacrifice for ten years.” This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi. Abu Ayyub said: “At the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a man would sacrifice a sheep on behalf of himself and all the members of his household, and they would eat from it and feed others, until the people started boasting by sacrificing more than one and things reached the stage that you see now.” This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih, and by Ibn Majah. `Abdullah bin Hisham used to sacrifice one sheep on behalf of his entire family; this was recorded by Al-Bukhari. Concerning how old the sacrificial animal should be, Muslim recorded from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا تَذْبَحُوا إِلَّا مُسِنَّةً، إِلَّا أَنْ تَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْن»
(Do not sacrifice any but mature animals, and if that is not possible, then sacrifice a young sheep.)
Verse Number 38
Good News of Allah’s Defence for the Believers
Here Allah tells us that He defends His servants who put their trust in Him and turn to Him in repentance; He protects them from the the worst of evil people and the plots of the sinners; He protects them, guards them and supports them, as He tells us elsewhere:
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ
(Is not Allah sufficient for His servant) 39:36
وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَـلِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْراً
(And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things) 65:3.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍ
(Verily, Allah likes not any treacherous ingrate) means, He does not like any of His servants who bear these characteristics, i.e., treachery in covenants and promises whereby a person does not do what he says, and ingratitude is to deny the blessings, whereby one does not acknowledge or appreciate them.