Surah Baqarah (196-203)
Qur’anic Exegesis
وَأَتِمُّواْ الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلّهِ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِ وَلاَ تَحْلِقُواْ رُؤُوسَكُمْ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الْهَدْيُ مَحِلَّهُ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضاً أَوْ بِهِ أَذًى مِّن
And [if the way to] Hajj and ‘Umrah[1] [is opened for you, then] complete [them with all their rites] for Allah[2] only. However, if you are besieged in the way[3] sacrifice the cattle that are available
رَّأْسِهِ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِالْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ذَلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُ حَاضِرِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ (196)
to you[4] and do not shave your heads until the sacrificial offerings have reached their destination[5]. But if any of you is ill or suffers from an ailment of the head [and is forced to shave his head before sacrificing an animal], he must atone for this either by fasting or by almsgiving or by offering an animal as sacrifice[6]. So when circumstances become peaceful anyone among you who combines the [journey for] ‘Umrah with Hajj, he must offer animal sacrifice as he can afford; but if this is not available to him, he should fast three days during Hajj and seven when he has returned; these are ten days in all. [This concession to combine Hajj and ‘Umrah in this manner] is only for those whose houses are not near the Holy Mosque[7]. [Abide by this] and
الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلاَ رَفَثَ وَلاَ فُسُوقَ وَلاَ جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَمَا تَفْعَلُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللّهُ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ (197)
have fear of God and you should know that God is stern in retribution. (196)
The days of Hajj[8]are known[9]. So anyone who intends to offer it[10][by wearing the Ihram] should not indulge in lustful activities and refrain from being disobedient to the Almighty and abstain from altercation[11]. And [remember that] whatever good youdo, the
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّآلِّينَ (198)
Almighty is aware of it. And [in the journey of Hajj] take along with you the provision [of piety] because the best provision is piety[12]. And O men of intellect! Keep fearing Me. (197)
[In this journey of Hajj], it shall be no offence for you to seek the bounty of your Lord[13][but remember that Muzdalifah is no place of amusement and trading; so] when you come from ‘Arafat remember God near the sacred monument and remember Him in the way He has guided you[14]. And before this, you were undoubtedly in error[15]. (198)
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُواْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ النَّاسُ وَاسْتَغْفِرُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (199)
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَاسِكَكُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ آبَاءكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلاَقٍ وِمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ أُولَـئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْ وَاللّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (200-202)
Then [O People of the Quraysh! this is also necessary that] you return from the place from where other people return[16] and seek the forgiveness of God. God is indeed Forgiving and Ever-Merciful. (199)
[And this also is necessary that] after this when you have fulfilled the rites of Hajj, remember God as you remember your forefathers; in fact even more[17]. [This is the time of asking from God] but there are some who [at this instance also] say: ‘Lord, give us in this world’[18] and [then the result of this is that] they shall have no share in the world to come. But there are others who say: ‘Lord, give us what is good both in this world and in the world to come, and save us from the torment of the Fire’[19]. It
وَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ فَلاَ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن
is these who will receive a share of what they earned and swift is God in taking account[20].(200-202)
Remember God in these few appointed[21] days [at Mina]. He who is in haste and departs on the second day incurs no sin, nor
تَأَخَّرَ فَلا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ لِمَنِ اتَّقَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ (203)
(Translated by Shehzad Saleem from Ghamidi’s ‘Al-Bayan’)