Overall meaning : Almighty Allah informs the faithful that He will surely test their faith, while they are in a state of consecration (ihram) for the major pilgrimage (hajj) or the minor pilgrimage (‘umrah), by sending to them some types of game which they are not allowed to hunt in a state on consecration, making it easy for them to catch with their hands or with their spears, in order to mark out those who—in His foreknowledge—truly fear Him given that they cannot physically see Him and those among them who truly fear Him when they cannot be seen by people. He states that those who intentionally transgress His limits in this respect by hunting game while in a state of consecration (ihram) after He has declared such a practice unlawful will suffer a painful punishment.
The Almighty then forbids the faithful to kill game while in a state of consecration (ihram) for the major pilgrimage (hajj) or the minor pilgrimage (‘umrah) or if they are within the precincts of the sanctuary in Makkah. Whoever of them kills it intentionally, He explains, must make amends by offering a sacrificial animal (camel, cattle, sheep or goat) of equal value, to be determined by two men among the believers who are known for their equity and probity, and to be slaughtered within the precincts of the sanctuary in Makkah and its meat should be distributed to the poor there; or he may atone for his sin by giving as much food to the poor as the value of the game killed, or by fasting a number of days equivalent to the number of the persons to be fed, so that he may taste the evil consequences of his deed. Allah then mentions one manifestation of His immense mercy towards His servants, stating that He has pardoned past violations that took place before this prohibition. But if someone commits the violation again, Allah will punish him severely for his offence. Allah is All-Mighty, has power to accomplish His will, is ever able to requite wrong and execute just vengeance on offenders, and no one can possibly prevent Him from doing so.
Having given the ruling on land animals, Allah Almighty proceeds to state that water game caught alive and its food (dead fish that are washed ashore or remain afloat on its surface) are lawful even for those who are in a state of consecration (ihram) for the major or minor pilgrimage, for the benefit of His servants, whether they are settled or on a journey. He goes on to restate that they are forbidden land game as long as they are in a state of consecration, and He exhorts them to fear Him and be mindful of Him under all circumstances, stating that they will all be returned to Him and that He will repay them according to their actions.