Overall meaning : Allah Almighty instructs those who have embarked on the major pilgrimage (hajj) or the minor pilgrimage (‘umrah) to complete the rituals they have started in them, ensuring that all their requirements and conditions are met and that they are doing so for the sole object of attaining Allah’s good pleasure. If they are prevented from reaching the Sacred House due to fear, illness or any unforeseen circumstance, for that matter, then they should slaughter whatever sacrificial animal they can afford—be it a camel, a cow, a sheep or a goat. He further instructs them not to leave the state of ihram if they are stopped on their way by any unforeseen circumstance until the sacrificial offering reaches its place of sacrifice, which is the place where they are hindered from completing the pilgrimage; as for those who are not prevented from reaching the Sacred House, they must slaughter it within the precincts of the sanctuary in Makkah. If this incident occurs during the major pilgrimage (hajj), the sacrificial animal ought to be sacrificed on the Day of Sacrifice. However, whoever needs to shave his head due to an illness or a persistently annoying scalp problem, such as lice, can go ahead and do so before completing the hajj rituals, in which case he should, in expiation, either fast three days, feed six poor people, giving each one half a saa’ (measure of capacity weighing 3 kg approx.), or sacrifice a sheep or a goat.
If the impediment is removed and they are able to reach the Sacred House after all, whosoever has completed the ‘umrah rituals in the months of the hajj before engaging in the hajj rituals—as well as those who combine hajj and ‘umrah—(i.e. those who perform Hajj-at-Tamattu’ and Hajj Al-Qiraan) must slaughter whatever sacrificial animal they can afford—be it a camel, a cow, a sheep or a goat. But if he lacks the means, then he must fast three days during the pilgrimage and seven more after he returns home upon completion of the required hajj rituals. This ruling applies to those who engage in Hajj-at-Tamattu’ and whose families do not reside in the environs of the Sacred Mosque (that is, Makkah and its environs). The Almighty then instructs the faithful to be mindful of Him by carrying out His orders and avoiding what He has declared impermissible, drawing their attention to the severe punishment He has prepared for those who disobey Him and do what He has forbidden.
The time of the major pilgrimage (hajj) is, Almighty Allah explains, during fixed well-known months, namely Shawwaal, Dhul-Qa’dah and the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (i.e. the tenth, eleventh and twelfth months of the Islamic lunar calendar). Thus, whoever assumes the state of consecration (ihram) for hajj in these months must avoid conjugal relations and foreplay with his spouse and even talking about this topic in her presence. He must likewise stay away from all sins, including all the acts he is forbidden to do while in a state of ihram, abusing Muslims, contending by means of falsehood, such as by arguing about the pilgrimage and its rulings, which Allah has made abundantly clear, and eschewing all forms of quarrelling and wrangling. The Almighty further informs the faithful that He is fully aware of whatever good they do and He will repay them with the best reward for it. He instructs them to take sufficient provisions for the entire journey to reach the Sacred House, highlighting the fact that the best provision is that which helps them attain the bliss of the hereafter, namely taqwa, or piety and mindfulness of Allah which can only be achieved by doing what He commands and avoiding what He forbids. Thus does He command those with sounds minds who grasp the true reality of taqwa and its positive effects and consequences.
The Almighty states that the believers will incur no sin if they seek the bounty of their Lord by trading during the pilgrimage (hajj). Then He sets out to explain some of the hajj rituals. He directs pilgrims to remember Him at Muzdalifah after pressing on in multitudes from ‘Arafat, by performing the prayers and engaging in supplications to Him and remembering Him with profound gratitude for having guided them to the right path, before which time they were surely astray and far plunged in error. Such act of remembrance, He states, must be carried out just as He commands.
The Hums were a group of the Quraysh and other tribes who, claiming that it was below their dignity to proceed to ‘Arafat along with the other Arabs because they lived in the Sanctuary, reserved a mark of distinction for themselves by halting at Muzdalifah while other pilgrims proceeded on to ‘Arafat. Allah abolishes this erroneous practice and orders them to stream forth from ‘Arafat like all the other pilgrims, and instructs all pilgrims to implore His mercy and forgiveness, for He is surely All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate towards the believers.
Allah then addresses the pilgrims, stating that after completing their hajj rituals and have left the ihram state, they must remember Him very much, with the same zeal they remember their fathers’ exploits and chant their praises. In fact, they should remember Him with even greater zeal and deeper reverence.
He also instructs them to supplicate Him after commanding them to remember Him often, for it is more likely that their supplications will be answered. He condemns those who ask Him only for worldly goods, stating that these will have no portion of reward in the world to come; and praises the believers who ask Him for good both in this world and in the world to come and implore Him to save them from the punishment of the Fire. These, He declares, will receive a great reward for the hajj they have performed, and He will give them the good of this life and the life to come for which they have asked Him. Indeed, He is swift at recording people’s deeds and swift at repaying them.
Then Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, instructs the faithful to pronounce the takbeer (the expression ‘Allaahu Akbar, which means ‘Allah is the Greatest) during the days of tashreeq (that is, the three days which follow the feast of sacrifice, namely the 11th, 12th and 13th of the twelfth month of Dhul-Hijjah). This includes the takbeer that is recited upon slaughtering sacrificial animals, unrestricted takbeer that it is recited at all times and restricted takbeer which is recited at certain times, such as following the obligatory prayers and upon casting pebbles at the stone pillars in Mina during the pilgrimage. Pilgrims who hasten to leave Mina before sunset on the second day of tashreeq (the 12th of the month of Dhul-Hijjah), Allah explains, will incur no sin whatsoever, nor will those who choose to remain there until the third day (the 13th of the month of Dhul-Hijjah) to throw pebbles at the stone pillar, as long as they all show total obedience to Him. Allah then orders His servants to be mindful of Him by carrying out what He commands and avoiding what He forbids, and to be absolutely certain that they will all be resurrected and assembled before Him on the Day of Judgement.