Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 194–197

2. Al-Baqara · The Cow

Madinan286 verses

ٱلشَّهْرُ ٱلْحَرَامُ بِٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَٱلْحُرُمَٰتُ قِصَاصٌۭ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱعْتَدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا ٱعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

2:194A sacred month for a sacred month, and all sanctities require retribution. So should anyone aggress against you, assail him in the manner he assailed you, and be wary of Allah, and know that Allah is with the Godwary.

وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

2:195Spend in the way of Allah, and do not cast yourselves with your own hands into destruction; and be virtuous. Indeed Allah loves the virtuous.*

وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

2:196Complete the hajj and the ‘umrah for Allah’s sake, and if you are prevented, then [make] such [sacrificial] offering as is feasible. And do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its [assigned] place. But should any of you be sick, or have a hurt in his head, let the atonement be by fasting, or charity, or sacrifice. And when you have security—for those who enjoy [release from the restrictions] by virtue of their ‘umrah until the hajj—let the offering be such as is feasible. As for someone who cannot afford [the offering], let him fast three days during the hajj and seven when you return; that is [a period of] ten complete [days]. That is for someone whose family does not dwell by the Holy Mosque. And be wary of Allah, and know that Allah is severe in retribution.12

ٱلْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌۭ مَّعْلُومَٰتٌۭ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ يَعْلَمْهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا۟ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

2:197The hajj [season] is in months well-known; so whoever decides on hajj [pilgrimage] therein, [should know that] there is to be no sexual contact, vicious talk, or disputing during the hajj. And whatever good you do, Allah knows it. And take provision, for indeed the best provision is Godwariness. So be wary of Me, O you who possess intellects!34

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 195

1.There are two kinds of destructions. Sometimes they are created from extravagance and sometimes from miserliness. Islam prohibited both and prescribed a general law that apart from monetary aspects one should not be extravagant with his body and put his life in danger. And it is necessary to spend for Jihad.

Verse 196

2.Another specialty of Hajj and Umrah is that though it is recommended in the beginning it becomes obligatory in the end. That is why the holy Quran has made the whole of it obligatory though the original had not been compulsory.

3.In Islam there are three ways of performing Hajj: (i) Tamatto (ii) Qiran (iii) Afrad. Qiran and Afrad are for the people of Mecca and those who live in the surrounding areas. And Hajj-e-Tamatto is for those who live outside these limits and who are considered travellers and not citizens of Mecca.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    In the 195th ayat Ahsanoo is mentioned with Infeqoo denoting the method of spending and also refraining from showing obligation. The 196th ayat shows that the perfect number is ten. After this all the numbers are constructed with its units.

    Benefit: Regarding Arafat people think that it was the place where Jibraeel (a.s.) was explaining the rituals of Hajj to Ibrahim (a.s.). He was repeatedly saying; Arafto Arafto (I recognize, I recognize). Sha’ar is from Shao’ or (understanding) while it itself indicates that fountains of understanding, renunciation and sacrifice erupt from this place.

  2. 1

    Nasaq is pure gold and that is why worship acts are compared to Nasaq. That there is sincerity in it. Nasaq also denotes sacrifice since in that too sincerity is a must.

  3. 2

    In the captioned ayats Taqwa (Piety) is mentioned again and again which indicates the mood of Islam. That on no occasion does it permit doing anything against piety.

  4. 3

    Rafasa - Sex, transgression and disobedience of divine commands, creating discord and swearing falsely etc.

  5. 4

    Zaad is the provision of the journey tilt its end. Human life is a journey and for this the proper provision is piety and nothing else.