Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 198–203

2. Al-Baqara · The Cow

Madinan286 verses

لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَٰتٍۢ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلْمَشْعَرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَٱذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

2:198There is no sin upon you in seeking your Lord’s bounty [during the hajj season]. Then when you stream out of ‘Arafat remember Allah at the Holy Mash‘ar, and remember Him as He has guided you, and earlier you were indeed among the astray.12

ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

2:199Then stream out from where the people stream out, and plead to Allah for forgiveness; indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَٰسِكَكُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًۭا ۗ فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَٰقٍۢ

2:200And when you finish your rites, then remember Allah as you would remember your fathers, or with a more ardent remembrance. Among the people there are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us in this world,’ but for such there is no share in the Hereafter.

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

2:201And among them there are those who say, ‘Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.’3

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

2:202Such shall partake of what they have earned, and Allah is swift at reckoning.

۞ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

2:203Remember Allah in the appointed days. Then whoever hastens off in a couple of days, there is no sin upon him, and whoever delays, there is no sin upon him—that for one who has been Godwary—and be wary of Allah and know that toward Him you will be mustered.4

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 198

1.Hajj is a sacred worship, for which a person leaves his family members and children and bear different difficulties and spends his days in different open fields. The embellishments have to be given up and comforts are lost and the family members are separated. And the person apparently remains for Allah alone. But even after this no restrictions are laid on conducting business. That man should continue to earn lawful sustenance and the favour of Allah. He must only remember that the actual aim is attendance in the presence of Allah, Taqwa and abstinence. Allah has not put any burden to earn a living but he must be careful of his duty to Allah and fear Him.

2.The great plain of Arafat is 18 kms away from Mecca where the pilgrim has to stay from sunrise to sunset on 9th Zilhajj. After that he has to go to stay in the Plain of Masharil Haram from the fajr (dawn) to sunrise. Here there are no particular rituals. He only has to remember Allah and recite duas and repentance. According to the traditions these are the best places for acceptance of repentance and seeking forgiveness.

Verse 200

3.Before Islam it was a custom in Arab community that after performing a Hajj, they gathered and lauded their heroic deeds and the greatness of their forefathers. Islam prohibited this and invited them to the remembrance of Allah. But what a pity that even some ignorant Muslims have also have become used to this ignorant custom and after returning from Mecca, they describe their voyages which include backbiting of the fellow travellers and allegations etc. all of which is absolutely against Islamic law and which completely destroys the Hajj. May the Lord of the Universe protect us from the mischief of Shaitan who is always waiting for a chance to take revenge.

Verse 201

4.Both these behaviours are found in every era. The first is censured in every age. Some people want to see the rewards of their deeds in this very life. They are not worried of the hereafter. In the view of Islam this type of thinking is irreligious. If the soul is weak you must pray for both. Do not be content with the Hereafter.

Verse 203

5.It is necessary to stay on the Plain of Mina on the nights of 11th, 12th and 13th Zilhajj. However if anyone has refrained from hunting or sexual intercourse he can leave Mina even by 12th Zilhajj.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    To conduct business and trading along with the Hajj to the House of Allah is not prohibited. But giving preference to trade leaving the Hajj rituals is not advisable.

  2. 2

    These plains are called Muzdalifa and also Jamaa. They are within the limits of the Haram (sanctuary) and that is why the pebbles for stoning satan are collected here. It is also called Masharil Haraam.

  3. 3

    The best fortune is goodness in the world and salvation in the hereafter and the best fortune of the hereafter is divine mercy and freedom from divine punishment.

  4. 4

    These days denote the 11th, 12th and 13th of Zilhaij.

  5. Benefit

    Regarding Hasana the tradition of the Prophet (s.a.) says that Hasana is a thankful heart, a tongue remembering Allah and a believing wife who helps in the affairs of the life and the hereafter, and these are the best proofs.

    Benefit: Fala Itmun Alaihe (there is no sin in him) could also indicate that there is no blame on you if you rest for two or three days and it is also possible that after such extensive repentance and remembrance of Allah no sin remains in the account of deeds of man, which is a clear meaning of the conditions of piety.