Chapter 22 - 92
The Pilgrimage (Surah Al-Hajj)
(78 verses - mix of Makkah and Madinah verses, but mostly Madinan verses)
In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
O Mankind! Be mindful of your responsibility (ittaqu) to your Sustainer God! The shock of the Hour will be anything but a terrifying event! On that Day, nursing women will forget to nurse, pregnant women will miscarry, and men will wonder aimlessly as if drunk, though they are not! The chastisement of Allah will be severe! (v. 1-2)
There are those among people who contend about Allah, though having no knowledge and follow the Shaitan, the rebel! It is written regarding Shaitan that whoever befriends him, he will lead them astray and bring them to the chastisement of the Fire! (v. 3-4)
O People! If you are in doubt about resurrection, consider this – God created you from earthly dust, then from a living cell, then reproduces you from a lump (ovum), covers you with flesh and then either completes your form or leaves it incomplete, to make matters clear for you. Then God causes it, as He deems appropriate, to remain in the womb till a time determined, and then brings it out as babies so that it may mature in time. Some of you God causes to die (at different ages) while others are brought to old age so that they forget after having been endowed with knowledge. (Similarly) you see the earth barren and God sends down water. It then stirs, swells, and brings out beautiful and refreshing growth of all kinds! This is Allah – He is the Truth, Given of life to the dead, Possessor of power over all things! The Hour is ever approaching – let there be no doubt about it! Allah will certainly raise those who are in the graves! (v. 5-7)
There are people who dispute about Allah without knowledge, without guidance and without a book that enlightens. They turn away in arrogance to lead people away from the way of Allah. For them is disgrace in this life and on the Day of Resurrection they will face the consequences that burn. Such retribution is a result of what they have done. Allah is not the least bit unjust to the creation! (v. 8-10)
There are those who serve Allah with doubts in their faith – if something good comes to them, they are satisfied but if a trial falls on them, they revert to old ways. They lose this world and the Hereafter – a clear loss! They resort to others instead of Allah – entities that can neither harm nor benefit – that is truly straying far! They call on those whose harm is nearer than their benefit – an evil guardian and an evil company! But Allah will welcome those who believe and do good to the Gardens with streams flowing. Allah does what He wills! (v. 11-14)
If they think that Allah will not aid him (Prophet) in this life and in the Hereafter, let them climb a rope to heaven and disconnect and see if this will change the plan which enrages them1. This is how We (God) reveal the messages, with clear arguments – Allah guides whom He intends! (v. 15)
Regarding the Muslims, the Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians, the Polytheists – Allah will judge among them on the Day of Resurrection; Allah is a witness to all things! Do they not see that all that is in the heavens and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, animals and many of the people show their submission to God?2> And there are many (among people) for whom chastisement is due. Whomever faces disgrace from Allah, can have no honor! Allah does what He intends! (v. 16-18)
These are two adversaries3 who disputes about their Sustainer God. Whoever deny and disbelieve, for them are pieces of garments of fire (to wear) and boiling water, poured over their heads, that will melt their bellies and their skins and iron hooks to contain. Whenever they wish to get out of it – such grief – they are pushed back and (told), “Taste the chastisement of burning!” (v. 19-22)
Allah will make those who believe and do good to enter the Gardens with flowing streams, have bracelets of gold and pearls, and garments made of silk – being guided to pure words and guided to the path of the One Praised! Whereas those who deny, prohibit people from Allah’s Way, prevent people from the Sacred Mosque which should be accessible to both residents and visitors, and incline to do evil in it unjustly will taste the grave consequences from Us (God)! (v. 23-25)
We showed Abraham the place for the Kabbah and instructed, “Associate none with Me and purify My House for those who will circle around it, stand for worship, bow and prostrate in it. Proclaim to people the practice of Pilgrimage – that they will come on foot, on camels worthy of long journey, and come from every remote valleys – that they may acknowledge blessings given to them, remember Allah on days appointed, sacrifice livestock so that they can feed themselves and feed those who are needy and in distress! Let them cleanse themselves as instructed, fulfil their vows and circle around the Ancient House! This is how it is – whoever honors the sacred ordinance of Allah, it is better for them with their Sustainer. Cattle are made halal for you except what has already been mentioned. Avoid the indignity of idol worship and false speech. Be upright (hanif) for the sake of Allah and associate none with Him. Whoever associate anyone with Allah, it is as if they fell from the sky and birds snatched them away or the wind carried them to a distant place. Again, whoever honors the ordinance of Allah, that is the hallmark of a heart responsible (taqwa)! (v. 26-32)
The livestock give you benefit till an appointed time and then their sacrifice is near the Ancient House! For every community (faith group) We (God) had assigned acts of devotion that they may mention Allah’s name on what He had given them of livestock. Your God is One God – submit to your God! Give good news to those who are humble – whose hearts quiver at the mention of Allah, who are patient in adversity, maintain their worship (salat) and share with others what God had given them. (v. 33-35)
The camels – these are evidence manifest to you from Allah. In them there are much good. Mention Allah’s name as they stand in row (for sacrifice) and when they fall to their sides, eat their flesh and feed those who are content and those who beg. We have made them submissive to you so that you may be grateful! It is not their flesh or blood that reaches Allah but it is the demonstration of your sense of responsibility (taqwa) that does reach Him. He had made them subservient so that you may magnify Allah for giving you guidance. Give good news to those who are good people (muhsen)! (v. 36-37)
Allah will certainly defend those who believe! Allah does not love those who are ungrateful, unfaithful! (v. 38)
Permission (to fight) is granted to those who are forced to defend themselves and they have been oppressed. Allah is certainly able to assist them – as they were driven of their land without any justification except that they said, “Our Sustainer is Allah!” If Allah did not repel one group from another then monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques – where Allah’s name is much mentioned – would have been destroyed! Allah will help those who help His cause – Allah is Strong, Mighty – those who, if they are given sovereignty over a land, they establish worship (salat), share their wealth (zakat), establish what is good (ma’ruf) and forbids what is evil (munkar). To Allah all matters come for resolution! (v. 39-41)
If they reject you (Prophet), so did the people of Noah, A’d, Thamud, Abraham, Lots – they too rejected, including the people of Midian. Moses was rejected too! I (Allah) give respite to the deniers and then I seize them! What was the effect of what I did? Many towns that We destroyed – while they were ungrateful – lay with their roofs fallen, watering holes abandoned and palaces high (but empty). If they had traveled on earth, then perhaps their hearts could understand and their ears could hear, but it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind is the heart that is in the chest. (v. 42-46)
They ask you (Prophet) to speed up the chastisement, but Allah will never fail in His promise. A day with your Sustainer is a thousand years by your measure! How many towns were given opportunities to mend while they acted unjustly, but in the end I seized them! To Me is the eventual return! (v. 47-48)
Say (Prophet), “I am simply a warner to you. Therefore, whoever believe and do good, for them is forgiveness and a generous provision, while those who oppose and try to foil Our message, they are the inhabitants of the Abyss! (v. 49-51)
We (God) have never sent a messenger before you (Prophet) except that those (in opposition) desire – their desire is nothing but an instigation from the Shaitan - and Allah defeats the insinuation of the Shaitan and establishes His messages. Allah is Knowing, Wise! This is how Allah makes what the Devil suggests a trial for those whose hearts are diseased and hardened. The unjust is indeed in serious opposition. Whereas it is a source of affirmation for those who have been gifted with knowledge so that they believe in the truth and their hearts softens with belief. Allah surely guides the believers to the Straight Path (siratal mustaqim)! (v. 52-54)
The disbelievers will never cease to doubt this message until the Hour overwhelms them suddenly or their consequences catches up with them on a day devoid of any good (for them). The sole governance on that Day will rest with Allah Who will judge between them – whoever believe and do good will be in the Garden of bliss, and whoever deny and reject Our messages will have humiliating consequences! (v. 55-57)
Those who flee in Allah’s way and are either killed or die, Allah will certainly offer a good provision; Allah is indeed the Best Provider! God will bring them to a place that they will be pleased with. Allah is Knowing, Forbearing! This is how it is. Whoever retaliate in the same proportion that they have been impacted and they have been oppressed, Allah will certainly help them. Allah is Pardoning, and Forgiving! This is how it is, just as Allah makes the night transform into the day and the day transform into the night. Allah is Hearing, Seeing! Again, Allah is the Truth and those they invoke other than God are falsehood. Allah is the most Exalted, the Greatest! (v. 58-62)
Do you not see how Allah sends down water from the clouds and the earth becomes green (with vegetations). Allah is surely the Most Subtle, Fully Aware! All that is in the heavens and on the earth belongs to Allah – the Self-Sufficient, the Praised! Do you not recognize how all that is on earth benefits you and so are the ships that glide through the oceans with God’s command. He maintains the heavens from falling onto the earth, except by His permission. Allah is certainly compassionate to mankind and endows them with mercy from Him! God gives you life, then causes you to die and then resurrects you back to life. Mankind surely is ungrateful! (v. 63-66)
To every community We (God) have prescribed acts of devotion which they should observe. Do not let them dispute with you regarding the matter at hand and rely on your Sustainer; you are on the right path! If they continue to contend with you, then say, “Allah knows what you do. Allah will decide between you on the Day of Resurrection regarding your disagreements. Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and on the earth? All is documented in a book – an act easy for Allah!” (v. 67-70)
They show devotion to others besides Allah for which they are given no authority nor any knowledge that they possess. The deniers and the unjust cannot be helped – you can see it on their faces when Our messages are clarified to them; they almost attack those who recite Our messages to them. Say (Prophet), “Shall I inform you what is worse than this – the Fire that Allah had promised to those who deny – what an evil ending!” (v. 71-72)
O People! Here is a parable and so listen to it: those that you invoke besides Allah cannot create a fly even if they were to combine forces together, and if a fly were to carry anything away from them, they cannot get it back. How feeble are those who invoke and those that are invoked! They cannot estimate Allah in His true measure. Allah is Strong, Mighty! Allah chooses messengers from among the angles and people. Allah indeed Hears and Sees! He knows what is their past and what is their future; all matters return to Allah! ((v. 73-76)
O Believers! Bow down, prostrate and devote yourself to your Sustainer and do good that you may achieve success! Strive hard for Allah, a striving that is worthy of Him! He has selected you and placed no hardship in your faith – the faith of your father Abraham! He named you Muslims in the past and in this (Qur’an) so that the messengers can bear witness to you, and you can bear witness to the people! Therefore, commit to your worship (salat) and share from your wealth (zakat) and hold strongly onto Allah! He is your Protector – how Excellent of a Protector, how Excellent of a Helper! (v. 77-78)
1 This metaphor refers either to believers who are impatient for God’s help not coming soon enough or the enemies of the Prophet who wants to change Prophet’s path to success which they fear will be true.
2 Such verses, according to tradition of the Prophet, call for actual prostration (sajdah) as expressed in 7:206
3 Could imply the disbelievers and the doubters as adversaries to believers or the believers and the disbelievers are adversaries to each other
