207- AND OF PEOPLE THOSE WHO BUY THEMSELVES SEEKING ALLAH’S PLEASURE, AND ALLAH IS MOST KIND TO HIS SLAVES.

A man called Sohib Ibn Sanan embraced Islam after Allah’s messenger migration to Medina.  He was not originally from Makah, but while living there he made considerable wealth through trading.  When the Makans who were disbelievers at the time knew about his intention to migrate, they told him that he has to leave all his wealth in Makah where he made it.  He thought that he would be buying himself and his faith with his money, and he agreed and they let him go without any money.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him received this Ayah meanwhile, and told the Muslims in Medina about what happened to Sohib.  When Sohib Arrived in Medina, he found Omar Ibn El-Khatab among other Muslims waiting for him, expecting his arrival.  When they met him, Omar said to him: “Your transaction is profitable”.  Sohib answered: “May Allah never let you trade a loss”.  They told Sohib that Allah the Highest sent down Quran about him.  When he met Allah’s messenger, he prayer and peace upon him said to Sohib: “Your transactions is profitable Sohib”.  He said it twice. 

In every situation whereby a believer has to choose between a worldly gains and obeying Allah the Highest and his Faith, the believer enters into a transaction.  In this transaction, he might trade for a profit or a loss depending upon his decision and choice.  Choosing any kind of worldly gain over obeying and pleasing Allah the Highest is certainly a bad choice, for nothing can match the rewards of the Hereafter.  To choose the Obedience of the Creator and His Path is the rewarding and profitable choice.  This is the lesson for us to remember.  Allah the Highest spoke about this transaction in another Ayah in the Quran saying: “ALLAH BOUGHT OUT FROM THE BELIEVERS THEIRS SOULS AND WEALTH FOR THE PRICE OF THE PARADISE”.  (S: 9 A: 111)

This is a very good price indeed.

204- AND OF PEOPLE THOSE WHOM YOU LIKE WHAT THEY SAY, AND CALL UPON ALLAH TO BEAR WITNESS OVER WHAT IS IN THEIR HEARTS WHILE THEY ARE THE WORST ENEMIES.

205- WHEN HE TURNS THEIR BACKS TO YOU, HE GOES THROUGH THE EARTH SPREADING MISCHIEF, DESTROYING CROPS AND LIFE, AND ALLAH DOES NOT LIKE MISCHIEF.

206- AND WHAT IT IS SAID TO HIM TO FEAR ALLAH, HE WILL BE CARRIED AWAY BY PRIDE IN HIS SIN.  THE HELL-FIRE SHALL BE SUFFICIENT FOR HIM, AN EVIL RESTING PLACE IT IS INDEED.

A man called Al-Aknas Ibn Shareek went to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him in Medina and declared his Islam.  He was full of good words and nice things to say.  On his way out of Medina, he burned some of the Muslims plants and trees, and killed some of their animals.

General meaning:

It is about the hypocrites and knowing people.  People are known by their actions not what they say that they are or want to do or their intentions are.  Allah the Highest tells us that such people speak nice words, but do ugly deeds.  Of course there are many ways of destroying food and life than burning and killing, ways which lead to shortage of food and provisions for the Muslims and every one else.

Some people or even countries withhold food to keep its prices high for their own gain and profit.  Some even burn grain or dump it in the sea for the same purpose.  The result is that few people benefit from the high prices of food at the cost of the majority who have to pay for it, particularly the poorer of us.

The latest happening in some European countries is to farmers in order not to farm their land, or in order to do any activities other than producing food.  The purpose is the same, to reduce the food produced, either as crops or animals in order for the prices to stay artificially high.

This is destroying food and is a great mischief on Earth.

If those people are reminded that what they are doing is wrong, they never see their wrong doing, but are often proud of their sin.  Of course they consider it sinning, if they know what sinning is any way.  Allah the Highest promises them the Hell-Fire.

They usually can put a very eloquent argument, and may even be persuasive to some.  Allah the Highest warns us about them and tells us that we should look at what people do and its results, not the nice things they say.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The most I fear for my nation is a well spoken hypocrite”.  (A: 2; 22, 44 & Ma)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “I fear for my nation the Imams who misguide”.  (D:Fetan;1 & T:Fetan;51 &Da:Reqaq;39 & A:5;278,284)

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

200- WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR RITES, REMEMBER ALLAH AS MUCH AS YOU REMEMBER YOUR FATHERS OR EVEN MORE.  OF PEOPLE THOSE WHO SAY: “OUR LORD GIVE US IN THIS LIFE”, BUT THEY HAVE NO SHARE IN THE HEREAFTER.

201- AND OF THEM THOSE WHO SAY: “OUR LORD GIVE US SOME GOODNESS IN THIS LIFE AND SOME GOODNESS IN THE HEREAFTER, AND PROTECT US FROM THE PUNISHMENT OF THE FIRE”.

202- THESE WILL HAVE A SHARE OF WHAT THEY EARNED, FOR ALLAH IS SWIFT IN RECKONING.

203- AND REMEMBER ALLAH IN NUMBERED DAYS.  HE WHO HASTENS IN TWO DAYS, THERE IS NO GUILT UPON HIM, AND HE WHO STAYS LATE, THERE IS NO GUILT UPON HIM, FOR THOSE WHO ARE PIOUS.  AND PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, AND KNOW THAT YOUR WILL ALL BE GATHERED BEFORE HIM.

Before Islam, the Arabs used to go on Hajj with the Idles in place in and around the Kabba.  After Hajj, they used to gather to remember their fathers and fore fathers, remember life lives, reciting poetry about them etc.  Allah the Highest is telling us to remember him even more than we remember our fathers. 

Any thing which brings Allah the Highest to memory is Zekr; including Salah, reciting the Quran, Tasbeeh, Dawaa or just thinking of Allah and His creations.  Allah the Highest called the Quran Zekr “WE SENT THE ZEKR DOWN AND WE ARE PROTECTING IT”.  (S:15 A:9)

We often ask Allah the Highest for things during our Hajj.  Allah the Highest tells us that there are two kinds:

1-    Those who ask Allah the Highest for the good things in this life only, without any interest in the Hereafter.

“AND HE WHO DESIRES THE PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE, WE SHALL GIVE HIM FROM IT, AND HE WHO DESIRES THE PLEASURE SOF THE HEREAFTER, WE SHALL GIVE HIM FROM IT, AND WILL REWARD THEN THANKFUL” (S:3 A:145)

2-    There are those who ask for some goodness in this life and some in the Hereafter, and to be saved from the Fire.  This is the Dawa of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  Anas Ibn Malik reported that Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him used to say: “Allah give us a reward in this life and a reward in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire”.  (B:Dawat;55 & M:Zekr;23 & D:Wetr;26 & T:Dawat;71 & Ma:Manasek;32)

Allah the Highest means for us to enjoy our life on Earth in Halal way, without forgetting our Hereafter, which is our destination and permanent abode. 

One of the Muslim women, a wife of a companion called Othman Ibn Mazoon saw Aisha Allah’s messenger wife.  Aisha found the lady unkempt, so she asked her: “What is the matter with you?”  She said: “My husband prays all night and fasts all day”.  Aisha told Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, who said to Othman Ibn Mazoon when he met him: “Othman, Monarchism is not prescribed for us.  Don’t you have an example in me; for I am the one who fears Allah most and observes his limits most”.  (A: 6; 226)

Then Allah the Highest reminds us that He is swift in reckoning, and nothing we do is missed ever.

“AND REMEMBER ALLAH IN NUMBERED DAYS”.  These are the days of Tashreek, which are the 3 days after Eid, the big feast.  They are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The days Arafat, Sacrifice and Tashreek are our Eid people of Islam, they are days for eating and drinking” (A: 4; 152)

Jamarat:

They are the days of the thrown of the stones.  This is a symbolic rite in Hajj in which the Pilgrims throw stones on three monuments symbolic of Satan who appeared to Ibrahim in three different sites to stop him obeying Allah’s command of killing his son Ismail.  On each occasion Ibrahim peace upon him stoned him and went on obeying Allah’s command.  The three sites of stoning are but symbolic of that even and so is our stoning of the three pillars.

This part of Hajj is important, but not essential.  This is to say that women or old people can deputize able bodied men to do this for them.  If totally missed, the sacrifice of a sheep will redeem it and the Hajj will be correct.  Certainly one should not suffer physically or hurt others in order to perform this rite.

This brings us to the subject of people’s manners in Hajj which was mentioned earlier.  If just arguments may ruin one’s Hajj, then one should be much better behaved than we often are.  We should be considerate of each other’s comfort and safety during Hajj, for Allah the Highest watches us and sees our behavior then.  And upon our behavior depends whether Allah shall accept our Hajj or not.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

198- IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE TO SEEK BOUNTY FROM YOUR LORD (DURING HAJJ).  WHEN YOU POUR DOWN FROM ARAFAT REMEMBER ALLAH BY THE SACRED MONUMENT.  REMEMBER HIM AS HE GUIDED YOU, FOR YOU WERE MISGUIDED BEFOREHAND.

199- THEN POUR DOWN FROM WHERE PEOPLE POUR DOWN, AND ASK ALLAH FOR FORGIVENESS, FOR ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL.

Allah the Highest is permitting the Muslims on Hajj to earn money while on Hajj by working or trading.  This is a great mercy, for the Hajj used to take a long time travelling and people had to pay their way.  Nowadays, it is costly, and to do some work during Hajj for those who need to provide financial assistance with the cost. 

It was reported by Abd Allah Ibn Omar: “A man went to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to ask about working while on Hajj, he did not answer him came to him with this Ayah “IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE TO SEEK BOUNTY ……..”  (Ahmed)

Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari reported that Abi Saleh the servant of Omar Ibn El-Khatab asked him: “Prince of the believers, did you use to trade during Hajj?”  Omar said: “Did we earn our living except during Hajj”.

Allah the Highest mentions some of the rite of Hajj.  Hajj has been known for hundreds of years before Mohamed prayer and peace upon him, since the time of Ibrahim.  However, its rite and practices were contaminated by many of the Idolaters practices.  By the time of Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, and before the Muslims took Makah, there were over 360 Idles in and around the Kabba.   Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went on Hajj on the last year of his life, and he told the Muslims to observe and following the Manasek (rites) of Hajj he did, for all of us to follow in the future, he said: “Takes your Rites after me”.  (M: Hajj; 310 & D: Manasek; 77 & N: Manasek; 178-189)

We follow his example in Hajj until now. 

Arafat:

The stand on Arafat is the peak point of the Hajj.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The Hajj is Arafat, the Hajj is Arafat, and the Hajj is Arafat.  He who reaches Arafat before dawn, he has attained the Hajj, and the days of Mena are three, but whoever hurries in two days, there is no blame upon him and whoever stays longer, there is no blame upon him”.  (T: Tafseer Sorah 2; 22 & D: Manasek; 68 & Ma: Manasek; 67 & Da: Manasek; 54)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “He, who reached Arafat before sunrise, he has attained the Hajj”.  (Ahmed & T & D & M & N)

The time of the Stand on Arafat is from Zohr (noon) until Dawn of the next day, although the time Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him stood there from Zohr until Magreb (sunset).  Imam Ahmed says that one can stand on Arafat from sunrise of the Day of Arafat until dawn of the next day. 

Muzdalifah:

After standing on Arafat from noon (Zohr) to sunset (Magreb), Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him rode his camel to Muzdalifah.  He prayed Magreb and Esha one straight after the other, there, one Azan and 2 Eqamah, and then slept until dawn.  After praying Fajr in Muzdalifah, he went to the Sacred Monument which is a mountain at the edge of the Muzdalifah called Quzoh.  There he said Allah Akbar, and glorified Allah, and then said Dawa facing the Qibla “REMEMBER ALLAH BY THE SACRED MONUMENT”. (M; Hajj; 147)

Remembering Allah the Highest shows our belief, faith and gratitude for being guided and lead to His straight Path. 

Islam is a religion of equality and unity between people.  This Equality and Unity are shown during Hajj in the way people dress and assemble.  Before Islam, the people of Qurish used not to stand on Arafat, but by the Sacred Mosque, as they considered themselves superior and would not stand with the rest.  This was abolished in by saying: “THEN POUR DOWN FROM WHERE PEOPLE POUR DOWN”

Then Allah the Highest reminds us to ask him for forgiveness, for this is the purpose of the Hajj and its ultimate reward.  Asking for forgiveness is something we should never forget or stop.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever is always asking Allah for forgiveness, Allah will grant him a way out of every difficulty, relieves him of every burden, and shall provide him from where he never expected”.  (Ma: Adab; 57 & D: Estefar; 5)

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi  

197- THE HAJJ IS DURING KNOWN MONTHS, FOR WHOEVER UNDERTAKES THE HAJJ DURING THEM, THERE IS NO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, WICKEDNESS, OR ARGUMENT DURING HAJJ.  WHATEVER GOOD YOU DO, ALLAH KNOWS IT.  AND TAKE PROVISIONS, AND THEY BEST PROVISION YOU TAKE IS PIETY, AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM MY DISPLEASURE, YOU OF SOUND MINDS.

The months of Hajj are the months during which one may start the journey for Hajj.  They are Shawal, Zo El-Kedaa, and 10 days of Zo El-Hejra.  We rarely need to start earlier, particularly these days.

Then Allah the Highest tells us how the manners of the Muslims should be during Hajj.  We should refrain from sexual intercourse, doing wicked acts, or even getting into any argument during Hajj.  The Muslim’s manner during Hajj is a condition for the acceptance of his Hajj.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever goes on Hajj to this house, without doing intercourse or wicked deeds, he will be cleared of his sins and shall return home like the day he was born”.  (B: Hajj; 4 & M: Hajj; 438 & T: Hajj; 2 & N: Hajj; 4)

And Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever completes the rites of Hajj, during which the Muslims were safe from his tongue and hand, Allah shall forgive him his past sins”.  (Ahmed)

Asmaa, Abu Bakr’s daughter reported: “We went with Allah’s messenger on Hajj.  When we reached Al-Arag (a place on the way) we stopped.  Aisha sate next to Allah’s messenger and I sate next to my father.  Allah’s messenger and Abu Bakr good and water were carried on a camel, which was looked after by Abu Bakr servant.  Abu Bakr waited for the servant who came without the camel”.  Abu Bakr asked him: “Where is the camel?”  The servant said: “I have been missing it since yesterday”.  Abu Bakr said: “Just one camel and you loose it” and he started hitting him.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said disapprovingly: “Look at this man in Ihram and see what he is doing”.  (D: Manasek; 29 & Ma: Manasek; 21)

We should always be aware that Allah the Highest sees hears and knows all we do.  There is no need or point to take all the trouble and expense of Hajj then ruin our hajj by pushing, mistreating people, and all kind of bad behavior. 

“AND TAKE PROVISIONS, AND THEY BEST PROVISION YOU TAKE IS PIETY”

Some people used to go on Hajj without taking any provisions of food or drink, considering that they are Allah’s guest and reliant on Him to feed them.  This meant that other Muslims fed them and watered them, Allah the Highest is telling them to provide for themselves, food, drink and accommodation.  However the best provision we should never go without is piety, for without piety, our Hajj shall be in vain.

This Ayah is clear for all of us to understand and comprehend.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi