Surah Al-Baqarah 2:189-196 - Quran Translation Commentary

189. They ask you about the new moon²⁵⁸ Say: It helps men to mark times (dates) and (the occasion of) Hajj. It is no virtue if you enter your houses from the back; but virtue is to fear Allah²⁵⁹ So enter the houses through their doors and fear Allah so that you may be successful.

190. Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you²⁶⁰, but do not transgress the limits²⁶¹. Indeed Allah does not love transgressors.

191. And slay them wherever you find them²⁶² and drive them out of the places from where they drove you out, for persecution²⁶³ (Fitna) is worse than slaughter. And do not fight with them near Masjid-e- Haram,²⁶⁴ unless they fight you there; so if they fight you, slay them. Such is the due punishment of the infidels.

192. But if they desist,²⁶⁵ then verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

193. And fight them²⁶⁶ until there is no more persecution and there prevails religion for Allah²⁶⁷. But if they desist, then let there be no hostile action except against the wrongdoers .²⁶⁸

194. The prohibited month²⁶⁹ (for fighting) is to be observed provided they (the enemy) also respect²⁷⁰ the prohibited month. Concerning prohibited things there is the law of just retribution.²⁷¹ Therefore, if anyone transgresses the prohibited thing by attacking, then you do likewise (in equal measure). Always fear Allah and bear in mind that Allah is with those who fear Him.

195. And spend your wealth in the way of Allah²⁷² and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction²⁷³ .And do your duty (spending for Allah) with excellence. Verily, Allah loves those who do their duty with excellence.

196. Accomplish the Hajj and Umra for Allah²⁷⁴,²⁷⁵and if you are besieged, then offer²⁷⁶ (Hadyi) such sacrifice for Allah as you may find. And do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice.²⁷⁷ And if any of you is ill or has an ailment of the head, (he should)²⁷⁸ in compensation either observe fast or give alms or offer sacrifice of animal. And when you are in peaceful conditions, then if anyone wishes to take advantage of performing Umra with the Hajj, he must make an offering such as he can afford²⁷⁹. But if he cannot afford it, he should fast for three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return.These are Ten days complete²⁸⁰. This is for those whose household is not in the precincts of the Masjid-e-Haram²⁸¹ And fear Allah²⁸² and know that Allah is strict in punishment.

Commentary

258. This was a question concerning the appearance of the moon every month in the form of the new moon. The nature of this question was not scientific or astronomical but it was in connection with the various superstitions connected with the appearance of the new moon. In the answer, both the religious and the secular aspect have been explained.

The secular aspect is that through the new moon dates of Islamic calendar are fixed. The appearance of the new moon in the sky is a clear indication that the new month has started. Accordingly the Lunar year is based on this Natural Calender. The religious aspect is that the fixation of the dates for the Hajj pilgrimage is done with the help of the lunar month. Similarly in all religious matters, only lunar months are recognised.

259. The pilgrimage of Hajj was performed even in the days of Jahiliya, i.e. before the days of the prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)since it began with prophet Ibrahim. In the Hajj of the preprophet days, its real spirit was absent It was an assortment of rituals and unauthorised innovation (Bidaat). One of the innovations was that during the period of pilgrimage if anyone wanted to enter his house after putting on the Ahram (special garment for Hajj) or after performing the Hajj he should enter his house from the back by jumping over the wall. Quran instructs that this superstition and innovation must go and advises that they should enter the house through their proper doors. It also clarified that virtue or righteousness could not be obtained by following superstitions and ritualistic innovation; it can be achieved by honest God-fearing and respecting the laws of the religion. The real righteousness and virtuousness flow from fear of Allah.

260. In this verse the men of Faith are allowed to fight in defence. It is necessary to understand the background of this permission. The disbelievers of Makka did not believe in the freedom of belief, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. In the tribal system prevalent there no individual from any tribe was allowed to give up his idolatrous religion and convert to Islam. Those who broke these shackles and became Muslims were made victims of untold torture and aggression. They were being forced to come back to their old religion. All this compelled the Muslims to leave their homes and migrate from Makka. And when they took shelter in Madina after migrating from Makka, aggressive activities were increased against them. In these circumstances, Allah gave permission to the men of Faith to meet the attack of sword with sword. This is the first time when command to fight was given to Muslims who were organised in Madina after their migration. After this, in the month of Ramzan of the year Hejira 02, the battle of Badr was fought.

261. There are instructions to remain within the limits even during war-time. Accordingly, in the Hadith there are instructions forbiding the slaughter of women, children and old men. Similarly forbidden are the practices of maiming the dead bodies and indulging in brutalities.

262. In this verse the command of slaying pertains to only those persons who were fighting against Muslims, as is clear from the foregoing verse. It is not correct to think that this command means that wherever Muslims find a kafir (infidel), they should kill him regardless of the part of the world he is found in or whether he is at war with them or not.

263. The word “Fitna” here means tyranny and aggression or persecution, by which attempts were made to turn away Muslims from the Right path and to thwart their endeavours to follow the Right Path. This is a justification for the permission to fight, although fighting or war is a serious matter especially when the fight is to be carried out within the limits of the Haram (Sacred Mosque) and during the forbidden months. It is a more serious matter than wars that the slaves of Allah should be subjected to torture and tribulations only because they had given up idolatry and disbelief and accepted the faith of one God and called others to accept the Guidance of Allah in order to reform the society.

The intention of the verse is that if any group resorts to fascism and authoritarianism and prevents people from accepting the Right Path and comes in the way of propagating the call towards Allah, then the use of force against such a group is lawful and proper.

264. The area near the Sacred Mosque (Masjid-e-Haram) is called ‘Haram’. There are special instructions about paying respects to this sacred place. This status of sacredness is continually granted from the time of prophet Ibrahim. In the pre-Islamic days also, this place was considered as sacred and fighting was forbidden in that area. The question therefore arose that if the disbelievers of Makka started fighting within the limits of the Haram then what should the Muslims do ? The answer was given that the Muslims themselves should not start fighting in the vicinity of the Haram but if the infidels started fighting in the area then Muslims should fight bravely and no quarters should be shown to the opponents.

265. Here desisting means desisting not only from aggressive activities but also from their belief in idolatry and infidelity.

266. Here it is necessary to understand fully the dispute which was going on between the Muslims and the idolaters of Makka.The Quran claimed that the right of management of the House of Ka’aba which was built by the prophets, Ibrahim and Ismail belonged to Muslims and not the idolaters, who had put idols inside the Ka’aba. In answer to the prayer of the prophet Ibrahim, Allah had fulfilled his promise by sending prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.),with the promised prophet this Sacred House is to be renovated for the purpose for which it was built. It was therefore necessary that the said House be cleared from the possession of the idolaters and be placed under the management of Muslims as it was the centre of Islam and the Qibla of the men of Faith. In fact this was the ideal and the main purpose of prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) Any force which was coming in the way of achieving this ideal and this purpose deserved to be removed with force.

267. That is: This war should be continued till the land of Haram is cleared of the persecution and the right faith gains ascendance. Since the House of Allah (Ka’aba) enjoys the position of being the centre of Oneness of Allah, there is no room for any other religion in this land.

268. That is: if they desist and accept Islam as their faith then no action would be taken against them on account of their past crimes. Action would be taken against those who would continue to persist in their aggessive attitude.

269. The months of Zil-qa’ada, Zil-Hijja, Muharram and Rajab are called the forbidden months. Out of these, the first three months were reserved for pilgrimage and the last month for Umra. Fighting was forbidden in these four months so that the pilgrims might travel in safety to Ka’aba and return home. This prevailed since the time of prophet Ibrahim and was accepted by all the Arabs.

270. When the disbelievers do not respect the forbidden months and their swords come out of their scabbards even during these months, then Muslims also have the right to deprive the disbelievers from their right of living with peace and respect.

271. That is: you can deprive them of the right of respecting the same things which you were deprived of by them, but take care about being righteous. You should neither start a fight yourself nor should you exceed the limits of necessity.

272. Here spending in the cause of Allah is to spend for the supremacy of religion and for the glorification of Allah’s words.

273. That is: Those who shy away or avoid spending their wealth for the glory of the faith, they are putting themselves to destruction, because real life lies in offering sacrifice of life and property in the cause of Allah and not in keeping them safe.

“Make not your own hands contribute to your destruction” also indirectly indicates that self-destruction or suicide in any form is forbidden in Islam.

274. Umra is the pilgrimage of the House of Allah (Ka’aba) with specific rituals. It is performed with putting on the Ahram (specified garments) going round the Ka’aba (Tawaf) and running between the safa and Marwa (Sa’ee) and in the end getting the hair on the head shaved or cut. Umra can be performed at any time while Hajj, can be performed only on the fixed dates. Besides, during the Hajj, pilgrims have to go to Arafaat also while Umra is performed only in Makka.

275. The pilgrimage - Hajj and Umra -were being performed even in pre-Islamic days (Jahiliya). This pilgrimage during the Jahiliya was not strictly for Allah but in their rituals they used to worship idols which were placed in the House of Ka’aba and on the hillock at Marwa, etc. They used to worship these idols, placed offerings before them and offered sacrifices of animals. Therefore Allah sent guidance to Muslims to perform Hajj and Umra exclusively for Allah and to keep it free from all the traces of idolatry (shirk) and innovations (bidaat).

There is also another aspect of this guidance that the Hajj should not be made a source of trade and commerce. During the pre-Islamic days of Jahiliya it was considered as a trade fair. It is now stressed that no impure motive or exhibition be allowed to be indulged into during this worship, which is to be performed exclusively as a form of worship and with the sole purpose of winning Allah’s pleasure. Dawatul Qur’an 87 S.2 UUUUUUUUUU S.2 88 Dawatul Qur’an

276. That is: you start from your homes for Hajj or Umra and in the way if you are stopped by the enemy, then you should offer whatever animal is available from amongst camel, cow, goat, for sacrifice.

In the year Hejira 06, when the Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) started with his companions for performing Umra, he was stopped by the idolaters of Makka at the place called Hudaibia, from where the limits of Haram begin. The prophet (Peace be upon him) offered sacrifice at that place only and took out the Ahram, signifying the end of the pilgrimage.

277. In the “state of Ahram” shaving of the head, etc, is forbidden before offering the sacrifice. However, it is necessary to shave head, etc or to get the haircut after offering the sacrifice.

Reaching of the offering to the place of sacrifice means that the sacrifice is actually offered and that the hair should be cut after the sacrifice is actually offered.

Actually offering the sacrifice means that in the case of a man besiegd then offer (Hadi) as you may. And in normal circumstances, he should offer the sacrifice at home and generally near the House of Ka’aba (in Mina).

278. That is : if a man is compelled to shave his head on account of illness or some such other difficulty before the sacrifice is offered then he should atone for it by fasting for three days or should feed six needy persons or at least offer one goat in sacrifice as was explained by the prophet (Peace be upon him).

279. This permission is for those who stay outside the Haram and want to complete Hajj and Umra in one journey. This is called “Tamatto”. It is like this : A man should first perform Umra and then take out the Ahram (garment) marking the end of the Umra and then in the days of the Hajj, again put on Ahram (garment) and perform the Hajj. In the case of “Tamatto” as described above, it is necessary to offer sacrifice. But if it is not possible to offer sacrifice then he should fast for ten days –– three days’ fast during the Hajj and seven days’ after returning from the Hajj.

280. That is: The substitute for sacrifice would not be fast for three days but for ten days. Referring to the ten days fast as complete is perhaps due to the fact that ten is a round number and it is the basis of the decimal system.

281. People staying within the limits of the Haram are not allowed to perform “Tamatto”. They can only perform Hajj during the months of Hajj and it is called “ Ifrad.”

282. This points to the fact that the purpose of these instructions is to instill fear of Allah. If you do not perform Hajj on account of fear of Allah then the Hajj will be without its spirit.

For Hajj the months are well known. If anyone undertakes that duty (in these months) let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good you do, Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey. But the best of provisions is piety. So fear Me, O you that are wise! (Al-Quran)