'And Proclaim Hajj To the People'

23/09/2010| IslamWeb

Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {“And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant path.”} [Quran 22:27]

The Arabic word that was used in the verse is “Aththin” which means to proclaim loudly and thus the call to prayer is called “Athaan”. Proclaim means to announce something publicly; Allah The Almighty ordered Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, to announce Hajj to all mankind.

At-Tabari mentioned that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, along with others from the righteous predecessors said that on hearing that command of Allah The Exalted, Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, stood up and called upon people. He said, “O, people, your Lord has taken a house for Himself, so visit it by performing Hajj.” It is said that the mountains were lowered so that his voice would reach all over the globe.

Additionally, it is said that the voice of Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, reached all mankind even those who were not born yet [inside wombs and backbones]. In fact, everything in the universe answered that great call of Ibraaheem ,may Allah exalt his mention, not only humans, but also the stones, clods of mud, trees along with all humans who are destined to perform Hajj until the Day of Judgment. They all answered Ibraaheem , may Allah exalt his mention, saying, “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk (O Allah The Exalted! I hasten to You).”

Lean camel in the verse refers to any mount one might use to go for performing Hajj. Moreover, the reference to “distant path” in the verse means that people would come to The Ka‘bah from every possible path i.e. from all over the globe to perform Hajj. Furthermore, describing these paths as being deep and distant is significant. It indicates the immense longing and craving of all Muslims all over the globe to see the Ka‘bah and circumambulate it. 

Furthermore, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“That they may witness benefits for themselves…”} [Quran 22:28]

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, elaborated on this verse saying, “Benefits here mean those of this life and the Hereafter as well. As for the benefits of the Hereafter, they refer to attaining the full contentment of Allah The Exalted, whereas this life’s benefits are worldly gains such as camels and cattle, slaughtered sacrificial animals and trade”.

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“… And mention the Name of Allah The Exalted on known days…”} [Quran 22:28] Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be Pleased with him, commented on that verse saying, “The known days that were mentioned in the verse refer to the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah.” This is the same opinion that was adopted by Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘i and the famous opinion in the Hanbali school of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). However, scholars of Tafseer held various opinions regarding the interpretation of these known days that can be found in the books of Tafseer. There are many authentic Hadeeths (narrations) regarding the virtue of performing righteous deeds in such days that we have previously mentioned in another article.

Additionally, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“…So eat of them [sacrificial animals].”} [Quran 22:28]

The majority of scholars suggested that the order in the verse is meant to be a recommendation and concession.

It was authentically narrated that when the Prophet slaughtered his sacrificial animal in Hajj, he commanded that a part of each sacrifice (of his) be cooked , and he then ate from their meat and drank from their soup. [Muslim]

Furthermore, it was narrated that some of the Taabi‘oon (successors) said, “The disbelievers did not eat from their sacrificial animals; hence, Muslims were allowed to eat from theirs. However, it is not obligatory to eat from one’s sacrificial animal; it is up to the pilgrim.”

Allah The Exalted also Says (what means): {“… and feed the miserable and poor.”} [Quran 22:28]

A group of the scholars of Tafseer considered poor and miserable to be synonymous that refer to one who is in need of money, whereas, others differentiated between the miserable and the poor. Some scholars argued that the word ‘miserable’ was used despite the fact that the meaning could be conveyed adequately by the word ‘poor’; in fact, this aims at softening the hearts and urging Muslims to treat such people kindly and leniently as they are in need of that. Furthermore, because of the frequent usage of the word ‘poor’, the term no longer reflects the sense of [dire] need. Therefore, Allah The Exalted mentioned the two terms to confirm the intended meaning or to indicate that a miserable person is much more in need than a poor one.

Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {“…Then let them complete their due rites...” } [Quran 22:28]

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, commented saying, “This is an order of Allah The Exalted for the pilgrims to end their state of Ihraam by having their hair cut, wearing normal clothes and cutting their nails.”

Moreover, Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {“… and fulfill their vows… ”} [Quran 22:28]

 

The Command in the verse is addressed to all the pilgrims; as they have to fulfill the due obligations of Hajj as well as other rituals that they had obliged themselves to do such as vowing to offer a sacrificial animal, a charity, or the like.

Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {“… and perform Tawaaf around the ancient House....”} [Quran 22:28]

Tawaaf in the verse means the obligatory circumambulation around the Ka‘bah that should be performed on the Day of An-Nahr (The 10th of Thul-Hijjah). It is called Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, Tawaaf As-Sadr, Tawaaf Az-Ziyaarah and Tawaaf Ar-Rukn (i.e. The pillar Tawaaf). It was called Tawaaf Ar-Rukn as it is considered to be one of the pillars of Hajj as deduced from the previously mentioned verse, and also because the Prophet performed it in his Hajj.