22. Surah Al-Hajj

الحجThe Pilgrimage · 78 ayahsتفہیم القرآن انگلش

Read Surah Al-Hajj in the Quran reader
Ayah 22:63

اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ اَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً١٘ فَتُصْبِحُ الْاَرْضُ مُخْضَرَّةً١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَطِیْفٌ خَبِیْرٌۚ Open ayah 22:63 in the Quran reader

Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky whereby the earth turns green? 110 Verily Allah is Subtle, All-Aware. 111

110. This verse has a deeper meaning also, though apparently it merely declares that Allah alone has the power to send down rain which makes the land green. The deeper meaning is that the rainfall of the blessed revelation will, in the near future, turn the barren land of Arabia into a garden of knowledge, morality and bring forth a high and righteous civilization. 111. Latif implies that Allah fulfills His designs in such fine ways that it is difficult to understand them till they become real and apparent. As He is fully aware of everything, He knows how to conduct the affairs of His Kingdom.
Ayah 22:64

لَهٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الْاَرْضِ١ؕ وَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَهُوَ الْغَنِیُّ الْحَمِیْدُ۠ Open ayah 22:64 in the Quran reader

To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Surely Allah - He alone is Self- Sufficient, Praiseworthy. 112

112. He alone is All-Sufficient and is not in need of anyone in any way. He is All-praiseworthy because all praise belongs to Him alone whether anyone praises Him or not.
Ayah 22:65

اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ الْفُلْكَ تَجْرِیْ فِی الْبَحْرِ بِاَمْرِهٖ١ؕ وَ یُمْسِكُ السَّمَآءَ اَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى الْاَرْضِ اِلَّا بِاِذْنِهٖ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ Open ayah 22:65 in the Quran reader

Have you not seen how Allah has subjected to you all that is in the earth, and the vessels that sail in the sea by His command, 113 and it is He Who holds back the sky that it may not fall on earth except by His leave? Surely Allah is Most Gentle, Ever Compassionate to people.

113. Here“the heaven”implies the whole of the universe above and below the earth where everything is held in its own place and sphere.
Ayah 22:66

وَ هُوَ الَّذِیْۤ اَحْیَاكُمْ١٘ ثُمَّ یُمِیْتُكُمْ ثُمَّ یُحْیِیْكُمْ١ؕ اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَكَفُوْرٌ Open ayah 22:66 in the Quran reader

And it is He Who has endowed you with life and it is He who causes you to die, and it is He Who will then resurrect you. Man is indeed extremely prone to denying the Truth. 114

114. That is, though man sees every reality presented by the Prophets, yet he denies it.
Ayahs 22:67–69

لِكُلِّ اُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنْسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوْهُ فَلَا یُنَازِعُنَّكَ فِی الْاَمْرِ وَ ادْعُ اِلٰى رَبِّكَ١ؕ اِنَّكَ لَعَلٰى هُدًى مُّسْتَقِیْمٍ Open ayah 22:67 in the Quran reader

For every people 115 We have prescribed a way of worship 116 which they follow. So, (O Muhammad), let them not dispute with you concerning this, 117 and call them to Your Lord. You are certainly on the Straight Way. 118

وَ اِنْ جٰدَلُوْكَ فَقُلِ اللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ Open ayah 22:68 in the Quran reader

And if they dispute with you, say: 'allah knows well what you do.

اَللّٰهُ یَحْكُمُ بَیْنَكُمْ یَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَةِ فِیْمَا كُنْتُمْ فِیْهِ تَخْتَلِفُوْنَ Open ayah 22:69 in the Quran reader

Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning matters about which you disagreed.'

115. That is, the community of every Prophet. 116. Here the Arabic word mansak has been used in its most comprehensive sense which also includes sacrifice (verse 34). It means service, worship, in short, the entire way of life. The same theme has been expressed in (Surah Al-Maidah, Ayat 48): We prescribed a law and a way of life for each of you. 117. That is, now you have brought a way of life just as the former Prophets brought ways of life for their people. Therefore the people have no right to dispute with you concerning the law you have brought. 118. This confirms the explanation given in(E.N. 117) above.
Ayah 22:70

اَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ یَعْلَمُ مَا فِی السَّمَآءِ وَ الْاَرْضِ١ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِكَ فِیْ كِتٰبٍ١ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِكَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ یَسِیْرٌ Open ayah 22:70 in the Quran reader

Are you not aware that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and the earth? Surely it is all preserved in a Book. Indeed that is easy with Allah. 119

119. In order to understand the significance of this paragraph, we should keep in view (verse 55- 57) with which this is connected.
Ayah 22:71

وَ یَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَمْ یُنَزِّلْ بِهٖ سُلْطٰنًا وَّ مَا لَیْسَ لَهُمْ بِهٖ عِلْمٌ١ؕ وَ مَا لِلظّٰلِمِیْنَ مِنْ نَّصِیْرٍ Open ayah 22:71 in the Quran reader

Instead of Allah they worship those concerning whom He has revealed no sanction and concerning whom they have no true knowledge. 120 None shall be able to help such evil-doers. 121

120. That is, neither there is any mention of their deities in any revealed Book nor do they have any other source of knowledge about them nor any authority to worship them. Therefore, it is sheer ignorance that they have associated their self invented deities with Allah and worship them, make vows and offer sacrifices to them and supplicate them for their needs etc. 121. This is to warn the foolish people that they are absolutely wrong in expecting that their deities would help them in this world and in the Hereafter because they have no power to help them. Thus, they will find no helper, for Allah alone could help them and they have already displeased Him by their rebellious behavior.
Ayah 22:72

وَ اِذَا تُتْلٰى عَلَیْهِمْ اٰیٰتُنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ تَعْرِفُ فِیْ وُجُوْهِ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوا الْمُنْكَرَ١ؕ یَكَادُوْنَ یَسْطُوْنَ بِالَّذِیْنَ یَتْلُوْنَ عَلَیْهِمْ اٰیٰتِنَا١ؕ قُلْ اَفَاُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِشَرٍّ مِّنْ ذٰلِكُمْ١ؕ اَلنَّارُ١ؕ وَعَدَهَا اللّٰهُ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا١ؕ وَ بِئْسَ الْمَصِیْرُ۠ Open ayah 22:72 in the Quran reader

When Our Signs are plainly recited to them, you will perceive utter repugnance on their faces and it all but seems as if they will soon pounce upon those who recite Our Signs to them. Say: "Shall I tell you what is worse than that? 122 The Fire with which Allah has threatened those who disbelieve. That is truly an evil end."

122. That is, you will meet with a far worse state of anguish than that which you display against those who recite divine revelations to you.
Ayahs 22:73–74

یٰۤاَیُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوْا لَهٗ١ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ لَنْ یَّخْلُقُوْا ذُبَابًا وَّ لَوِ اجْتَمَعُوْا لَهٗ١ؕ وَ اِنْ یَّسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَیْئًا لَّا یَسْتَنْقِذُوْهُ مِنْهُ١ؕ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَ الْمَطْلُوْبُ Open ayah 22:73 in the Quran reader

O people, a parable is set forth: pay heed to it. Those who call upon aught other than Allah shall never be able to create even a fly, even if all of them were to come together to do that. And if the fly were to snatch away anything from them, they would not be able to recover that from it. Powerless is the supplicant; and powerless is he to whom he supplicates. 123

مَا قَدَرُوا اللّٰهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهٖ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَقَوِیٌّ عَزِیْزٌ Open ayah 22:74 in the Quran reader

They have not formed a true estimate of Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Powerful, Mighty.

123. This parable has been cited to impress upon the idolworshipers that their deities are absolutely powerless, for even if they all collaborated to create an insignificant thing like a fly, they could not; nay, even if a fly snatched away anything from them they could not prevent it. This shows how weak they themselves are and how powerless are the idols they supplicate.
Ayah 22:75

اَللّٰهُ یَصْطَفِیْ مِنَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ١ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِیْعٌۢ بَصِیْرٌۚ Open ayah 22:75 in the Quran reader

Allah chooses Messengers from among angels and from among human beings (to convey His command)124. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

124. In continuation of the refutation of shirk, Allah has taken two kinds of the most revered of deities to show their real status, as if to say: The angels and the Prophets whom you have set up as deities are mere Messengers of Allah. Allah has chosen them to convey His messages to human beings and this does not make them God or partners in His Godhead.
Ayah 22:76

یَعْلَمُ مَا بَیْنَ اَیْدِیْهِمْ وَ مَا خَلْفَهُمْ١ؕ وَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ تُرْجَعُ الْاُمُوْرُ Open ayah 22:76 in the Quran reader

He knows all that is before them and that which is hidden from them. 125 And it is to Allah that all affairs are returned. 126

125. The Quran employs this sentence to refute the creed of the mushriks in regard to intercession, as if to say: You imagine that angels, prophets, saints and the like can intercede with Allah on your behalf and therefore you worship them. You are absolutely wrong. For none of your deities knows what is good for you and what is not. Allah alone hears everything, sees everything and knows everything. Therefore He has not given the right of intercession and recommendation to anyone except when He Himself is pleased to give such permission. 126. This is to impress upon them that every affair and every matter, big or small, is presented before Allah for a decision. Therefore you should not invoke anyone else other than Allah, for all others are utterly helpless and powerless and cannot even fulfill their own desires and needs.
Ayah 22:77

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا ارْكَعُوْا وَ اسْجُدُوْا وَ اعْبُدُوْا رَبَّكُمْ وَ افْعَلُوا الْخَیْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَۚ۩ Open ayah 22:77 in the Quran reader

Believers, bow down and prostrate yourselves before Your Lord and serve Your Lord and do good that you may prosper. 127

127. This is the right way of attaining the success, but even after adopting these ways of worship and performing good deeds one should not rest content or be proud that he would surely attain success because he is worshiping Allah and is doing good deeds. He should only expect that Allah will by His grace accept his services and bless him with the success. Imam Shafai, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Abdullah bin Mubarak and Ishaq bin Rahawayah hold the view that this verse of Surah Al-Hajj requires a prostration. But Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Hasan Basri, Said bin al-Musayyab, Said bin Jubair, Ibrahim Nakhai and Sufyan Thauri dispute this. The arguments of the two sides are briefly as follows: The former group of commentators base their opinion on the following: (1) The verb in the verse is in the imperative mood. (2) The tradition of Uqbah bin Amir which has been reported by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, Ibn Marduyah and Baihaqi, says: I asked, O Messenger of Allah! Does the merit of Surah Al-Hajj consist in the fact that it contains two verses requiring prostration? He replied: Yes, the one who does not prostrate on these two verses, should not recite them. (3) The tradition of Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah in which Amr bin Aas says that he was told by the Prophet (peace be upon him) that there were two verses requiring prostration in Surah Al-Hajj. (4) Sayings of Umar, Ali, Uthman, Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Abul Darda, Abu Musa Ashari and Ammar bin Yasir to the effect that Surah AIHajj contains two prostrations. The latter group of commentators argue as follows; (1) The verse contains a command both for Sajdah (prostration) and for Ruku (bowing in prayer), which implies the whole Islamic Prayer according to the Quranic usage, and not prostration alone. (2) The tradition reported by Uqbah bin Amir is unauthentic as it has weak links. (3) The tradition of Amr bin Aas is also unreliable, because its reporters are not well known. (4) As for the sayings of the companions, Ibn Abbas has clearly explained that prostration in respect of the first verse (in Surah Al-Hajj) is obligatory, whereas in regard to the second, it is only suggestive.
Ayah 22:78

وَ جَاهِدُوْا فِی اللّٰهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهٖ١ؕ هُوَ اجْتَبٰىكُمْ وَ مَا جَعَلَ عَلَیْكُمْ فِی الدِّیْنِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ١ؕ مِلَّةَ اَبِیْكُمْ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ١ؕ هُوَ سَمّٰىكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ١ۙ۬ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ فِیْ هٰذَا لِیَكُوْنَ الرَّسُوْلُ شَهِیْدًا عَلَیْكُمْ وَ تَكُوْنُوْا شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ١ۖۚ فَاَقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ وَ اعْتَصِمُوْا بِاللّٰهِ١ؕ هُوَ مَوْلٰىكُمْ١ۚ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلٰى وَ نِعْمَ النَّصِیْرُ۠ Open ayah 22:78 in the Quran reader

Strive in the cause of Allah in a manner worthy of that striving. 128 He has chosen you 129 (for His task), and He has not laid upon you any hardship in religion. 130 Keep to the faith of your father Abraham. 131 Allah named you Muslims earlier and even in this 132 (Book), that the Messenger may be a witness over you, and that you may be witnesses over all mankind. 133 So establish Prayer, and pay Zakah, and hold fast to Allah. 134 He is your Protector. What an excellent Protector; what an excellent Helper!

128. The Arabic word jihad is very comprehensive. It includes every kind of effort, exertion, conflict and war. Jihad for the cause of Allah means that it should be performed for His service and for His approval against those who prevent others from following His Way. The performance of jihad also requires that one should first of all fight against his own self in order to subdue it. For there can be no true jihad unless one fights against his evil self and subdues his desires and lusts to the obedience of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself has emphasized the need for this jihad. Once when the warriors for the cause of Allah returned from jihad, he said: You have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad. They asked: What is that greater Jihad. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: It is the jihad against his own desires and lusts. Moreover, the battlefield for jihad is, in fact, the whole world, and Islam demands that one should exert his utmost against all the rebels of Allah and the wicked powers with all of his heart and mind and body and wealth. 129. The direct addressees of this were the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), for they were the first who had the honor to be chosen for this service; others have been addressed only indirectly being their followers. This thing has been mentioned in the Quran in other ways as well. For reference, see (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 143) and (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 110). 130.“(Allah) has not placed upon you in religion any hardship”. That is, the creed you have been given is very simple and straightforward and the laws and regulations you have to obey are practicable. You are free within its bounds to make as much progress as you can. This was to impress that the lives of the Muslims were free from all those useless and unnatural restrictions which had been imposed upon the former communities by their priests and law givers. The negative aspect of the same thing has been mentioned in (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 157): He enjoins them to follow virtue and forbids them from evil: He makes pure things lawful for them and impure things unlawful. He relieves them of their burdens and frees them from the shackles that bound them. 131. Though Islam may be called the religion of Prophets Noah, Moses, Jesus, etc. yet the Quran emphasizes over and over again that it is the religion of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon them all). Therefore, you should follow it. This is for three reasons. (1) The first addressees of the Quran were the Arabs who were more familiar with Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) than with any other Prophet and acknowledged him to be a holy personage and their leader. (2) Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) alone was the person whom the Jews, the Christians, the Muslims and the mushriks of Arabia and of the adjoining countries unanimously acknowledged as a great Prophet. (3) When the Quran invites all these communities to follow the way of Abraham, it in fact, admonishes them that all their religions had been invented long after Prophet Abraham and, therefore, were not trustworthy because they contradicted many things taught by him. As for the mushriks of Arabia, they also acknowledged that idolworship among them had been started by Amr bin Luhayy, who was a leader of Bani Khuzaah, and had brought an idol, called Hubal, from Moab in about 600 B.C. So the religion to which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) invited them was the same pure, un-adulterated religion which was taught by Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). For further details, see (E.Ns 134, 135 of Surah Al-Baqarah)and (E.Ns 58, 79 of Surah Aal-Imran) and (E.Ns 119, 120 of Surah An-Nahal). 132. Here the word“you”has not been addressed exclusively to those believers who lived at the time of the revelation of this verse, or those who believed after its revelation. It includes all those human beings, who, from the beginning of human history, believed in Tauhid, the Hereafter, Prophethood and the divine Books. They were not Jews, Christians, etc. but Muslims in the sense that they had surrendered themselves to Allah. Likewise the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are not Muhammadans but Muslims. 133. For explanation see(E. N. 144 of Surah Al-Baqarah). 134.“Hold fast to Allah”: Follow exclusively the guidance and the law of Allah: obey Him alone: fear Him and have all your hopes and expectations in Him: invoke Him alone for help: trust in Him and pray to Him for all your needs.