سورة الحج   

Surah Name: Al-Hajj Meaning: The Pilgrimage

  • Revealed at Makkah and Madinah
  • • This is a Surah full of wonders. Some of its Ayat were revealed ai Makkah while others at Madinah, both at night as well as in day time, during a journey and at home. Some were revealed in the battle field and some in peace time. And some of its Ayat are abrogative and others abrogated, some are allegorical while others clearly issue commands. In short, according to the learned Commentators this Surah is a collection of all the genres of revelation.

    The last Section of the preceding Surah discussed the obduracy of the infidels and their inevitable humiliation in Akhirah, the raising of the Holy Prophet-SW as a mercy for all realms, the infidels' deprivation and their denial of the Day of Judgment. Towards the end it emphasized that it will come in any case, being Allah s Decision. This Surah, at the very outset, unfolds the horrifying ambience of al-Qayamah and prov ides logical arguments of its inevitability

  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 7
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 112
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 22
  • Rukū / Section 2 contains Āyāt / Parts 12
  • Siparah/ Volume 17

bismillah

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ

Wamina a(l)nnasi man yaAAbudu Allaha AAala harfin fain asabahu khayrun itmaanna bihi wain asabathu fitnatun inqalaba AAala wajhihi khasira a(l)ddunya wa(a)lakhirata thalika huwa alkhusranu almubeen(u)

And of mankind is he who worships Allaah-SWT upon the very edge; if there happens to him any good he is contented with it but if there befalls him a trial, he turns round on his face. He loses both this world and the Hereafter, that indeed is a manifest loss.

(22:11)

يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُ وَمَا لَا يَنفَعُهُ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلَالُ الْبَعِيدُ

YadAAoo min dooni Allahi ma la yadurruhu wama la yanfaAAuhu thalika huwa a(l)ddalalu albaAAeed(u)

He calls upon that, besides Allah-SWT, what can neither hurt nor profit him. That indeed is a straying far-off.

(22:12)

يَدْعُو لَمَن ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِ لَبِئْسَ الْمَوْلَى وَلَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ

YadAAoo laman darruhu aqrabu min nafAAihi labisa almawla walabisa alAAasheer(u)

He calls upon him from whom harm is much nearer than benefit; surely ill the patron! ill the comrade!

(22:13)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ

Inna Allaha yudkhilu allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo a(l)ssalihati jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu inna Allaha yafAAalu ma yureed(u)

Verily Allaah-SWT shall make those who believe and work righteous deeds enter Garden with running streams. Verily Allaah-SWT performs whatsoever He-SWT intends

(22:14)

مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى السَّمَاء ثُمَّ لِيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُ مَا يَغِيظُ

Man kana yathunnu an lan yansurahu Allahu fee a(l)ddunya wa(a)lakhirati falyamdud bisababin ila a(l)ssamai thumma liyaqtaAA falyanthur hal yuthhibanna kayduhu ma yagheeth(u)

Whosoever has been imagining that Allaah-SWT will not make him (the Holy Prophet-SW) triumphant in this world and the Hereafter let him stretch a cord up to the heaven and let him hang himself, and then let him look if his guile can do away that at what he enrages.

(22:15)

وَكَذَلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يُرِيدُ

Wakathalika anzalnahu ayatin bayyinatin waanna Allaha yahdee man yureed(u)

And thus We-SWT have sent it down as evidences, and verily Allaah-SWT guides whom He-SWT intends.

(22:16)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالصَّابِئِينَ وَالنَّصَارَى وَالْمَجُوسَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

Inna allatheena amanoo wa(a)llatheena hadoo wa(al)ssabieena wa(al)nnasara wa(a)lmajoosa wa(a)llatheena ashrakoo inna Allaha yafsilu baynahum yawma alqiyamati inna Allaha AAala kulli shayin shaheed(un)

Verily those who believe and those who are Judaised and the Sabians and the Nazarenes and the Magians and those who associate verily Allaah-SWT will decide between them on the Day of Judgment; verily Allaah-SWT is over everything a Witness.

(22:17)

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُومُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ وَالدَّوَابُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ وَمَن يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاء

Alam tara anna Allaha yasjudu lahu man fee a(l)ssamawati waman fee alardi wa(al)shshamsu wa(a)lqamaru wa(al)nnujoomu wa(a)ljibalu wa(al)shshajaru wa(al)ddawabbu wakatheerun mina a(l)nnasi wakatheerun haqqa AAalayhi alAAathabu waman yuhini Allahu fama lahu min mukrimin inna Allaha yafAAalu ma yasha(o)

See you not that Allaah-SWT ! Him-SWT adores whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth, and the sun and the moon and the mountains and the trees and the beasts and many of mankind? And there are many of them on whom torment is justified. And whom Allaah-SWT despises, none can honour And Allaah-SWT does whatsoever He-SWT wills.

(22:18)

هَذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِي رَبِّهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُؤُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ

Hathani khasmani ikhtasamoo fee rabbihim fa(a)llatheena kafaroo quttiAAat lahum thiyabun min narin yusabbu min fawqi ruoosihimu alhameem(u)

These two are opponents who contended respecting their Rabb-SWT; then as for those who disbelieved, raiment’s of fire shall be cut out for them, and hot water shall be poured over their heads.

(22:19)

يُصْهَرُ بِهِ مَا فِي بُطُونِهِمْ وَالْجُلُودُ

Yusharu bihi ma fee butoonihim wa(a)ljulood(u)

Melted thereby shall be what is in their bellies and so their skins.

(22:20)

وَلَهُم مَّقَامِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ

Walahum maqamiAAu min hadeed(in)

And for them shall be hooked rods of iron.

(22:21)

كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ

Kullama aradoo an yakhrujoo minha min ghammin oAAeedoo feeha wathooqoo AAathaba alhareeq(i)

So oft as they, because of anguish, would seek to go forth, they shall be sent back to it. Taste the torment of burning.

(22:22)
In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

Din is that Path or Code of Life which when leads a person to the Pleasure of Allaah-SWT . This is typical of Islam. However, infidelity has given a different concept. With each ungodly ritual it associates some mundane gain, or loss. Thus an infidels religion is a source of acquiring temporal gains. Allaah-SWT reveals that some people accept Islam with similar intentions and attend to worship so that they may enjoy mundane benefits. Of course, this worldly life has its own system in which every individual gets his share of livelihood, health and sickness, honour and disgrace. The only difference is that when a believer faces apparent affliction, his heart remains complacent, as it draws him closer to Allaah-SWT . On the contrary, an infidel even when blessed with some worldly benefit has an inferno ablaze inside, as his comforts are also a trial.

 

Believers with a tenuous faith, or unsound concepts, worship Allaah-SWT standing on the borderline. Per chance if they accrue some worldly gain, they rejoice that their worship was paying off or assume that it was due to their prayers. On the other hand when they face turmoil they run away to seek help from others than Allaah-SWT . And they also complain that their worship did not yield the desired results. Such poor souls are losers in both the worlds, being already surrounded by worldly troubles here, while they have also given up the Akhirah. This indeed is a very great loss.

 

Some invoke idols for help, or worship others inspite of the fect that the entire creation is a part of the universal system. No one can relieve or harm the other, like arms of the clock for everyone is tied down by destiny and is threaded into the universal programme. They certainly have gone far astray. They call upon such beings and owe allegiance to them instead of Allah-SWT, an association destined to cause loss in the hope of a probable benefit. And it is because of such associates that they have become targets to Divine Wrath, which indeed is an exorbitant loss. What evil companions and friends they choose! Compared to them, those who remain steadfast on Islam and obey Allaah-SWT will be awarded an abode in the Gardens of Jannah which bloom eternally, with rivers flowing through. Allaah-SWT is all Powerful and can do whatever He-SWT chooses.

 

An infidel who thinks that Allaah-SWT will not help Islam and its followers or the Holy Prophet-SW, in this world and in the Akhirah, should fling a cord towards the heavens, climb up and disrupt, the Universal System or try to take charge of it, or alter it. But if there is nothing he can do, he might as well abate his anger somehow. In other words, the infidels must understand that just as the sun shines and illuminates everything, the faith complemented with righteous deeds will inevitably draw Allah-SWT's Succour and consequent success. This is an infallible law of the Universal System.

 

Divine Help To A Believer Preordained In The Universal System

Since the Central Office or Secretariat of this System is in the heavens, the infidels may try to climb up a scaling-ladder and disrupt it in order to prevent Allah-SWT‘s Succour from reaching the believers. Now if they have realised that it was beyond their control, they might as well cool down and think of availing His-SWT Succour by becoming believers, for they cannot possibly impede its flow to the believers. They cannot also stop the chain of revelations bringing such clear and irrefutable evidence. Yet those, who spoil their relationship with Allaah-SWT in the first place, can never avail guidance.

 

It is an undeniable reality that the believers and the non believers will ultimately meet their respective fates. Whether the latter are the Jews, the Sabians, the idolaters, the Christians or Zoroastrian, or other polytheists; Allaah-SWT will decide amongst them and each group will meet the sequel of its conduct. A believer will be emancipated and rewarded commensurate to his status, while a non believer will earn punishment and humiliation according to his beliefs and conduct. This is because Allaah-SWT is well Aware of each individual.

 

O Reader! Don't you see that whatever is in the heavens or the earth, the sun or the moon, the stars or the mountains, trees or animals, stand humbly before Allah-SWT, not only by way of genesis but also by free will and consent. It is not proper to assume that only human beings have awareness while other creations are completely void of understanding, for in terms of genesis human being is also subservient to Allah-SWT's Command. He resorts to disobedience only where he is given the choice to make decisions at his discretion. Everything in the universe has a certain level of intellect while the level of awareness enjoyed by man is above all for he can gain access to the Cognition of His-SWT Being and His-SWT Attributes, and appreciate His-SWT Splendour and Refulgence. Next to mankind are the Jinn, while the rest of creation has a lesser level of understanding that corresponds to its status. Quran endorses the fact that birds, trees and mountains, all do Allah-SWT's Zikr. It also describes that when earth and the heavens were invited to Allah-SWT's obedience they acquiesced. In other words, they in their own capacity, by their own choice, preferred obedience. The greetings of trees and stones to the Holy Prophet-SW as well as his conversation with the mountains is proved by Hadith.

 

In short, there exists a certain level of understanding in everything commensurate to its capacity, and everything stands humble before the Almighty, pledging obedience. And many among mankind also stand humbly along with obedient creations, for human beings enjoy the most perfect level of awareness. Yet ironically there are some unfortunate people who have spoiled their relationship with Allaah-SWT to the extent that He-SWT has decreed a doom for them because of their waywardness. Obviously anyone who is abased in His-SWT Court will find respect nowhere. And Allaah-SWT has the authority, He-SWT is the Wisest, and the Omniscient, Who-SWT does and can do what He-SWT wants.

 

Two Nations

These are two groups or nations; the believers and the non believers, who differ over the Divine Being and His-SWT Attributes. The former establish a relationship with Him-SWT , based on faith and obedience, while the latter refute and disobey Him-SWT . The outcome of their respective attitudes will be that the raiments for a non believer will be made of fire that will enshroud him completely. And boiling water shall be poured over his head, which will not only burn the skin but also the intestines. They will be hit with large iron hammers and there will be no death to serve as an outlet. Even if they try to escape, and with lot of efforts get to the exit, they will be pushed back into the Hell and will be told to enjoy the blazing fire, a sequel to the very path they had opted for.

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