22al-ḤajjThe Pilgrimageسُورَةُ الحج

O People [of the world]! Avert your Sustainer [His power-presence for justice]: for without a doubt the tremor of the [Final] Hour is an epic event.

[On that] Day you will see every breastfeeding mother disturbed and distracted from her breastfed baby, and every pregnant woman shall [go into labor and] abort her pregnancy, and you will see people swaying [and staggering about] as if they were drunk — but they will not be drunk. [That is so] because Allah’s [pending] pains and punishment is so severe!

And yet, there are still some people who quarrel [and squabble] about [the subject of] Allah without any knowledge and thereby follow in the footsteps of every refractory demon,

[About which] it has been foreordained that whoever espouses [such a demon] will most certainly be misled by him [on earth], while [simultaneously] being led by him [the demon] to the scourge of the raging inferno.

O people [of the world]! If you have your misgivings about resurrection, [know that] We did create you from soil and then from a spurt of sperm [and ovum], then from an embryo, and then from a fetus of full development [full term pregnancy] or reduced development [less than full term pregnancy] so that We may show you proof [of Our creative ability, capacity, and proficiency]. And We cause to dwell in the womb whatever We will [it to be] until a time preset by Us, [and] then We cause you to come out [of the wombs] as babies, so that when time passes, you reach your age of firmness [stability, steadiness, and strength]. Then [when the time comes] some of you will [run their course in life and] expire, and some of you will relapse into an abysmal [end of worldly life] when they will not know what they used to know [dementia]. And [if, O people, you still entertain doubts about resurrection, consider that] you can observe the earth in a state of dormancy but then when We have water descend on it, it [suddenly] stirs and flourishes and produces all sorts of splendid plants.

That [should tell you] Allah is the reality and magistrate; and that He alone brings the lifeless into life; and that He, truly, has power over everything;

And that the [Final] Hour is coming, no doubt about it; and that Allah will revive those who are [buried] in graves.

[And despite all this] there are some people who will argue [and quibble] concerning Allah without knowledge, without guidance, and without a Book of enlightenment —

Sneeringly [turning aside], for the purpose of misleading [other people] from Allah’s course [of action in life]. In worldly life his [lot] is infamy; and We will on the Day of Resurrection have him experience the agony of the fire.

[He will be told], “That [agony of the fire] is due to what your hands had put forth [when you lived your worldly life] — and [know that] Allah does not by any measure do injustice to His subordinates.”

And there are, too, among people, he who observes Allah in a halfhearted way: if [in observing Allah] prosperity comes his way he is comfortable with it, but if he is visited by a test and trial [in life] he disowns his [godly] direction in life, losing [thereby the opportunity of this] world as well as [the gains of] the world to come — that is the evident [and ultimate] loss.

[In this manner], he implores, to the exclusion of Allah, what neither harms him nor benefits him — that is the furthest one can go astray.

[Or] he implores things [objects and people] that are apt to [result in] harming him more than benefitting — unpleasant is the [false god] collaborator and unpleasant is the [false god] colleague.

Verily, Allah admits those who have committed themselves [to Him] and did what is right and righteous into gardens underneath which rivers flow: for certainly, Allah does whatever He determines [to do].

Whoever thinks that Allah will not help him in this world and in the after-world should [try] to extend a means up to the sky [in an effort to escape reality], then [after ascending] sever [it],1 and then see [for himself] whether his grudge [pertaining to the Prophet’s seeming shortage of divine support] will, indeed, wind down his anguish.

And that is how We make it [the Qur’an] lucidly accessible [in the form of Our] power demonstrations; and [made lucidly accessible the fact that] indeed, Allah guides whoever seeks [His] guidance.

Verily, those who commit themselves [to Allah’s power and authority], and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Majians,2 and those who [after having been committed to Allah] became mushriks — it is Allah who will sort them out on the Day of Resurrection: for, indeed, Allah stands witness over everything [that happened to societies in history and every delicate detail of individuals].

Can you not see that it is definitely to Allah that everyone in the heavens and everyone on earth prostrates himself, as do the Sun and the Moon and the stars and the mountains and the trees and the animals and many people? But then many [others] have incurred [duly] the affliction [due to them as a matter of divine justice], and whoever Allah humiliates has no one to honor him: indeed, Allah, beyond doubt, does what He wills.3

[You now have the contrast of] two enemies who became antagonists when discussing [matters pertaining to] their Sustainer. And, therefore, as for those deniers [of Allah’s power and authority], clothes of fire will be cut out for them, [and] scalding water will be poured over their heads,

Prompting whatever is in their abdomens, as well as their skins, to dissolve away.

And they will have [restraining] iron clutches;

Every attempt they make, out of anguish, at leaving [this hellhole], they will be returned to it and [be told], “Experience the torment of the burning fire.”

Verily, Allah will usher those who committed [to His power and authority] and did what was honest and honorable into gardens under which rivers flow, wherein they will be adorned with bangles of gold and with pearls and where their attire will be [made of] silk.

[For, in worldly life], they were [by Allah’s grace] guided to the best of expressions [Allah’s scriptures], just as they were guided to the passageway of He who is at-all-times Praiseworthy.

Clearly the deniers [of Allah’s power and authority] who bar [others] from access to Allah and [access to] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, which We have set up for all people correspondingly — for those who are always there and for those who come there transiently — and those who intend to become involved in [policies of] deviation and unfairness [as regards al-Masjid al- Ḥarām]: [all of the above] We shall cause to experience a share of painful punishment.

And call to mind [the fact] that We located the place of the [Sacred] Sanctuary for Ibrāhīm, [saying to him puposefully], “[O Ibrāhīm] do not correlate anything [or anyone] to Me,” and furthermore, “Purge My Sanctuary [of all noxious notions] for those who go there and revolve around it, and those who reside [in its vicinity], and those who bow and genuflect [in devotion to Me].”

Hence, [O Ibrāhīm, Ismā‘īl, and Muhammad], call upon all people to [perform the duty of] Hajj [and] they will come to you walking and by meager means of transportation — [all] coming via distant routes,

So that they may be eyewitnesses to that which is of benefit to them and that they may consciously refer to Allah’s name on [those] appointed days [of Hajj] relating to the heads of cattle that He provided them [for sacrifice]; eat, then, from it [the sacrificial bounty] and feed the desperately poor.

Thereafter, they should conclude their cleansing ritual [of cutting or shaving one’s hair, of wearing the clothes of the iḥrām, and of not indulging in sexual intercourse], and [they should] fulfill their vows [had they made any], and they should [once again] encircle the longstanding Sanctuary.

All of that [you should be aware of now], and if whosoever magnifies Allah’s restriction-commandments [in the Hajj and otherwise] it will be better for him in the view of his Sustainer. And [all manner of] livestock has been classified [in the divine law] as ḥalāl (permissible to eat) for you, except what is [categorically] displayed to you [in this divine Writ]. Therefore, avoid the spiritual toxin [that comes] from [worshiping] figurines and keep away from making false statements,

[Being thereby] independent for Allah and not drawing a parallel between Him and others: for, whoever draws such a parallel it is as if he tumbled from the sky and was snatched by vultures or [as if he] was flung by the wind into a fathomless place.

And with that, whosoever magnifies the [devotional] services of Allah, [that behavior] is indeed [a feature of] heartfelt taqwā.

[In that state of taqwā] you will acquire advantages for a certain amount of time; and then [in that same state of taqwā, know that] the authorization for the sacrifice of livestock is at the longstanding Sanctuary [in Makkah, instead of elsewhere].

And for every ummah We have nurtured a set of sacrificial sacraments so that [its people] would [consciously] invoke Allah’s name over whatever He may have provided them: [especially] the permission to make livestock edible. Therefore [bear in mind that] your deity/ authority is One Deity/Authority, so succumb to Him. And break [this] good news to those who are obediently humble —

Those whose hearts tremble when Allah is invoked, those who are serene whenever they suffer, and those who build up their ṣalāh [so that it becomes the social norm and a social value], and those who spend out of what We have provided them with.

And as for the sacrifice of burly livestock, We have made it one of the acts of devotion to Allah in which there is much good for you;4 therefore, [consciously] invoke Allah’s name as they [the hefty livestock] are lined up [prior to the ritual sacrifice]. And after they have fallen lifeless to the ground, partake of their meat and feed those who are hungry [but do not ask for food] and those who are hungry [and ask for food]. It is thus [for this objective] that We have rendered [such livestock] as permissible for you to eat so that you may be thankful.

[But keep in mind that] the meat [from such cattle] will not extend to Allah, and nor will its blood, but it is [the quality of] taqwā in you [that will extend to Him]; thus did He make it [livestock] a benefit for you so that you do magnify Allah for having guided you. And convey glad tidings to those who refine their deeds.

Verily, Allah defends those who are committed [to His power and authority]; certainly, Allah does not like anyone who is treacherous and stubbornly unthankful.

Permission [to fight back] has been granted [from on high] to those who have been subjected to injustice due to [agressive] warfare — and surely Allah is very capable of offering them help [and triumph] —

Those who were expelled from their homes [and homelands] without justification [and legitimacy, for no other reason than expressing their practical faith] saying, “Our Sustainer is Allah.” For, were it not for Allah enabling people to defend themselves against [the agression] of one another, [many] monasteries, temples, synagogues, and masjids wherein Allah’s name is ceaselessly invoked would have been incontestably destroyed. And Allah will decisively help those who rally round Him — for, assuredly, Allah is most definitely almighty, prominent —

Those who, [even] when We establish them very firmly in world affairs, institute the ṣalāh, and systemize the zakāh, and authorize what is self-evidently good [in human nature], and disestablish what is self-evidently bad [in human nature]; but [nonetheless, keep in mind that it is] to Allah that all affairs revert.

And if they [the people of your society, O Muhammad] are refuting [contradicting] you, [be alert to the fact that] before them the people of Nūḥ, and ‘Ād and Thamūd [all] contradicted [their prophets],

And [so did] the people of Ibrāhīm and the people of Lūṭ,

As did the inhabitants of Madyan; and [so, too] Mūsā was also negated. And [in every case] I deferred [the worldly penalty due upon] the deniers of My power and authority, but in due course, I took them to task — [now think about] how astounding My repudiation was!

And how many a civil order have We worn out [and shattered] because it carried out injustice, and now lies deserted; and how many a water source lies abandoned; and how many a towering stately home lies unoccupied.

Have they [the deniers of Allah’s power and authority] not navigated the earth so as to develop hearts that reckon or ears that listen? It is not the eyesight that goes blind; rather it is the hearts in the chests that go blind.

And [so, O Muhammad] they [the deniers of Allah’s power and authority] challenge you to expedite [divinely due] affliction. [Rest assured] Allah will not go back on His word [about when He has determined the affliction to come due] — for one day in the sight of your Sustainer is like a thousand years in your measuring [of time].

And how many a civil order have I deferred [from worldly punishment] when it systemized injustice? But, then eventually [because its injustice remained unabated], I took it to task: for with Me everything reaches its conclusion [winds up].

Say [O Muhammad], “O peoples [of the world]! I am but an observable warner [sent] to you.”

And so, those who commit themselves [and affirm My power and authority] and do what is right and righteous shall have [from Me] forgiveness and ample sustenance;

But, as for those who strived against Our power paradigms, trying to challenge them, they are the cohorts of the inferno.

Whenever We sent a messenger or prophet before you [O Muhammad] this is what would always happen: as he [the messenger or prophet] was yearning [for his people’s deliverance], Satan [right at that moment] would cast aspersions and accusations into his [the messenger or prophet] people’s mentality. But [as a rejoinder] Allah annuls whatever Satan casts, then Allah overrides [Satan’s intrigue] with demonstrations of His power and authority — for Allah is totally well-informed, absolutely wise —

So that He may render whatever Satan casts [of doubts in the public mind] as a trial for those whose hearts are diseased and for those whose hearts are harsh [and rowdy]: and unquestionably justice violators are [living] in a far-flung controversy.

[All of this happens] so that those who are offered information and wisdom will come to know that [these developments] are an expression of truth and justice from your Sustainer and thereby dedicate themselves to it [the intended purposes of the divine Writ], while their hearts settle in and venerate [Allah]. And, actually, Allah is the Guide of those who committed themselves [to Him] onto a straight way,

Whereas those in renunciation [of Allah’s power and authority] remain in confusion about this [whole affair] until the [Final] Hour reaches them unexpectedly or until the suffering of a desolate Day comes to them.

Sovereignty [supreme authority] on that Day belongs to Allah, who will judge between them: hence, those who committed themselves [to Allah’s might and right] and did what was right and righteous are going to be [located in] gardens of bliss,

Whereas, as for those who denied and defied Our demonstrations [of might and right], theirs will be a degrading punishment.

And as for those who fled en masse [from Makkah to Madinah] on a course to Allah and then were killed or died, Allah will most certainly provide for them a most superb provision — for, in reality, Allah is the best of providers;

He will usher them onto an access track [to security in this world and Paradise in the next] that they will be very pleased with — for, indeed, Allah is utterly well-versed, fully forbearing.

That being the case, whoever responds to [aggression] with the same type of aggression imposed upon him and then [after that] experiences foisted aggression [once more], [he should know that] Allah will certainly come to his aid: for, definitely, Allah is much given to exoneration [of offenders] and much-forgiving.

With that in mind, it is [also] Allah who inserts night into day and inserts day into night and irrefutably Allah [is the One who] hears all, sees all.

[Understanding things] along those lines [it becomes clear that] Allah is the ultimate truth and the final justice, and [therefore] that whatever devotion they [the kāfirs] direct toward those who are inferior to Him amounts to sheer falsehood, and that Allah is the Most High-Level, the Most Enormous.

Have you not seen that Allah has caused rain to come down from the sky [by which] the earth turns green? Certainly, Allah is most subtle, most proficient.

To Him belongs whatever is in the firmaments [outer space] and whatever is on earth; and, indeed and surely, Allah is never in need and always to be praised.

Have you not seen that Allah has put to your service everything that is on earth as well as the vessels traversing the seas per His controls [regulations], and [that] it is He who maintains the spheres of space lest they [and their planets and stars] come crashing down upon earth, except as He may allow? Verily, Allah is ever compassionate and very merciful to people.

[Know that] it is He who brought you into life and then [it is] He who takes you into death, and after that He brings you to life [again] — [but] verily, social humans are unappreciative [they show no gratitude].

To each ummah We have allocated a [peculiar] range of devotions that they are expected to pay homage to. They [the kāfirs] may not dispute this issue with you [as Makkah is the cumulative center of devotion for the ummah of Muhammad]. Nonetheless, [continue to] call [people] to your Sustainer, for you are surely on a path of straight guidance.

And if they [the kāfirs] want to argue with you, then say [to them], “Allah knows very well [more than anyone else] what you do.

“Allah will judge you [and judge among you] on the Day of Resurrection in regard to issues you quarreled about [in your worldly life].”

Do you not know that Allah knows everything [past, present, and future] in the heavens and on earth? All of that is most certainly [recorded] in a document — for definitely all of that is easy for Allah to do.

And they [the mushriks] venerate things that are inferior to Allah — which He has never authorized and for which they have no [validating] knowledge: such violators of justice will have no patron [on the Day of Accountability].

And when Our power demonstrations are succinctly correlated to them you can detect in the faces of the kāfirs the[ir] revulsion as they are tempted to beat up those who correlate Our power illustrations to them. Say, “Shall I inform you of what is worse than that? The fire that has been promised by Allah to the active kāfirs: what an awful destiny.”

O people! A metaphor is in the making, so listen closely to it [its meaning]: verily, those you [kāfirs] call upon who are lesser than Allah will not be able to create [as insignificant a thing as] a fly even if they were to put together all their resources toward that end. And if the fly were to run off with something from them, they would not be able to repossess it from it [the fly] — feeble indeed is the chaser and feeble indeed is the chased.

They [who deny in this way] do not appreciate [and assess] Allah as is due to Him — for, verily, Allah is mighty, insusceptible.

[Even so, despite their denial] Allah selects messengers from among the malā’ikah and from among people; but, verily, Allah [alone] is all-hearing, all-seeing:

He knows what is ahead of them and [He knows] what is behind them, for back to Allah all things wind up [all things end with Allah].

O you who are committed [to Allah, His power and authority]! Bow down and prostrate yourselves and conform to your Sustainer and do what is good [and abounding] so that you may become successful.5

And strive [and struggle] in [the context of] Allah with the kind of jihad that is due to Him; it is He who decided on you [to carry forth His duties] and He has not presented you with any difficulty in affairs pertaining to the dīn. This is the worldview of your forefather Ibrāhīm, who gave you the appellation “muslims” [submitters to Allah] in times past, and in this [name and task] the Messenger [Muhammad] becomes a witness [over your character and struggle] and you become witnesses over people [their character and struggle]. So initiate and institutionalize the ṣalāh and arrange and organize the distribution of the zakāh and be fortified by [your relationship with] Allah: He is your Lord Supreme — and how excellent a Lord Supreme and how excellent a Supporter!6