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196. " and complete the hajj (pilgrimage) nad the `umrah for
the sake of allah; but if you are prevented (to complete it),
then (send) whatever offering (sacrificial animal) as may be obtained
with ease; and do not shave your heads till the offering reaches its place
(of sacrifice); but whoever among you is sick, or has an ailment in his
head, then he (should) make redemption by fasting,
or alms-giving or sacrificing. and when you are secure,
then whoever enjoys from the `umrah to the hajj (he should offer) of
whatever offering is easily available (for him). but whoever finds none (to
give), should fast three days during the hajj (pilgrimage),
and seven days when you have returned; these (make) ten (days)complete.
that is for the one whose family members do not dwell near the sacred
mosque. have awe of allah, and know that
verily allah is severe in penalty."
the rites of pilgrimage
the visitors of the holy shrine of mecca usualy perform the
ceremonies of minor pilgrimage first. the rites are as follows:
they put on pilgrim's garb ('ihram) from some definite sites
known as ` trysting place '. it means that they undertake to abandon
doing a series of deeds which are unlawful for the person in a pilgrim
state. they cover themselves with pilgrim's garb which consists of two
pieces of unsewn cloth, and they continually say `labbaika' while going
towards ka`bah. when they reach mecca, at first, they circumambulate
ka`bah in seven rounds. then, they keep up a two-rak`at-prayer in a
place called maqam-i-ebrahim (station of abraham). after that, they
ply to and fro between two mountains named safa and marwah for
seven times. finally, they, having cut a piece of a nail or some hair of
theirs, take off the pilgrim's garb.
then, again for the ceremonies of pilgrimage, they put on
pilgrim's garb and go unto `arafat, which is a land 24 kilometers far
from original city of mecca, in order to stay therein on the ninth of
zil-hajjah, from noon until sunset, busy praying with invocation. after
sunset, they move to mash`ar-ul-haram (sacred monument), which is
located at a distance of 15 kilometers from mecca, where they must
remain until morning. when the sun rises, they move into mina, a land
nearby there, and, on the same day, which is known as feast of
sacrifice, they throw seven pebbles at a special pillar called: ` jamarah
`uqba ', and then they sacrifice before shaving their heads (while women
cut off a piece of hair from their heads). when they did their hair cut
(taqsir), they take off their pilgrim's garb at last.
they return to mecca the same day or after that and perform the
ritual circumambulation of the ka`bah, circumambulation prayer,
running between safa and marwah, nisa' circumambulation and nisa'
circumambulation prayer. on the eleventh and twelfth of the month,
they throw pebbles at three special pillars in mina which are called
`jamarat ', one after another seven times at each pillar each day while,
during the nights before these days, they have to remain in mina.
thus, they accomplish the rites of the formal pilgrimage (hajj)
each of which is the survival of one historical event and that they are
some effective hints and implicit declarations to the matters of
refinement of character and social philosophies. (the description of
each philosophy will be delivered when commenting on the concerning
verses).
commentary:
now it is necessary to notify that the verse indicates that all these
actions should be fulfilled for the sake of allah and according to his
commandments, not for making display and pretence nor for the sake of
idols.
therefore, the first clause of the verse proclaims that in the deeds
of pilgrimage, both the formal pilgrimage (hajj) and the lesser formal
one (`umrah), no motive should interfere but seeking to be nearer to
allah.
" and complete the hajj (pilgrimage) and the `umrah for the sake of
allah; ..."
then it adds that if something like sickness and fear of enemy
happens that hinders you from performing the ritual rites of hajj and
`umrah after you are clothed in pilgrim's garb you must sacrifice an
animal as it is possible for you.
"... but if you are prevented (to complete it), then (send) whatever offering
(sacrificial animal) as may be obtained with ease; ..."
it should be noted, of curse, that if the prevetion is as a result
of sickness and the like and the pilgrim's garb is done for the lesser
formal pilgrimage (`umrah mufradah), the sacrifice should be sent to
mecca, but if it has happened from the side of an enemy, the duty of
sacrifice must be done at the same place where the prevention has
occurred. the prophet (p.b.u.h.) behaved in the same manner in
hudaybiyah, too. but, if the person is in the pilgrim's garb of hajj and
becomes sick, the one must send the sacrifice to mina.
"... and do not shave your heads till the offering reaches its place
(of sacrifice); ..."
one of the rites that should be done in hajj (pilgrimage) is
shaving the head (for men, and cutting some hair of the head for
women). but they must be careful that they are not allowed to do this
duty before sacrificing the offering in the place of sacrifice.
"...but whoever among you is sick, or has an ailment in his head,
then he (should) make redemption by fasting,
or alms-giving or sacrificing. ..."
the exception is for the person who has an ailment or a difficulty
that has to shave before the appointed time. if the person did so, (i.e.
shaved his head because of ailment and the like), it is necessary for the
one to give ransom. this ransom can be three days of fasting, or
feeding six indigents, or slaughtering a lamb.
"...and when you are secure, then whoever enjoys from the `umrah to the
hajj (he should offer) of whatever offering is easily available (for him).
but whoever finds none (to give), should fast three days
during the hajj (pilgrimage), and seven days when you have returned;..."
when you are free from sickness and enemy and you want to
perform the `greater pilgrimage ', you must sacrifice whatever you can
from animals such as a camel, cow, or lamb. but if any of you cannot
find the animal, or financially is not able to afford it, he must fast three
days during the days of pilgrimage (the seventh, eighth, and ninth days)
and seven days after returning from hajj so that it makes ten days.
"...these (make) ten (days) complete. ..."
it is evident that three days and seven days make ten days, yet the
qur'an says that they are totally ten days complete. this meaning may
point to the idea that the ten days can be substituted for the sacrifice
completely.
this greater pilgrimage with these orders is for those who are not
dwelling nearby the sacred mosque. (the known state among muslim
jurisprudents is that everyone who is sixteen kilometers far from mecca
his duty is to follow the rites of the ` greater pilgrimage ', but those who
are not far from mecca by this distance, their duty is the `separation
pilgrimge' (hajj-i-qir'an). this subject is detailed in books of
jurisprudence furnished with its concerning evidences.)
"...that is for the one whose family members do not dwell near
the sacred mosque,..."
finally, at the end of the verse, the command is due to piety and
that believers be aware not to have any shortcoming about the divine
instructions in order to protect themselves from the severe punishment
of allah.
"...have awe of allah, and know that verily allah is severe in penalty."
this emphasis may be for this that pilgrimage (hajj) is a great
islamic worship so that if the rites of it be not carefully observed and its
spirit be neglected, there will be a large loss for muslims.
this worship (hajj) is the very one that imam amir-ul-mu'mineen
ali (a.s.) has considered it the `flag' and `magnificent motto' of islam. at
the last moments of his life, he (a.s.) has remarked in his will, thus:
" fear allah (and) keep allah in view in the matter of your lord's house
(ka`bah). do not forsake it so long as you live, because if it is
abandoned, you will not be spared." 1
some enemies of islam have also said that while pilgrimage is in
process they cannot gain victory.
one of the great believing men says: woe unto muslims if they do
not comprehend the meaning of hajj, and woe unto others if they do
not catch its meaning!
1
nahjul-balaqah, letter no. 4
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