Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | THE SACRED MONTHS, FIGHTING AND PILGRIMAGEwhatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them. Eat, then, of such [sacrificedcattle] and feed the unfortunate poor. Thereafter let them complete the rites prescribedfor them, fulfil their vows, and again walk around the Ancient House...Anyone whohonours the symbols set up by God [shows evidence of] God-consciousness in people’shearts. You have benefit in them for a term appointed; and in the end their place ofsacrifice is near the Ancient House...The sacrifice of camels We have ordained for youas one of the symbols set up by God, in which there is much good for you. Hence, extolthe name of God over them when they are lined up [for sacrifice]; and after they havefallen lifeless to the ground, eat of their meat, and feed the poor who is contented withhis lot, as well as the one who is forced to beg. It is to this end that We have made themsubservient to your needs, so that you might have cause to be grateful. Never doestheir meat or their blood reach God; it is your piety that reaches Him. It is to this endthat He has made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for allthe guidance with which He has graced you. Give good news to those who do good.These verses make specific reference to offering animals for sacrifice, walkingaround the Ka`bah (ţawāf), the rites of iĥrām 1 (consecration), and the invocation ofGod’s name, all of which constitute the basic rites of the pilgrimage. The Muslimswere addressed with these words as the heirs of Abraham, indicating that thepilgrimage had been instituted at an early stage as part of the legacy of Abraham.The fact that Muslims, for various practical reasons, had not been able to perform thepilgrimage is beside the point. However, as mentioned earlier in this volume,individual Muslims had been able to perform the pilgrimage since the Ka`bah wasre-instituted as the qiblah in the second year of the Islamic calendar.Let us now take a closer look at the verses on pilgrimage in this sūrah and theinstructive message they convey.Perform to their completion both the pilgrimage and the `Umrah purely for God’ssake. If you are prevented from doing so, then make whatever offering you can easilyafford. Do not shave your heads until the offerings have reached their appointeddestination. If any of you is ill or suffers from an ailment of the head, he shall redeemhimself by fasting, or alms, or sacrifice. When you are in safety, then he who takesadvantage of performing the `Umrah before the pilgrimage shall make whateveroffering he can easily afford; but he who lacks the means shall fast three days duringthe pilgrimage and seven more days on returning home; that is, ten days in all. Allthis applies to those whose families are not resident in the vicinity of the SacredMosque. Fear God, and know well that God is severe in retribution. (Verse 196)1 Iĥrām, or consecration, involves that men discard their normal clothes and wear simple unsewngarments, refraining from shaving or cutting one’s hair, covering the head, clipping one’s nails,hunting, and sexual contact with one’s spouse. This state is assumed at specified locations outsideMakkah, each known as mīqāt, and for the main part of the pilgrimage and the whole of the `Umrah.Women observe the same restrictions but wear their normal clothes.236