Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 198

(Ayah 198) ➊ Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Ukaz, Majinnah, and Dhul-Majaz were markets in the time of ignorance. Now, the Muslims considered trading there during the days of Hajj to be a sin, so this verse was revealed." [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «لیس علیکم جناح …» : ۴۵۱۹] That is, buying and selling during Hajj is not prohibited; rather, this wealth and property is the bounty of Allah, so earning a livelihood is not forbidden.

➋ When leaving the Ka'bah, first comes Mina, then Muzdalifah, then Arafat. Pilgrims reach Mina before noon on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah (the Day of Tarwiyah), and perform Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr in Mina. After donning Ihram, Hajj begins from here; on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, they go to Arafat. Standing (wuquf) in Arafat from the time the sun declines until it sets is the greatest pillar of Hajj. Abdur Rahman bin Ya'mar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Hajj is (standing in) Arafat; whoever reaches Arafat during the night of Muzdalifah before the dawn breaks, he has attained Hajj." [ ترمذی : ۲۹۷۵۔ أبو داوٗد : ۱۹۵۰، و صححہ الألبانی]

Mash'ar Haram is a mountain; by it is meant Muzdalifah, and because it is within the Haram, it is called {”الْحَرَامِ“}. After returning from Arafat, the pilgrims spend the night here and, after performing the Fajr prayer in the darkness, remain engaged in the remembrance of Allah until near sunrise, then depart for Mina before the sun rises.

➌ {وَ اذْكُرُوْهُ كَمَا هَدٰىكُمْ:} That is, the polytheists also used to remember Allah, and this too [لَبَّیْکَ اَللَّھُمَّ لَبَّیْکَ، لَبَّیْکَ لاَ شَرِیْکَ لَکَ] meaning "You have no partner," they used to say, but then they would add partners, saying: [اِلاَّ شَرِیْکًا لَکَ تَمْلِکُہٗ وَمَا مَلَکَ] [ مسلم، الحج، باب التلبیۃ : ۱۱۸۵] "Yes, a partner who is Yours, whom You own, but he himself does not own." Allah Almighty said: "Remember Him as He has guided you," meaning do not call upon anyone else with Him. He said: «فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللّٰهِ اِلٰهًا اٰخَرَ» [ الشعراء : ۲۱۳۔ القصص : ۸۸] "Do not call upon anyone with Allah." Then what is the state of those Muslims who, even after going there, call upon others besides Allah?

198. 1. By "bounty" is meant trade and business, that is, there is no harm in engaging in trade during the journey of Hajj. 2. On the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, from the decline of the sun until sunset, standing in the plain of Arafat is the most important pillar of Hajj, about which it is said in the hadith (الحج عرفۃ) (Standing in Arafat is Hajj). Here, the Maghrib prayer is not to be performed; rather, upon reaching Muzdalifah, Maghrib's three units and Isha's two units (shortened) are to be combined and performed with one adhan and two iqamahs. Muzdalifah itself is called Mash'ar al-Haram because it is within the Haram. Here, remembrance of Allah is emphasized. The night is to be spent here. The Fajr prayer is to be performed in darkness (early time), and one should remain engaged in remembrance until sunrise. After sunrise, one should proceed to Mina.

198. There is no blame upon you if you seek the bounty [267] of your Lord (i.e., provision, trade) during Hajj. But when you depart from Arafat [268], remember Allah at al-Mash‘ar al-Haram [269] (Muzdalifah), and remember Him as He has guided you, for before this you were surely among those astray.

[267]
Hajj and Trade:

Among the incorrect beliefs of the Age of Ignorance was that they considered trading during Hajj to be disliked and thought it contrary to sincerity of action. Allah Almighty permitted it, provided that the main purpose remains Hajj itself and that trade does not interfere with the pillars of Hajj, etc. Thus, Abdullah bin Abbas ؓ says that in the days of ignorance, markets of ‘Ukaz, Majannah, and Dhu’l-Majaz used to be held in (Mina). (The Companions) considered trade during the days of Hajj to be a sin, then this verse was revealed. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير، زير آيت مذكوره]

[268]
Attendance at ‘Arafat is the Greatest Pillar of Hajj:

From this verse, it is understood that among the pillars of Hajj, standing at ‘Arafat is very necessary, rather it is the greatest pillar. As is clear from the following hadith: It is narrated from Abdullah bin ‘Umar ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said three times: Hajj is (attendance at) ‘Arafat, Hajj is (attendance at) ‘Arafat, Hajj is (attendance at) ‘Arafat. The days of Mina are three; then whoever hastens and leaves in two days, there is no sin upon him, and whoever stays for the third day, there is no sin upon him, and whoever attains the standing at ‘Arafat before the rising of dawn, he has attained Hajj. [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير، زير آيت مذكوره]

[269] Al-Mash‘ar al-Haram is the name of a hill in Muzdalifah upon which the Imam stands. Standing on this hill is preferable. If this is not possible, then it is permissible to stay anywhere, except in the Valley of Muhassir.

[270]
The Talbiyah of the Polytheists:

The polytheists also used to mention Allah, but they would mix polytheistic phrases in it. To save from this misguidance, Allah Almighty gave this guidance, and those polytheistic phrases were: «الا شريكا هولك تملك وماملك» except for that partner of Yours whom You own, but he does not own You. [مسلم، كتاب الحج، باب التلبية]