سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 197
ٱلْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا۟ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿197﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islâmic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming Ihrâm), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allâh knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness). So fear Me, O men of understanding!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلْحَجُّ
al-ḥaju
(For) the Hajj
أَشْهُرٌۭ
ashhurun
(are) months
مَّعْلُومَـٰتٌۭ ۚ
maʿlūmātun
well known
فَمَن
faman
then whoever
فَرَضَ
faraḍa
undertakes
فِيهِنَّ
fīhinna
therein
ٱلْحَجَّ
l-ḥaja
the Hajj
فَلَا
falā
then no
رَفَثَ
rafatha
sexual relations
وَلَا
walā
and no
فُسُوقَ
fusūqa
wickedness
وَلَا
walā
and no
جِدَالَ
jidāla
quarrelling
فِى
fī
during
ٱلْحَجِّ ۗ
l-ḥaji
the Hajj
وَمَا
wamā
And whatever
تَفْعَلُوا۟
tafʿalū
you do
مِنْ
min
of
خَيْرٍۢ
khayrin
good
يَعْلَمْهُ
yaʿlamhu
knows it
ٱللَّهُ ۗ
l-lahu
Allah
وَتَزَوَّدُوا۟
watazawwadū
And take provision
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
(but) indeed
خَيْرَ
khayra
(the) best
ٱلزَّادِ
l-zādi
provision
ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ
l-taqwā
(is) righteousness
وَٱتَّقُونِ
wa-ittaqūni
And fear Me
يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى
yāulī
O men
ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
l-albābi
(of) understanding
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 197) ➊ {اَلْحَجُّ اَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُوْمٰتٌ:} ‘Umrah can be performed at any time during the year, but Hajj can only be performed at its appointed time. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The months of Hajj which Allah Almighty has mentioned are Shawwal, Dhu’l-Qa‘dah, and Dhu’l-Hijjah.” [ بخاری، الحج، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «ذلک لمن لم یکن أہلہ …» : ۱۵۷۲] And Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “What is meant is Shawwal, Dhu’l-Qa‘dah, and the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.” [ بخاری، قبل ح : ۱۵۶۰۔ طبری : 267/2، ح : ۳۵۲۲۔ مستدرک حاکم : 303/2،ح : ۳۰۹۲ و صححہ ووافقہ الذھبی]
From this it is understood that the ihram for Hajj should not be donned in months other than the months of Hajj. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Sunnah is that the ihram for Hajj should be donned only in the months of Hajj.” [ ابن خزیمۃ، باب النہی عن الإحرام … : 162/4، ح : ۲۵۹۶] Ibn Kathir declared this Sahih, and it is considered as having the ruling of marfu‘.
➋ { فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيْهِنَّ الْحَجَّ:} To make Hajj obligatory upon oneself is to don the ihram with the intention of Hajj and to recite the complete talbiyah verbally. [لَبَّیْکَ بِالْحَجِّ] and [لَبَّیْکَ اَللّٰہُمَّ لَبَّیْکَ …] (Ibn Kathir)
➌ {فَلَا رَفَثَ وَ لَا فُسُوْقَ وَ لَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ:} That is, all these things are forbidden in Hajj. {”رَفَث“} (sexual activity) refers to intercourse and all things that lead towards intercourse. {”فُسُوْق“} (disobedience) is a word that includes every sin, and {’’ جِدَال‘‘} refers to quarrelling and fighting. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever performs Hajj to this House and does not engage in rafath or fusūq, he will return as (free from sins) as the day his mother gave birth to him.” [ بخاری، المحصر و جزاء الصید، باب قول اللہ عزوجل : «فلا رفث» : ۱۸۱۹]
➍ {وَ تَزَوَّدُوْا فَاِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوٰى:} The literal meaning of taqwa is to avoid. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The people of Yemen used to perform Hajj without bringing provisions and would say, ‘We are those who rely (on Allah),’ then when they came to Makkah they would beg from the people, so Allah Almighty revealed this verse.” [ بخاری، الحج، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «و تزودوا فإن … :» ۱۵۲۳] Such reliance is not upon Allah, but in reality upon the pockets of people. (Talbis Iblis) It is said: Take provisions, its benefit is that you will be saved from asking (begging). Along with outward provisions, inner provision is also necessary, the best form of which is taqwa, i.e., to avoid disobedience to Allah Almighty. Both meanings can be taken from the verse and both are intended.
From this it is understood that the ihram for Hajj should not be donned in months other than the months of Hajj. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Sunnah is that the ihram for Hajj should be donned only in the months of Hajj.” [ ابن خزیمۃ، باب النہی عن الإحرام … : 162/4، ح : ۲۵۹۶] Ibn Kathir declared this Sahih, and it is considered as having the ruling of marfu‘.
➋ { فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيْهِنَّ الْحَجَّ:} To make Hajj obligatory upon oneself is to don the ihram with the intention of Hajj and to recite the complete talbiyah verbally. [لَبَّیْکَ بِالْحَجِّ] and [لَبَّیْکَ اَللّٰہُمَّ لَبَّیْکَ …] (Ibn Kathir)
➌ {فَلَا رَفَثَ وَ لَا فُسُوْقَ وَ لَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ:} That is, all these things are forbidden in Hajj. {”رَفَث“} (sexual activity) refers to intercourse and all things that lead towards intercourse. {”فُسُوْق“} (disobedience) is a word that includes every sin, and {’’ جِدَال‘‘} refers to quarrelling and fighting. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever performs Hajj to this House and does not engage in rafath or fusūq, he will return as (free from sins) as the day his mother gave birth to him.” [ بخاری، المحصر و جزاء الصید، باب قول اللہ عزوجل : «فلا رفث» : ۱۸۱۹]
➍ {وَ تَزَوَّدُوْا فَاِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوٰى:} The literal meaning of taqwa is to avoid. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The people of Yemen used to perform Hajj without bringing provisions and would say, ‘We are those who rely (on Allah),’ then when they came to Makkah they would beg from the people, so Allah Almighty revealed this verse.” [ بخاری، الحج، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «و تزودوا فإن … :» ۱۵۲۳] Such reliance is not upon Allah, but in reality upon the pockets of people. (Talbis Iblis) It is said: Take provisions, its benefit is that you will be saved from asking (begging). Along with outward provisions, inner provision is also necessary, the best form of which is taqwa, i.e., to avoid disobedience to Allah Almighty. Both meanings can be taken from the verse and both are intended.
