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
Translations
Ḥajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made ḥajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of iḥrām], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during ḥajj. And whatever good you do - Allāh knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allāh. And fear Me, O you of understanding.
Transliteration
Al-hajju ashhurun ma'lumaat; faman faraza fihinna al-hajja fala rafatha wa la fusooqa wa la jidala fi al-hajj; wa ma taf'alu min khayrin ya'lamhu Allah; wa tazawwadu fa-inna khayra al-zadi al-taqwa; wa ittaqun ya ulul-albab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the months of Hajj (Shawwal, Dhul-Qi'dah, and the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah) and sets the spiritual and behavioral standards for pilgrims who have committed to performing Hajj. Those in the state of ihram must abstain from three categories of prohibited conduct: rafath (sexual relations and lustful talk), fusooq (disobedience and transgressions), and jidal (disputes and arguments). Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that these prohibitions reflect the sanctity of the pilgrimage and purify the soul, culminating in the reminder that all good deeds are witnessed by Allah, and that taqwa (God-consciousness) is the greatest provision one can carry.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Madinah during the second year of the Hijra, establishing the regulations for Hajj after it became obligatory. It comes within the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of fundamental Islamic practices and rules, addressing the Muslim community's need for clear guidance on pilgrimage conduct as the Ummah grew in the Islamic state.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (1773): Narrated Ibn Abbas - The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'There is no Hajj for one who commits Rafath (sexual relations or obscenity) or Fusooq (disobedience) or Jidal (disputation) during Hajj.' Additionally, Jami' at-Tirmidhi reports the Prophet's instruction that pilgrims should maintain taqwa and avoid quarreling during the pilgrimage.
Themes
Key Lesson
Hajj is not merely a physical journey but a profound spiritual transformation requiring inner purification through God-consciousness and moral discipline. The ayah teaches that true provision for any endeavor—spiritual or material—is taqwa (piety), and that every action is witnessed by Allah, making sincere intention and righteous conduct the foundation of acceptable worship.
Related Ayahs
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَآ أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allāh has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦٓ أَنْ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۠ أُحْىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْتِى بِٱلشَّمْسِ مِنَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ ٱلْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allāh had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allāh brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ٱدْخُلُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا۟ حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَـٰيَـٰكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And [recall] when We said, "Enter this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance, and enter the gate bowing humbly and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins].' We will [then] forgive your sins for you, and We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."