وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ 27
Translations
And proclaim to the people the ḥajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass -
Transliteration
Wa-adhin fi al-nasi bi-al-hajji ya'tuka rijalan wa-ala kulli damirin ya'tina min kulli fajjin amiq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Allah's command to Prophet Ibrahim to announce the pilgrimage (Hajj) to all people, and that they would come to him on foot and on every lean camel from every distant, rugged path. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to Ibrahim's call to pilgrimage, which continues to echo through the ages—the subsequent performance of Hajj by millions fulfills this divine command. The 'lean camels' (damir) symbolize animals weakened by the arduous journey, emphasizing the immense effort and sacrifice pilgrims undertake to respond to this call.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan Surah Al-Hajj and is part of the passage describing the establishment of the Hajj pilgrimage. It contextualizes Hajj as an ancient institution initiated by Prophet Ibrahim, connecting the early Islamic practice to the Abrahamic tradition and establishing its spiritual and historical significance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 1597: 'Aisha asked the Prophet, 'O Messenger of Allah, is Hajj obligatory?' He replied, 'Yes, it is obligatory for everyone who has the means.' Also, Muslim 1218: The Prophet said, 'Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and does not utter obscene words or commit sin during Hajj, he returns as pure and sinless as a newborn child.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Hajj is not merely a ritual but a profound spiritual call that transcends time and geography, uniting believers across centuries in response to Allah's command. The imagery of people traveling from distant lands emphasizes that true devotion requires effort, sacrifice, and commitment to answering Allah's call, regardless of the hardship involved.
Related Ayahs
مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُۥ مَا يَغِيظُ
Whoever should think that Allāh will not support him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] in this world and the Hereafter - let him extend a rope to the ceiling, then cut off [his breath], and let him see: will his effort remove that which enrages [him]?
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍ مُّنِيرٍ
And of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening book [from Him],
أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا۟ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ
Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allāh is competent to give them victory.
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى ٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ
For you therein [i.e., the animals marked for sacrifice] are benefits for a specified term; then their place of sacrifice is at the ancient House.