ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا۟ تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا۟ نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا۟ بِٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ 29
Translations
Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform ṭawāf around the ancient House."
Transliteration
Thumma liyaqḍū tafathahum wa-liyūfū nuzūrahum wa-liyaṭṭawwafū bil-bayti al-'atīq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands pilgrims to complete their state of ihram by removing its restrictions (tafath), fulfill their vows made to Allah, and perform tawaf (circumambulation) around the ancient House of Allah (the Ka'bah). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that tafath refers to grooming and removing ihram after completing the major rites, which represents the final stages of the Hajj pilgrimage where one returns to normal life while maintaining spiritual consciousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Hajj (revealed in Medina) and appears in the section detailing the rituals and obligations of Hajj. It comes after verses describing the benefits and purposes of pilgrimage, providing specific instructions for pilgrims during the final phases of their sacred journey.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 1843: Narrated 'Aisha - The Prophet (ﷺ) performed Tawaf around the Ka'bah and the Safa and Marwa as the last thing he did at Mecca. Also relevant: The hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's final tawaf (Tawaf al-Wada') before departing Mecca.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds pilgrims that Hajj is not merely external rituals but a comprehensive spiritual journey that concludes with intentional recommitment to one's vows with Allah. For modern believers, it teaches that fulfilling promises made to Allah and maintaining consciousness of Him extends beyond the pilgrimage into everyday life.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ يَصْطَفِى مِنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Allāh chooses from the angels messengers and from the people. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُۥ يُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
That is because Allāh is the True Reality and because He gives life to the dead and because He is over all things competent
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.
يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُۥ وَمَا لَا يَنفَعُهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ
He invokes instead of Allāh that which neither harms him nor benefits him. That is what is the extreme error.