AL HAJJ (The Pilgrimage)
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
1 O mankind! Fear your Lord! For the convulsion of the Hour will be a thing terrible!
2 The day you shall see it, every mother giving suck shall forget her nursing baby, and every pregnant woman shall miscarry: you shall see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk: but dreadful will be the wrath of Allah.
3 And yet among men there are such as dispute about Allah, without knowledge, and follow every demon obstinate in rebellion!
4 About Iblis it is decreed that whoever turns to him for friendship, him will he lead astray, and he will guide him to the penalty of the fire.
5 O mankind! If you have a doubt about resurrection, consider that we created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly unformed, in order that we may manifest our power to you; and we cause whom we will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term. We bring you out as babies, then you reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some live to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known much. And you see the earth barren and lifeless, but when we pour down rain on it, it is stirred to life, it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth.
6 This is so, because Allah is the reality: it is he who gives life to the dead, and it is he who has power over all things.
7 And truly the hour will come: there can be no doubt about it, or about the fact that Allah will raise up all who are in the graves.
8 Yet there is among men such a one as disputes about Allah, without knowledge, without guidance, and without a book of enlightenment,
9 Disdainfully bending his side, in order to lead men astray from the path of Allah: For him there is disgrace in this life, and on the day of judgment we shall make him taste the penalty of burning fire.
10 This is because of the deeds which your hands sent forth, for truly Allah is not unjust to his servants.
11 There are among men some who serve Allah, as it were, on the verge: if good befalls them, they are, therewith, well content; but if a trial comes to them, they turn on their faces: they lose both this world and the hereafter: that is loss for all to see!
12 They call on such deities, besides Allah, as can neither hurt nor profit them: that is straying far indeed!
13 They call on one whose hurt is nearer than his profit: evil, indeed, is the patron, and evil the companion!
14 Truly Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to gardens, beneath which rivers flow: for Allah carries out all that he plans.
15 If any think that Allah will not help him in this world and the hereafter, let him stretch out a rope to the ceiling and hang himself: then let him see whether his plan will remove that which enrages him!
16 Thus have we sent down clear signs; and truly Allah guides whom he will!
17 Those who believe, those who are Jews, and the Sabians, Nasara,[1] Magians, and polytheists, Allah will judge between them on the day of judgment: For Allah is witness of all things.
18 Do you not see that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are such as are fit for punishment: and such as Allah shall disgrace, none can raise to honour: for Allah carries out all that he wills.
19 These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord: but those who deny their Lord, for them will be cut out a garment of fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water.
20 With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as their skins.
21 In addition there will be maces of iron to punish them.
22 Every time they wish to get away from anguish, they will be forced back. Taste the penalty of burning!
23 Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.
24 For they have been guided to the purest of speeches; they have been guided to the path of him who is worthy of praise.
25 As to those who have rejected Allah, and would keep back men from the way of Allah, and from the sacred mosque, which we have made for all men — whether they are natives there or visitors — and any whose purpose there is profanity or wrongdoing, them will we cause to taste of a most grievous penalty.
26 Behold! We gave the site of the house to Ibrahim: associate not anything with me; and sanctify my house for those who compass it round, or stand up, or bow, or prostrate themselves.
27 And proclaim the pilgrimage among men: they will come to you on foot and on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;
28 That they may witness the benefits provided for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the days appointed, over the cattle which he has provided for them: then eat of it and feed the distressed ones in want.
29 Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows, and circumambulate the ancient House.
30 Such is the pilgrimage: Whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, for him it is good in the sight of his Lord. Lawful to you are cattle, except those mentioned to you: but shun the abomination of idols, and shun the word that is false,
31 Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to him: if anyone assigns partners to Allah, he is as if he had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had caught him and thrown him into a far distant place.
32 Such is his state: and whoever holds in honour the symbols of Allah, it should come truly from piety of heart.
33 In them you have benefits for a term appointed: in the end their place of sacrifice is near the ancient House.
34 To every people we appointed rites, that they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance he gave them from animals. But your God is one God. Submit then your wills to him, and give good news to those who humble themselves,
35 To those whose hearts, when Allah is mentioned, are filled with fear, who show patient perseverance over their afflictions, keep up regular prayer, and give out of what we have bestowed upon them.
36 The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah: in them is benefit for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up: when they are down on their sides after slaughter, eat it, and feed such as live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have we made animals subject to you, that you may be grateful.
37 It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches him: he has thus made them subject to you, that you may glorify Allah for his guidance to you: and proclaim the good news to all who do right.
38 Truly Allah will defend those who believe: Truly, Allah loves not any that is a traitor to faith, or shows ingratitude.
39 To those against whom war is made, permission is given to fight, because they are wronged; and truly, Allah is most powerful for their aid;
40 They are those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, For no cause except that they say. Our Lord is Allah. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his cause; for truly Allah is full of strength, exalted in might, able to enforce his will.
41 They are those who, if we establish them in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right and forbid wrong. With Allah rests the end of all affairs.
42 If they treat you as false, so did the peoples before them — the people of Nuh, and Aad, and Thamud;
43 Those of Ibrahim and Lut;
44 And the companions of the Madyani people; and Musa was rejected in the same way. But I granted respite to the unbelievers, and after that I punished them: but how terrible was my rejection!
45 How many populations have we destroyed, which were given to wrong doing? They tumbled down on their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and well built?
46 Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts.
47 Yet they ask you to hasten on the punishment! But Allah will not fail in his promise. Truly a day in the sight of your Lord is like a thousand years of your reckoning.
48 And to how many populations did I give respite, which were given to wrongdoing? In the end I punished them. To me is the destination of all.
49 Say: O men! I am sent to you only to give a clear warning:
50 Those who believe and work righteousness, for them is forgiveness and a sustenance most generous.
51 But those who strive against our signs, to frustrate them, they will be companions of the fire.
52 Never did we send a messenger or a prophet before you, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some vanity into his desire: but Allah will cancel anything vain that Satan throws in, and establish his signs: For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom:
53 That he may make the suggestions thrown in by Satan, but a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and who are hardened of heart: truly the wrongdoers are in a schism far from the truth:
54 And that those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that it is the truth from your Lord, and that they may believe, and their hearts may be made humble to him: for truly Allah is the guide of those who believe, to the straight way.
55 Those who reject faith will not cease to be in doubt about it until the Hour comes suddenly upon them, or there comes to them the penalty of a day of disaster.
56 On that day the dominion will be that of Allah: he will judge between them: so those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in gardens of delight.
57 And for those who reject faith and deny our signs, there will be a humiliating punishment.
58 Those who leave their homes in the cause of Allah, and are then slain or die, on them will Allah bestow truly a goodly provision: truly Allah is he who bestows the best provision.
59 Truly he will admit them to a place with which they be will be pleased: most forbearing.
60 It is decreed that if one has retaliated to no greater extent than the injury received, and is again set upon inordinately, Allah will help him: for Allah is one that blots out sins and forgives.
61 That is because Allah merges night into day, and he merges day into night, and truly it is Allah who hears and sees.
62 That is because Allah is the reality; and those besides him whom they invoke, they are but vain falsehood: truly Allah is he, most high, most great.
63 Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and forthwith the earth becomes clothed with green? For Allah is he who understands the finest mysteries, and is well acquainted with them.
64 To him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: for truly Allah, he is free of all wants, worthy of all praise.
65 Do you not see that Allah has made subject to you men and what is on the earth, and the ships that sail through the sea by his command? He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth except by his leave: for Allah is the most kind ant most merciful to man.
66 It is he who gave you life, will cause you to die, and will again give you life: truly man is a most ungrateful creature!
67 To every people have we appointed rites and ceremonies which they must follow: let them not then dispute with you on the matter, but do you invite them to your Lord: for you are assuredly on the right way.
68 If they do wrangle with you, say, Allah knows best what it is you are doing.
69 Allah will judge between you on the day of judgment concerning the matters which you differ.
70 Do you know that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Indeed it is all in a record, and that is easy for Allah.
71 Yet they worship, besides Allah, things for which no authority has been sent to them, and of which they have no knowledge: for those that do wrong there is no helper.
72 When our clear signs are rehearsed to them, you will notice a denial on the faces of the unbelievers! They nearly attack with violence those who rehearse our signs to them. Say, shall I tell you of some thing worse than these signs? It is the fire! Allah has promised it to the unbelievers, and evil is that destination!
73 O men! Here is a parable set forth! Listen to it! Those on whom, besides Allah, you call, cannot create even a fly, if they all met together for the purpose! And if the fly should snatch a way anything from them, they would have no power to realize it from the fly. Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!
74 No just estimate have they made of Allah: for Allah is he who is strong and able to carry out his will.
75 Allah chooses messengers from angels and from men for Allah is he who hears and sees.
76 He knows what is before them and what is behind them: and to Allah go back all questions for decision.
77 O you who believe! Bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that you may prosper.
78 And strive in his cause as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Ibrahim. It is he who has named you ‘those who have submitted’, both before and in this; that the messenger may be a witness for you, and you may be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular prayer, give regular charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your protector — the best to protect and the best to help!
[1] Arabic for Nazarenes, one of the early names given to the followers of ‘Isa al-Masih by the Jews (see Injil, Acts 24:5). ‘Isa himself was called the Nasrani, or the Nazarene, possibly because he was raised in the city of Nazareth. The Injil says that ‘Isa “came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he will be called a Nasrani.” (Injil, Matthew 2:23). The name “Christian” was a nickname given to the followers of ‘Isa al-Masih later, by Greek-speaking disbelievers (Injil, Acts 11:26).