The meaning of

THE HOLY QURAN

INTRODUCTION TO SURAH 22 - AL HAJJ
.
RITES AND SYMBOLS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH (continued)
C. 152. - For our spiritual growth are provided
(22:26-48.) Symbols and means of expression in our ordinary
Lives. Such is the pilgrimage, meant
To gather men and women from far and near
To share in sacrifice, and prayer and praise,
In an age-old centre of worship. The sacrifices,
Too, are symbols of Piety of Heart,
A longing to share with fellow-men
In the bounties of Allah. In the Fight for Truth
Is tested our purity of motive, unselfishness
Of aim, and devotion to Right at the cost
Of Self. Fearless must we fight: for Truth
Has often been flouted, but must finally win.

Text from the Quran

Al Hajj
. (The Pilgrimage)

Through deep and distant

Mountain highways;

In the name of Allah,

Most Gracious, Most Merciful

28. That they may witness

The benefits (provided) for them,
SECTION 4.
And celebrate the name
Of Allah, through the Days
26. Behold! We gave the site,
Appointed, over the cattle
To Abraham, of the (Sacred)
Which He has provided for them
House,
(For sacrifice): then eat ye
(Saying): Associate not anything
Thereof and feed the distressed
(In worship) with Me;
Ones in want.
And sanctify My House
For those who compass it round, 29. Then let them complete
Or stand up,
The rites prescribed
Or bow, or prostrate themselves
For them, perform their vows,
(Therein in prayer).
And (again) circumambulate
The Ancient House.
27. And proclaim the Pilgrimage
Among men: they will come
30. Such (is the Pilgrimage):
To thee on foot and (mounted)
Whoever honours the sacred
On every kind of camel,
Rites of Allah, for him
Lean on account of journeys
It is good in the sight

Of his Lord. Lawful to you

(For food in Pilgrimage) are cattle,
Except those mentioned to you
(As exceptions): 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 swooped (like a bird
On its prey) and thrown him
Into a far-distant place.
32. Such (is his state): and
Whoever holds in honour
The Symbols of Allah,

* The Message of Islam, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Kitab Bhavan, New Delhi, 1939.

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37. It is not their meat

(In the sacrifice of animals),
Nor their blood, that reaches
Such (honour) should come truly
Allah: it is your piety
From piety of heart.
That reaches Him: He
Has thus made them subject
33. In them ye have benefits
To you, that ye may glorify
For a term appointed:
Allah for His guidance to you:
In the end their place
And proclaim the Good News
Of sacrifice is near
To all who do right.
The Ancient House.
SECTION 5.
34. To every people did We
Appoint rites (of sacrifice),
That they might celebrate
The name of Allah over
The sustenance He gave them
From animals (fit for food),
But your God is One God:
Submit then your wills to Him
(In Islam): and give thou
The good news to those
Who humble themselves

38. Verily Allah will defend

(From ill) those who believe:
Verily, Allah loveth not
Any that is a traitor
To faith, or shows ingratitude.
SECTION 6.
39. To those against whom
War is made, permission
Is given (to fight), because
They are wronged and verily,
Allah is Most Powerful
For their aid

42. If they treat thy (mission)

As false, so did the Peoples
Before them (with their Prophets)
The People of Noah,
The Ad and Thamud;
43. Those of Abraham and Lut;
.
44. And the Companions
Of the Madyan people;
And Moses was rejected
(In the same way). But I
Granted respite to the Unbelievers,
And (only) after that
Did I punish them:
But how (terrible) was
My rejection (of them)!
45. How many populations have We
Destroyed, which were given
To wrongdoing? They tumbled down
On their roofs. And how many
Wells are lying idle and neglected,
And castles lofty and well-built?

35. To those whose hearts,

40. (They are) those who have
When Allah is mentioned,
Been expelled from their homes
46. Do they not travel
Are filled with fear,
In defiance of right
Through the land, so that
Who show patient perseverance
(For
no
cause)
except
Their hearts (and minds)
Over their afflictions, keep up
That they say, Our Lord
May thus learn wisdom
Regular prayer, and spend
Is
Allah.
Did
not
Allah
And their ears may
(In charity) out of what
Check
one
set
of
people
Thus learn to hear?
We have bestowed upon them.
By means of another
Truly it is not their eyes
There
would
surely
have
been
That are blind, but their
36. The sacrificial camels
Pulled
down
monasteries,
churches,
Hearts which are
We have made for you
Synagogues,
and
mosques,
in
which
In their breasts.
As among the Symbols from
The name of Allah is commemorated
Allah: in them is (much)
In abundant measure. Allah will
47. Yet they ask thee
Good for you: then pronounce
Certainly aid those who
To hasten on the Punishment!
The name of Allah over them
Aid
His
(cause)

for
verily
But Allah will not fail
As they line up (for sacrifice):
Allah is Full of Strength,
In His promise. Verily
When they are down
Exalted
in
Might,
A Day in the sight of thy Lord
On their sides (after
(Able
to
enforce
His
Will).
Is like a thousand years
slaughter),
Of your reckoning.
Eat ye thereof, and feed
41.
(They
are)
those
who,
Such as (beg not but)
If We establish them
48. And to how many populations
Live in contentment,
In
the
land,
establish
Did I give respite, which
And such as beg
Regular prayer and give
Were given to wrongdoing?
With due humility: thus have
Regular
charity,
enjoin
In the end I punished them.
We made animals subject
The right and forbid wrong:
To Me is the destination (of all).
To you, that ye
With
Allah
rests
the
end
May be grateful.
Al Hajj:
26 - 48
(And decision) of (all) affairs.
.
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