Al-Hajj (ٱلْحَجّ)

 

Surah Al-Hajj belongs to the 17th Juz of the Quran, consisting of 78 verses and 10 Rukus. It is the 22nd surah with 2 sajdahs (prostrations) and as its name tells, the surah talks about the Pilgrimage (Hajj). A part of the surah was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) before hijrah in Makkah (Mecca), and the other part was revealed in Medina after hijrah. The surah addresses various groups of people of the time, including the non-Muslims of Makkah, the Muslims who are uncertain of their faith, and the genuine believers. 

The surah begins with a powerful reminder of the Day of Judgement, urging mankind to focus on our deeds and prepare for the Hour. It specifically mentions Abu Jahl and warns the hypocrites of the severe punishment waiting for them. The surah also compares the fate of believers and non-believers, stating the rewards for the believers and punishment for those who reject the message of Allah. Through this Surah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ calls the believers on a pilgrimage to Makkah, highlighting the importance of Hajj in strengthening faith and unity among Muslims. 

٢٢ - ٱلْحَجّ

22 - Al-Hajj

يٰۗاَيُّہَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمْ۝۰ۚ اِنَّ زَلْزَلَۃَ السَّاعَۃِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيْمٌ۝۱
Ya ayyuha alnnasu ittaqoo rabbakum inna zalzalata alssaAAati shayon AAatheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

O YOU PEOPLE, fear your Lord. The great upheaval of the Hour will indeed be terrible.

1

يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَہَا تَذْہَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَۃٍ عَمَّاۗ اَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَہَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكٰرٰي وَمَا ہُمْ بِسُكٰرٰي وَلٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللہِ شَدِيْدٌ۝۲
Yawma tarawnaha tathhalu kullu murdiAAatin AAamma ardaAAat watadaAAu kullu thati hamlin hamlaha watara alnnasa sukara wama hum bisukara walakinna AAathaba Allahi shadeedun

English

Ahmed Ali

The day you see it every suckling female will forget her suckling, and every pregnant female will discharge her burden. You will see men drunk, yet it will not be intoxication. The torment of God will be severe.

2

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُّجَادِلُ فِي اللہِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَّيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطٰنٍ مَّرِيْدٍ۝۳ۙ
Wamina alnnasi man yujadilu fee Allahi bighayri AAilmin wayattabiAAu kulla shaytanin mareedin

English

Ahmed Ali

And yet there are men who contend about God without understanding, and follow every wayward devil

3

كُتِبَ عَلَيْہِ اَنَّہٗ مَنْ تَوَلَّاہُ فَاَنَّہٗ يُضِلُّہٗ وَيَہْدِيْہِ اِلٰى عَذَابِ السَّعِيْرِ۝۴
Kutiba AAalayhi annahu man tawallahu faannahu yudilluhu wayahdeehi ila AAathabi alssaAAeeri

English

Ahmed Ali

Who, it is inscribed, will beguile whoever follows him, and lead him to the torment of Hell.

4

يٰۗاَيُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِيْ رَيْبٍ مِّنَ الْبَعْثِ فَاِنَّا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ مِّنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُّطْفَۃٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَۃٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ مُّضْغَۃٍ مُّخَلَّقَۃٍ وَّغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَۃٍ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ۝۰ۭ وَنُقِرُّ فِي الْاَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَاۗءُ اِلٰۗى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوْۗا اَشُدَّكُمْ۝۰ۚ وَمِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُّتَوَفّٰى وَمِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُّرَدُّ اِلٰۗى اَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍ شَـيْــــًٔا۝۰ۭ وَتَرَى الْاَرْضَ ہَامِدَۃً فَاِذَاۗ اَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْہَا الْمَاۗءَ اہْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَاَنْۢبَتَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ زَوْجٍؚبَہِيْجٍ۝۵
Ya ayyuha alnnasu in kuntum fee raybin mina albaAAthi fainna khalaqnakum min turabin thumma min nutfatin thumma min AAalaqatin thumma min mudghatin mukhallaqatin waghayri mukhallaqatin linubayyina lakum wanuqirru fee alarhami ma nashao ila ajalin musamman thumma nukhrijukum tiflan thumma litablughoo ashuddakum waminkum man yutawaffa waminkum man yuraddu ila arthali alAAumuri likayla yaAAlama min baAAdi AAilmin shayan watara alarda hamidatan faitha anzalna AAalayha almaa ihtazzat warabat waanbatat min kulli zawjin baheejin

English

Ahmed Ali

If you have any doubt, O men, about being raised to life again, (remember) that We created you from dust, then a drop of semen, then an embryo, then a chewed up lump of flesh shaped and shapeless, that We may reveal (the various steps) to you. We keep what We please in the womb for a certain time, then you come out as a child, then reach the prime of age. Some of you die, some reach the age of dotage when they forget what they knew, having known it once. You see the earth all withered, then We send down rain upon it, and it bestirs itself, swells, and brings forth every kind of beauteous verdure.

5

ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّ اللہَ ہُوَالْحَقُّ وَاَنَّہٗ يُـحْيِ الْمَوْتٰى وَاَنَّہٗ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۝۶ۙ
Thalika bianna Allaha huwa alhaqqu waannahu yuhyee almawta waannahu AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

That is so for God is the undeniable Reality. It is He who brings the dead to life, for He has power over everything.

6

وَّاَنَّ السَّاعَۃَ اٰتِيَۃٌ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيْہَا۝۰ۙ وَاَنَّ اللہَ يَبْعَثُ مَنْ فِي الْقُبُوْرِ۝۷
Waanna alssaAAata atiyatun la rayba feeha waanna Allaha yabAAathu man fee alquboori

English

Ahmed Ali

The Hour will come without a doubt, and God will raise those who are dead.

7

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُّجَادِلُ فِي اللہِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَّلَا ہُدًى وَّلَا كِتٰبٍ مُّنِيْرٍ۝۸ۙ
Wamina alnnasi man yujadilu fee Allahi bighayri AAilmin wala hudan wala kitabin muneerin

English

Ahmed Ali

Yet there are some who contend about God without any knowledge or guidance or enlightening Book,

8

ثَانِيَ عِطْفِہٖ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيْلِ اؘ۝۰ۭ لَہٗ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَّنُذِيْقُہٗ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَۃِ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيْقِ۝۹
Thaniya AAitfihi liyudilla AAan sabeeli Allahi lahu fee alddunya khizyun wanutheequhu yawma alqiyamati AAathaba alhareeqi

English

Ahmed Ali

Turning their backs that they may lead away from the path of God. For such there is disgrace in the world, and on the Day of Judgement We shall make them taste the torment of burning.

9

ذٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدٰكَ وَاَنَّ اللہَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّـلْعَبِيْدِ۝۱۰ۧ
Thalika bima qaddamat yadaka waanna Allaha laysa bithallamin lilAAabeedi

English

Ahmed Ali

That is on account of what you had done in the past; yet God is not unjust to His creatures.

10

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Hajj (الْحَجُّ)

Surah Al-Hajj serves as a guide for Muslims, helping them elevate their faith by believing in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ alone, His messenger, and following the ethical conduct of Islam. The surah assures the believers of the great tidings and ultimate justice on the Day of Judgement. It also delivers the warnings and consequences for the mushriks of their actions in the hereafter. 

The main theme of the surah is to invite the Muslims to perform Hajj, which is the Holy Pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhul Hijjah so that the mushriks know that Kaaba does not belong to them and is not their private property but the house of Allah built by His beloved Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). It highlights all the rituals of Hajj, including the sacrifice of animals and tawaf around the Kaaba. 

Like its predecessor, Surah Al-Anbiya, this surah also recounts the struggles and stories of past prophets to strengthen the Imaan of Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions. Surah AL-Hajj also highlights the wavering believers who embraced the religion but are reluctant to face hardships. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ does not like such believers, and they will face the consequences of not helping the religion grow. The surah also mentions the hypocrites and has declared war against the infidels in case of self-defense.  

Surah Al-Hajj serves as a source to tell the Muslims who believe in Allah, His prophets, and the Day of Judgment about the rewards they will receive in the hereafter, and the Martyrs will attain a high position and reward. The main theme of the surah is based on following the commandments of Allah, believing in His Oneness, and fear of Allah. The surah also talks about the Day of Judgement, its horrors, and its preparations for the believers. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Hajj (الْحَجُّ)

Surah Al-Hajj comes after Surah Al-Anbiya, which discusses the past prophets and their lives. Surah Al-Hajj has a message for both the Muslims and the mushriks. It provides guidance on worshipping Allah and believing in His Oneness, the Day of Judgment, and Allah’s superpowers. The surah reflects on signs of Allah and His power of creation, strengthening the connection of the believers with Allah. 

Surah Al-Hajj also describes the importance of Hajj and guidance about the main rituals without which Hajj is invalid. Since it also conveys the consequences for Muslims, Weak Muslims, and Mushriks, the surah is helpful for Muslims to improve their worship, fear Allah, and purify their intentions. It also helps Muslims to learn the principles of Islam and navigate their life according to it. 

The surah also has two prostrations, which are necessary for the Muslims who recite the verse to prostrate and submit their will to the will of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ and strengthen their faith by prostrating towards the Lord of the Worlds. It is narrated by Uqbah ibn Amir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) in a Hadith, which is graded as Da’if in Sunan Abi Dawud;

“I said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): Are there two prostrations in Surah Al-Hajj? He replied: Yes, if anyone does not make two prostrations, he should not recite them.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 1402, Book 7, Hadith 2).