Surah Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

1. Allah Almighty commands the people to be pious and to obey His commandments and to avoid what He has forbidden. He warns them of the dreads of Resurrection Day and the grave events which will take place on it, and the earthquake whose horror will turn the hair of children white. Interpreters disagree on this issue: will the Hour of the trembling of the earth take place before the people rise from their graves in the hereafter, or after they rise from their graves?

a- Some said: the trembling of the Hour will occur in the last age of earth and at the beginning of the Hour of Judgement. In a Hadith related by Ibn Jareer based on a report by Abi Houraira, the Prophet said: “There will be three blasts sounded by Israfil on the trumpet:

– The blast of horror: when everyone in the heavens and on earth will be horrified except for those chosen by Allah. The mountains will move and become dust, the earth and all its inhabitants will be shaken to their very core. About this Allah Almighty said in another verse: “One day everything that can be in commotion will be in violent commotion, followed by oft-repeated commotion” (see chapter 79- Al-Naziat (Those Who Tear Out), 7). People will lie down on the surface of the earth, nursing mothers will forget their suckling babes, pregnant women will miscarry, children will be hoary-headed, and man will flee calling to one another, as Allah Almighty said in another verse: “I fear for you a day when there will be mutual calling and wailing” (see chapter 40- Al-Mumin or Al-Gafir (The Believer or The Pardoner), 32). While they are in this state, the earth will split open from one end to the other. They will see a great matter and will be distressed. Then they will look up at the sky and it will appear like molten brass. Its moon and sun will be eclipsed, its stars scattered, and the sky then will be removed from them. All this will happen while the dead are unaware of it.

– The stupifying blast: when all that is in the heavens and on earth will fall into a stupour.

– The last blast: when men will rise before the Master. All men will rise from their graves and stand before the Lord of all creatures.”

b- Other interpreters said that dread, horror, and trembling of the earth will occur in the hereafter after the rise of the dead from their graves. They cited several sayings of the prophet to prove this.

2. Because of the dreadful horror which afflicts the souls on that awful day, you will see nursing mothers forget their most preciously guarded suckling infants, and pregnant women shall abort before they are due, and men will be drunk although they are not intoxicated with drink but struck with the horror they witness and with the fear of Allah’s severe torture. All this is the cause of their state of loss.

3. After Allah Almighty has explained the state in which people will find themselves on the Resurrection Day, and after He has confirmed that resurrection and panic on that day are inevitable, He says: “In spite of this, some men dispute the existence of Allah, His Oneness and His ability to raise the dead. But they dispute without knowledge and without clear evidence. Such a dispute results from following Satan who rebelled against His Lord.”

4. Allah Almighty ordained that whoever follows Satan, imitates him and takes him as a guide, will be led astray in this world because Satan invites people to follow seduction and debauchery. In the hereafter he will lead him to a hot, painful and exacerbating torture. This result is an inevitable one ordained by Allah. (This verse mocks the unbelievers. By saying that Satan’s act of steering his followers to the torment of hellfire is an act of ‘guidance to the straight path’, Allah is merely making fun of these people.)

5. When Allah Almighty mentioned the state of those who deny resurrection, He showed proof of His might and He took as an example the beginning of creation. He said: “O Men, if you doubt our capability to resurrect the dead in the hereafter and to create them anew, look at the origin of your creation and you will doubt no more, and will know that He who created you at the first time from nothing is more able to re-create you again, because it is easier to repeat than to begin. We created your father Adam from dust, then we assigned to him offspring from humble water, that is from a sperm; the sperm then becomes a leech-like clot which becomes an embryo. The embryo then begins to take form and to have the appearance of a head and limbs. Allah Almighty says that the woman may miscarry and lose the embryo before the pregnancy has come to term, that is before the embryo has become well-formed. The embryo could also remain in the mother’s womb until it has become well-formed, and then emerges a feeble baby whose sight, hearing and senses are still not fully developed. Then little by little, Allah gives him strength until he gains in vigour and attains maturity; then his vitality increases until he reaches the prime of his youth. Some people die when they are still young and strong while others attain old age and senility, become weak in body and mind and feeble of memory. Thus after his strength and perfection, man becomes a child in understanding, mental faculties, evaluation and managment. He forgets the knowledge he had acquired and remembers nothing of it. Allah Almighty gives yet another proof of His ability to resurrect the dead which is His power to resuscitate the dead dry earth where nothing grows. Allah causes rain to fall on the barren earth. Then the seeds stir and come to life again after their death and begin to sprout. The earth swells with the movement of the plants under its surface then gives forth plants of great beauty and exquisite odour, which are agreeable to the sight.

6. Allah Almighty mentioned the origins of creating man from dust, the development of the embryo through his stages of formation, the evolution of the infant through the stages of his life, and the return of life to the earth after it was barren and dead, in order to show men that He who made all these things is Allah, the Truth without any doubt, and that what they worship instead of Him is wrong. Almighty Allah made all this according to laws that allow for no exception. Just as Allah resurrected the earth after it was barren by causing rain to descend on it, and made plants grow in it, similarly he can resurrect the dead.

7. Let men know that the Hour will come at the time fixed for it and there can be no doubt about it. When the appointed date for it comes, Allah will raise the dead from their graves and re-create them after they had become decomposed.

8. Allah Almighty mentioned in a preceding verse (see verse 3 above) the state of those ignorant deluded people who imitate others: “And yet among men there are such as dispute about Allah without knowledge and follow every rebellious devil.” He mentioned here the state of those who call to straying among whom are the heads of disbelief and heresy. He says: “Some people argue about Allah without knowledge or a sound reason and without an explicit reference from a Book revealed by Allah. He merely argues to give an opinion and follow his passions, out of sheer obstinacy.

9. He argues while disdaining truth when called to it. He refuses truth while bending his neck (a sign of arrogance). His aim is to lead men astray from the path of Allah. For such a person Allah reserves disgrace and humiliation in this life as a punishment to him for his arrogance; and He will make him taste the torture of burning hellfire in the hereafter.

10. It will be said rebukingly to him while he is in hellfire: “What you are tasting in hellfire and the torture you are undergoing, are your punishment for the bad deeds which your hands have forwarded in this life, for Allah Almighty is just and does not wrong His servants.”

11. There are some among them whose faith is weak and vacillating, and who are governed by self interest. If they fall on prosperity and easy living, they are content, rejoice in religion, and worship Allah. However, if they fall on hard times, misfortune and straitened circumstances, they renounce their faith and return to disbelief thus losing the tranquillity of their trust in fate and Allah’s support. They also lose the state of bliss in the hereafter. (Ibn Abbas said: “This verse was revealed in connection with some of the Bedouins who used to come to the Prophet to embrace Islam. They returned to their lands and found that the year was fertile with much rain and their cattle fecund, they said: ‘Our religion is profitable; hold on to it.’ But if they found that the year was dry and their cattle sterile, they said: ‘There is no good in our religion.’ So Allah sent down this verse.”) This verse is applicable to the hypocrite who worships Allah only when his life is going well; but if his life is unhappy and difficult, he returns to disbelief and abandons his religion. He only worships Allah when his life is again easy. Thus, when he is faced with temptation or a difficult ordeal, he reneges and returns to disbelief. Thus he will not gain anything from this life. In the hereafter he will face the utmost misfortune and humiliation because he disbelieved in the mighty Allah. It is for this reason that Allah Almighty said: “That is evident loss.” That is, it is a great loss and a losing transaction.

12. This renegade who has lost life here below and the hereafter, worships idols and partners instead of Allah. He appeals to them to aid him, champion him and provide for him although they can neither benefit nor harm him. That is indeed extreme straying from the truth and the departure into a false direction.

13. He who worships Allah only marginally, invokes one whose harm in this world is greater than his benefit. His harm in the hereafter will be inevitably realized. Evil indeed is the idol that the one who strayed called his defender and patron instead of Allah, and evil the companion and ally.

14. After having mentioned the wretched ones and those who have strayed, Allah Almighty mentions the state of those happy and charitable servants whose hearts are brimming with faith. Those have affirmed their faith with all sorts of good deeds which bring them closer to Allah and abandoned all reprehensible actions. Allah will recompense them for their true faith and sincere devotion by bequeathing to them the highest ranks of paradise in the hereafter. When He mentions that He led those people astray and guided those others, He then says that He carries out all that He plans. He says: “Allah does what He chooses.” (See chapter 2- Al-Baqara (The Heifer), 253).

15. If any unbeliever believes that Allah will not render Mohammad, His religion and His Book victorious, let him kill himself by suspending a rope from the ceiling of his house to hang himself if he is so exasperated. Allah will inevitably champion Mohammad. He says in another verse: “We will without doubt champion Our apostles and those who believe in life here on earth.” (See chapter 40- Al-Gafir or Al-Mumin (The Pardoner or the Believer), 51). Then Allah Almighty says: “Let this person who is enraged see if hanging himself on a rope suspended from the ceiling of his house will dissipate his anger, and will this act realize his desire that Allah should not render His Prophet victorious? Never, this will not lead him to his objective.”

16. Allah Almighty sent down in the Koran clear verses in both pronunciation and meanings in order that it should be Allah’s argument against men. Allah causes those whom He chooses to stray and guides those whom He chooses. To Him belong the complete wisdom and decisive argument. He cannot be questioned about His acts. However, they will be questioned about theirs.

17. Allah Almighty says that on the Day of Judgement He will judge between the followers of the different religions: those who believe in the Koran, the Jews, the Christians and others. He will judge fairly between them. He will allow the believers among them to enter the paradise, and those who denied Him hellfire. Allah is witness to their deeds, and guardian of their words. He knows their secrets and conscience.

18. Allah Almighty says that He alone deserves to be worshipped without partner, and that everything in the universe bows down before him either willingly or reluctantly, because He is the Creator of all existing things. He manages and creates everything; the angels, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and all creatures, notably men, jinns and beasts and birds prostrate themselves before Allah. Most people kneel before Him voluntarily, in worship. Each thing bows down before Him as is suitable to is condition: the mountains and trees do so through their shades. A great number of men refrain from bowing down to Allah through arrogance and disdain and accordingly are fit for the torture of Allah. Whoever treats Allah with contempt, Allah shall prescribe for him wretchedness for his lack of readiness for guidance, and none can honour him. And he for whom torment is ordained, is also ordained ignominy. No honour and dignity are endowed without the honour and dignity granted by Allah and no glory and power endowed but by the glory and power of Allah. Allah has the unrestricted right of disposal of the universe and the creatures. He carries out all that He wills; His judgement is incontestable, and He has wisdom in all that He does.

19. The followers of different religions disputed about the religion of Allah. Every party believed that theirs is the true religion and that their opponents are wrong and thus built upon that their words and deeds which created a kind of antagonism. Allah will judge among them in the hereafter, and recompense them for their faith and deeds as they deserve. He does not wrong anyone. Hellfire shall be prepared for those who denied Allah. It shall encircle them like garments cut to their size. Over their heads will be poured boiling water which will burn their faces and their bodies and melt their entrails.

20. This boiling water poured over their heads will melt their entrails and their skins.

21. These unbelievers will be beaten with whips and maces of hot iron, and their members will be scattered.

22. The torture of the unbelievers will become too severe for them to bear. They will attempt to come out from this distress and anguish but they will be forced back violently, and they will hear the reprimand: “Taste the torture of burning.”

23. After Allah Almighty has spoken of the fate of the people of hell, and of the torment with which they will meet with, the exemplary punishment, the burning and the chains, and the garments of fire prepared for them, He speaks of the state of the people of paradise and says that he will admit those who believed and did good deeds to paradise beneath which rivers flow and where they shall be adorned with jewelry, namely bracelets of gold and pearls. (The prophet says: “The jewelry of the believer will cover the regions of the body reached by ablution.” Reported by the two Imams.) Their garments in paradise will be of silk. (According to al-Sahih, the prophet said: Do not wear garments of silk or brocade in this world, because he who wears them in this world will not wear them in the hereafter.” Reported by Muslim and Boukhari).

24. Allah will inspire them with pleasant utterance. They will say, for instance when they enter paradise: “Praise be to Allah, who has truly fulfilled His promise to us, and has bequeathed this land to us; we can dwell where we please in paradise.” (See chapter 39- Az-Zumar (The Groups), 74). Their Lord will guide them to the meritorious path of Him which make their words and deeds satisfactory in His sight, and worthy of the praise of their companions. Thus they will glorify Allah and sanctify Him and thank Him for His gifts and favours.

25. Those who have denied Allah, belied His Messenger and rejected what Allah revealed to them, prevent others from embracing the religion of Allah “they obstruct the way to Allah”), and prevent them from reaching the Sacred Mosque (the Kaaba) which Allah has assigned to all believers equally whether they are resident there or merely visiting. Allah threatens them with a grievous torture in the hereafter. He also threatens those who are inclined to iniquity in the Sacred Mosque and disobey Allah or oppose His commandment intentionally. Allah inflicted severe punishment on the aberrant people when they intended to destroy the Mosque. Allah send against them birds in flight and made them an example for whoever attempts to harm the House of Allah.

26. And mention, O Mohammad, to those polytheists who claim that they follow the religion of Abraham, although they use the Sacred House as a place for their idols, the story of the construction of the Sacred Mosque. Allah Almighty commanded Abraham to erect the House in His name. He guided him to the place where he was to construct it, and commanded him not to associate anything to Allah in his worship of Him. He also commanded him to purify His House from the idols and dirt so that it would be ready for those who circumambulate it, stay near it, worship Allah within its walls or perform their prayers.

27. We said to Abraham: “Call men to the pilgrimage to this House which We commanded you to build and they will come to you on foot from the four corners of the earth, mounted on horses and camels which have become haggard from travelling a long distance. (Ibn Abbas said: “Abraham said: ‘O my Lord, how shall I notify men and my voice does not reach them?’ Allah Almighty said: ‘You call and We will notify.’ Abraham called saying: ‘O men, your Lord has a House, make a pilgrimage to it.’ Therefore the pilgrim replies to Allah’s call: ‘My Lord, here I am at your command.’”)

28. The people come to Makkah to circumambulate the House of Allah and to obtain benefits for themselves among which are earthly benefits such as the activity of the bodies during the journey, sacrificing offerings and trade; and spiritual benefits such as the satisfaction of Allah. During the pilgrimage, men celebrate the name of Allah on appointed days, and thank Him for His provision of cattle (camels, cows, sheep and goats) (to sacrifice). Allah allowed those who immolated animals to eat of the flesh of their offerings which the polytheists did not do. For this reason He said: “then eat thereof and feed the miserable needy.” ‘The miserable needy’ are the poor people who look destitute but are too proud to put out a hand to beg. (The appointed days referred to in this noble verse are ten days of Zul-Hijjah. Among them are the day of slaughter and the day of Arafa (that is the day in which the pilgrims stand on mount Arafa). (Ibn Abbas said: “The appointed days are the day of slaughter and the three days after it.”) (Abou Hanifeh said they are the day of Arafa, the day of slaughter and the day after.)

29. They should then get rid of the dirt due to the journey and get out of their state of ihram (that is the state of ritual consecration of a pilgrim. The pilgrim wears two seamless woolen or linen sheets, usually white, neither combs nor shaves and observes sexual continence). They should cut their hair, clip their nails and shave the hair of their face and shorten the hair of their head, thus ending their ihram, and perform their vows concerning charity work, and undertake a farewell turn around the Sacred House which is the oldest house of worship.

30. This commandment of Allah, that is to complete the rites prescribed, to perform the vows and to circle the Sacred House is the duty imposed on you, O men, in your pilgrimage. Whoever avoids what Allah has forbidden during ihram and honours the sacred rites of Allah, he will be rewarded by his Lord in the hereafter. Allah allowed you, O men, to eat the meat of cattle killed in the name of Allah. Allah Almighty did not forbid you anything except what He mentioned in the Koran: “Forbidden to you for food are carrion, blood and the flesh of swine.” (See chapter 5- Al-Ma’ida or (The Table Spread), 3). But abstain from worshipping idols because that is an abomination, and fear the invention of lies against Allah and attributing to Him a son or partner because you thus commit a falsehood; and shun giving false testimony of which you are aware.

31. Respect sincerely the orders of Allah and be faithful in your worship of Allah alone without partners. He who assigns partners to Allah destroys himself. He is as one who has fallen from heavens and been snatched up by birds that scatter the parts of his flesh in their craws; or like one blown by the winds into a bottomless abyss. (In a Hadith reported by al-Bara the Prophet said: “When the angels of death take the soul of an unbeliever and ascend with his soul to heaven, the gates of heaven will not open to him; his soul will be hurled down.” Then the Messenger read this verse.)

32. Allah Almighty says that to honour the rites of Allah, respect His commandments and adhere to them, are all acts of piety. Among honouring the rites of Allah is honouring the act of slaughtering cattle by choosing the fat and healthy ones. Piety is the aim of these rituals and ceremonies of the pilgrimage. These rituals and ceremonies are but symbolic acts of approaching the Master of the House and obeying Him.

33. It is permitted to the owner of the cattle that the pilgrims take as offerings to be slaughtered at the end of the ihram period to benefit from them. He may ride them (the camel) and drink their milk and benefit from their hair and wool until they reach the Sacred House where they are slaughtered and where their owners eat from them and feed the wretched poor.

34. Allah assigned for the followers of all the previous religions offerings to be slaughtered and blood to be shed so that they could draw close to Allah. He decreed that they should mention the name of Allah when they slaughtered them, and thank Him for the provisions, health and cattle He bestowed on them. Allah Almighty tells men that He is the One and Only Allah and has no partner. He said to them: “The Allah you worship is One even though the ways of worship have differed according to the time and place, and that some laws have abrogated others. The aim of all religions is to worship Allah Almighty alone, without partner.” Allah Almighty commanded His Messenger to give glad tidings to those submissive servants who humble themselves before Him: He prepared for them a generous reward in the hereafter.

35. Allah Almighty defines the submissive servant as he whose heart is filled with fear when Allah’s name is mentioned. He shows patient perseverance in his afflictions and adversities, in submission to His ordainment, and performs his prayers regularly and well. Also he spend from the goodly provisions Allah has bestowed upon them on his family, relatives and the needy. He treat the creatures of Allah charitably and respects the limits of Allah.

36. Allah Almighty has made the slaughter of cattle during the pilgrimage one of His rites. Through them men approach Allah and in them is much good for men. When alive, the cattle are mounted and milked, and when slaughtered they are offered as sacrifice and eaten. In return for these gifts from Allah, men should mention the name of Allah when they slaughter the cattle. They should address Him while preparing the cattle for slaughter by binding its legs. When it has been slaughtered and lies quietly on its side, its owners may eat of it as a sign of appreciation; they should then feed the content poor who do not beg and the mendicant poor who ask for charity. Allah subjected these animals to men that they may be grateful and thank Him for them for the good there is in them when they are alive and when they have been slaughtered.

37. Allah has decreed the slaughter of these offerings so that you could mention the name of Allah over them when they are being slaughtered. He is the Creator who grants sustenance. It is not their flesh nor their blood that comes to Allah. He does not need any of His creatures. He accepts the slaughtered animal and gives a reward for it. (When the polytheists in the pre-Islamic period sacrificed animals for their Allahs, they used to put some of the flesh and blood of their offering on their idols). For that reason Allah has given you these animals so that you could glorify Him for having guided you to His religion and His law. He asks you to do what pleases Him and forbids you from committing sins and doing what He dislikes. Give, O Mohammad, the good news to those who do charitable actions, who respect the limits set by Allah. He will reward them according to the best of their actions.

38. The rites and ceremonies should be protected against those who turn away others from the path of Allah and should also prevent them from aggressing the freedom of belief. Therefore Allah Almighty permitted the Muslims, after emigrating, to fight the polytheists so as to defend themselves and their creed against the attack of the aggressors, and to realize for themselves and for others the freedom of faith and worship. Allah promised them victory and authority provided that they took charge of their religion as He indicated to them in the following verses. In this verse Allah Almighty confirms to the believers that He will defend them, that they are under His protection, and that He will ward off them the harm of evil-doers, and the deceit of the sinful. He will preserve and guard them. Allah Almighty says that He does not like to have among His servants any traitors or those who break covenants and who are ungrateful to His favours.

39. This is the first verse revealed which is related to the Holy war. It came down after the emigration of the Prophet and his companions from Makkah to Madina. Allah Almighty says that the polytheists wronged the Muslims in Makkah and evicted them unjustly from their lands. Their only fault was that they believed in Allah and said: “Allah is our Lord.” Therefore Allah Almighty permitted the Muslims to fight the polytheists, to push back their harm, to weaken their force, and to encourage those who wished to embrace Islam to join the Muslim, in order that they might be a power which defends itself, and frightens its enemies the unbelievers. Allah alone can champion the Muslims without assistance from them. However, Allah Almighty wants the believers to exert effort in obeying their Lord, and to do their duty to defend themselves and their religion.

40. Those believers who were wronged are those who were deported from their lands by the unbelievers of Quraish without having committed a fault or an offence but because they spoke the truth: “Allah is our Lord.” It is necessary that the oppressed should defend themselves and their creed using force. If the believers did not push back polytheism and its followers to protect themselves, their brothers and their freedom to worship, the evil would spread and the tyrants would go to extremes in their oppression. The places of worship would be destroyed, notably the monasteries of the Christian monks, their churches, the synagogues of the Jews and the mosques of the Muslims. That these places are designated for good deeds and for worshipping Allah do not protect them from demolition and aggression. To protect them from destruction and aggression, the followers of the respective religions should defend them. Allah will render victorious he who renders His cause victorious. Allah is all-Powerful, Mighty and invincible.

41. Allah Almighty continues to describe the wronged believers and says: If He establishes them in the land, verifies to them victory and defeat and grants them a good fate, they obey the command of Allah and avoid what He forbade them to do. They establish regular prayer and perform it properly, give regular charity, enjoin the right, incite men to do the good and the deeds accepted by Allah, and forbid those who surpass the limits of Allah to do the wrong. At the end Allah will reckon all mankind, with Allah rests the end and decision of all affairs.

42. Allah Almighty comforts His Messenger (peace be upon him) over the denial of the polytheists whom he meets with. He says to him: “If your people treat you as a liar, people of Noah, A’ad and Thamoud before you treated their prophets as liars.

43. “And thus did the peoples of Abraham and Lot.

44. “The people of Madyan also treated their Prophet Shu’ayb as a liar while Pharaoh and his people belied Moses.” Allah Almighty says that He gave a period of respite to these deniers, perhaps they would come to their senses and respond to the call of truth. However they were arrogant and persisted in denying their messengers. Thus Allah punished them most grievously. How terrible was His disapproval of what they were doing! What a punishment He inflicted on them for their deeds! (The Prophet says: “Allah gives the wrong-doer a period of respite; however when He seizes him He does not let him go.”)

45. The villages Allah destroyed because they were given to wrong-doing are many. They fell into ruin as the roofs of the houses tumbled down onto the floors. The buildings, vacated from residents, became desolate and gloomy. The wells fell into disuse and became deserted for no one came to them for water. And the castles which were built as fortresses and strongholds to shield their owners, were also abandoned.

46. Allah Almighty asks deprecatingly about the effect He has left on the unbelievers who see what destruction befell the previous nations because of their disbelief and denial of the messengers of their Lord to them and of the signs they had brought from their Lord. The Almighty says to them: “Have they not travelled through the land and seen with their own eyes the destruction which befell those denying past nations because they disbelieved in Allah, and because of their iniquity and denial of the messengers of their Lord?” He also says to them: “Did they not hear with their own ears their stories and their news? Do they not understand and consider what they see and hear, to draw a lesson?” Then Allah Almighty says that these unbelievers see but are not warned, nor do they consider or draw a lesson because their hearts and insights are blind. If they had discerning hearts they would consider and draw a lesson from what the eye saw. Blindness is not that of the eye, but that of the insight, that is the heart.

47. Allah Almighty says that the denying unbelievers see the signs of Allah, and see the ruin and destruction which overcame previous denying past nations. However, they do not understand or draw a lesson but mock those who call to Allah and those who warn them from His chastisement and His torture. They regard the infliction of punishment on them as unlikely. Their vanity pushes them to demand that their torture be hastened although they do not believe in the probability of its occurrence; they actually deny it. However, Allah will not fail in His promise and will never change His laws. Their torture will arrive at the time fixed by Allah and ordained by His wisdom. It will not be hastened if men want to bring it about quickly. The estimation of time in the calculation of Allah differs from that of men. A day for Allah is like a thousand of the years counted by men on earth.

48. How many villages whose inhabitants were unjust, did Allah give respite from destruction although their inhabitants continued to do wrong? They were deceived by this delay but Allah Almighty sent down His punishment and torment on them. In the hereafter, when men return to Allah, they will be judged severely. Neither their wealth nor children will avail them on that day. Why then do these unbelievers ask for their torment to be hastened and mock the warning?

49. When the unbelievers asked that their torture be hastened, Allah Almighty said to His Messenger: “Say to them: ‘I am the Messenger of my Lord. He has sent me to warn you of a terrible torture. It is not I who take you to account but Allah who decides what He will do with you. If He chooses He will hasten your torment, delay it or forgive those who ask for His pardon.

50. Those who are believers in their hearts and whose deeds prove that their faith is true, Allah will forgive their earlier sins and their failings, and will reward them well for their good deeds. He will let them enter Paradise where they will have generous favours.

51. Those who exerted concerted efforts to repel the call to Allah and belied it, and those who strove to prevent men from embracing Islam, and to cripple the signs of Allah and prevent them from affecting the hearts of men, are the people of hell, even though they might think that they frustrate Allah and that He will be incapable of seizing them.

52. Some interpretations of the Quran mention among the reasons for the revelation of this verse a strange story known as the ‘story of the crane’, the crane being a white bird. The story says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited the chapter of An-Najm (The Star) in Makkah, in the presence of a group of Muslims and polytheists. When he reached in his recital the following: “Have you seen al-Lat and al-Uzza, and that other, the third al-Manat?” (An-Najm, 19-20), Satan placed on his tongue the following words: “Those sublime cranes, whose intercession is hoped for.” The unbelievers said: “He has never spoken well of our gods before this day.” When he finished the chapter, he prostrated himself and they did likewise. This was a grave matter for Allah’s Messenger and this verse was revealed to comfort him.

However, some reliable Muslim scholars – like the judge ‘Ayad, al-Fakhr al-Razi, al-Kasstalani, Ibn Isaac and al-Imam Mohammad Abdo – say that it is not permissible for us to say that the Prophet glorified the idols. If we admitted that he had, then his laws would no longer be guaranteed (that is, there would be no security that his revelations are pure); likewise security would be lifted from all his judgements and canons and it would be said that Satan had spoken through him. These learned men say this story is false and has been fabricated by the atheists.

The venerable scholar of Aleppo Sheikh Abdullah Siraj Eddine dedicated a long chapter in his book The Guidance of the Glorious Quran Through Argument and Proof to denying this story and confirming the impossibility of its occurrence.

Thus the opinions of the scholars who refute this story can be summarized as follows:

a- It is inconceivable to believe that the Prophet (peace be upon him) could hope that a verse from the Quran praising gods other than Allah would be revealed to him because this is disbelief. It is also inconceivable to believe that Satan could have had any power over him that he should dictate words to him which the Prophet (peace be upon him) believed were from the Quran and that he should wait for the angel Gabriel to clarify matters to him.

b- It is unjustifiable vis-a-vis the Prophet (peace be upon him) to believe that he could say that himself deliberately or unheedingly: The Prophet is infallible; neither from his tongue nor his heart could flow disbelief voluntarily or inattentively. It is also inconceivable to believe that the Prophet could have confused what the angel and what the devil dictate to him or that Satan could have power over him.

c- The Indian scholar Mohammad Ali says that sequential reading of the verses shows that it is not reasonable that verses contradicting the principles of the Islamic faith should be inserted between them considering that the basis of Mohammad’s call is the call to the Oneness of Allah.

d- The Imam, the learned Mohammad Abdo, explains the verse as follows: Whenever Allah sent a prophet messenger to a people, this prophet messenger wished that his people would follow him and respond to his call. However, whenever a prophet or messenger had this noble desire, the devil put obstacles in his way. He would evoke doubts and whisper temptations in the bosoms of men to rob them of the potential to benefit from their solid reason and sound thought. Thus he incites them to revolt against the Prophet and to prevent him from fulfilling his aim. When they were successful at the beginning they believed that they were on the right path; however the word of Allah will always be superior while that of Satan and his followers will always be inferior.

53. As for those in whose hearts lies disease, doubt, hypocrisy or deviation, and those whose hearts are hardened among the Jews, the unbelievers and the head-strong, they will find in such a case a subject for debate, insistence and schism, and this will be a trial, a temptation to them.

54. As for those on whom learning and knowledge were conferred, their hearts find satisfaction in the proof of Allah and His decisive judgement because they distinguish through the knowledge that they were given, between the true and the false. They believe in truth and are led to it. Their hearts humbly submit to it. Allah guides those who believe to the straight path both in this world and in the Hereafter. In this world He guides them to the truth and advises them to follow it. He also helps them to oppose evil and avoid it. In the hereafter He guides them to the way which leads to paradise and spares them hellfire.

55. The unbelievers will remain in a state of doubt and hesitation vis-a-vis the Quran (or what Satan launched) and will continue to be misled on the subject of Allah until the Hour of Judgement comes on them suddenly while they are dazzled and distracted.

56. On that day the invincible power and the absolute authority to dispose will be in the hand of Allah Who will judge men fairly and not wrong anyone. He will reward those who believed and did good deeds with paradise where they will have perpetual delights.

57. As for those who denied faith, recanted it, belied it, and disobeyed the messengers whom they were too haughty to follow, Allah will punish their arrogance and sedition with a terrible, humiliating torment in hellfire.

58. Those who emigrated in the cause of Allah Almighty to seek His satisfaction and reward and left families and lands, and who were then slain fighting in His cause, or died from natural causes in the place to which they emigrated, will be paid by Allah and amply rewarded them. He will give them of His grace and gifts in paradise to freshen their eyes. Allah is truly the best of bestowers. He bestows without account.

59. Allah Almighty will let the emigrant believers who did good deeds enter Paradise (the place with which they will be well satisfied in the hereafter). Allah knows who has emigrated and fought in His cause and who deserves a good reward. He is the most clement who forgives sins and pardons evil deeds.

60. Just as Allah Almighty promises the emigrant believers that He will let them enter an honourable place, He also promises them to make them victorious over their enemies if the latter fight and oppress them, and expel them from their lands. Those on whom aggression falls may not be forbearing or patient, and may therefore repulse the aggression and inflict punishment equal to the injury they received at the hands of the aggressors. If the aggressors do not cease their attack but return to their oppression, Allah guarantees then to champion the wronged party against the aggressors. The condition of His championship is that the punishment should be in retaliation against an aggression, and not an encroachment in itself or a wanton attack, and the chastisement should not exceed the injury inflicted, without exaggeration. Whoever repulses the aggression against him and does not forgive, Allah will pardon him: He is the one who absolves and forgives. (This verse was revealed in connection to a company of the Prophet’s companions who met a group of unbelievers in the month of Mouharram. The Muslims asked them not to fight them in a holy month. However, the unbelievers refused to do so. Thus the Muslims fought against them and Allah accorded them victory over the unbelievers.)

61. Allah Almighty draws the attention of men to the fact that He is the Creator who disposes of His creatures as He chooses. He is able to champion the wronged who have been oppressed; their defence is easy for Him. Similarly He can make the night penetrate the day and the day penetrate the night, successively, their respective length and shortness alternating. In this there is a sign and proof of His might. However, men neglect these signs. Allah hears the words of His servants and sees what they do.

62. Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. This is because the Almighty is the true Allah to be worshipped alone, for He has authority and power. Whatever He wishes, He realizes. Everything is in need of Him and is humble before Him. The idols the unbelievers invoke and worship with Allah are false because they can neither harm nor benefit themselves. Allah Almighty is the Most High and the Greatest. Everything is subjugated to His power and His majesty, and none is higher than Him.

63. Among the evidence of His might and greatness is that He causes rain to fall from the sky; the earth becomes green and puts forth plants after they have been dead. Also thanks to His kindness, the plants move inside the earth, then pierce the ground and grow out of it. He knows all that is in the heavens and on earth, and nothing can be hidden from Him. He is kind to His servants and knows their interests. He manages and cares for them.

64. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and on earth. He created, managed, organized it and assured its sustenance. He does not need His creatures. He is worthy of all praise in His deeds and His ordainment.

65. Among His benevolence and grace on mankind is that He subjected all that is on earth to them such as the animals, solid bodies and plants so that they could benefit from them. He also subjected to them the ships that sail the sea and carry people, their belongings and their beasts from one place to another. By His might He raised the sky and prevented it from falling on the earth. If He so chooses, He would permit it to fall on the earth, destroy it and kill all those on it. But Allah is all kindness and mercy toward men. He pities them, although most of them are wrong-doers, unbelievers and arrogant.

66. How can you associate partners to Allah and worship others with Him? He Alone creates, provides and is invested with full power. He gave you life when you were nothing. Then He will give you death which He imposed on all His creatures. On the Day of Judgement, He will re-create you to judge each according to his deeds. But man sees all this and understands it; however, he denies his Lord and renounces His favours, for man is certainly a most ungrateful creature.

67. We assigned to each of the past nations which had their own laws, a cult to pursue and a system to observe and to worship Allah by, until their laws were replaced by a later religion. Allah made the Torah the law of the Jews until He sent Christ. He made the Scripture the law of the Christians until He sent Mohammad (peace be upon him). He made the Quran the law of the Muslims because it abrogated all preceding laws. O Mohammad, do not allow those who are attached to the invalidated laws turn you away from the truth you follow through their quarrel with you. Proceed in your call and fulfill the mission that you have been entrusted with by transmitting the message to men. You are on the straight and clear path of guidance.

68. If those aberrant men argue with you, curtail your argument with them because they do not seek to understand and learn, but argue through obstinacy. Say to them: “Allah knows best what you are doing and what your intentions are in arguing. The Almighty takes account of your deeds and will judge you on them.”

69. Allah will gather all men on the Day of Doom. He will judge equitably between them. He will also judge between you and those aberrant men on your differences in religion. Thus He will show who is right from he who is wrong.

70. Allah Almighty draws the attention of His Prophet (peace be upon him) and of men to the fact that He created the heavens and the earth, and all the creatures in them. He knows the state of every created one, great or small. He wrote all these in a record He keeps (the Preserved Tablet or ‘the Mother of Books’). That is not difficult for the power of the Almighty because His power is unlimited.

71. Those idolaters worship idols, statues and peers with Allah. They base their worship of these idols on neither argument nor proof, and they have no knowledge of what they invented and claimed. They only imitate their ancestors and follow them without thinking or reasoning. The Almighty threatens them for their disbelief; He says that the wrong-doers will not find anyone who may protect them against Allah and the torture which will befall them on Doomsday.

72. If the clear verses of the Quran are recited to those idolaters who worship others with Allah, and they are reminded of the arguments, proof and evidence about the existence of Allah, His Oneness and His greatness which it contains, the expressions on their faces change, their souls revolt and they come to the point of assaulting those who recite the verses of Allah to them and remind them of their contents, and they may beat and insult them. Say, O Mohammad, to those people: “The fire which Allah has prepared for the unbelievers to torture them is more severe, more painful and more terrible than the punishment you frighten the patrons of Allah, the believers, in this world with.” How evil is the fire as abode, dwelling and destination for the unbelievers on Doomsday.

73. Allah Almighty draws attention to the triviality of the idols and the absurdity of the minds of those who worship them. He says: “O men, the idolaters have made their idols and statues that they worship equal with Me. Listen and think about the state of the worshipped ones: if all those worshipped by men other than Allah assemble to create a fly, they will not be able to do so; for they fail to resist the fly if it robs them of a scent they are wearing. Nor could they release the scent from the fly should they wish to. If these divinities fail to create a fly and to resist it, and it is the most feeble insect that Allah has created, they will then be incapable of creating anything else. So how can a man of reason worship them? Feeble is the solicitor (the idol) and feeble is the solicited (the fly).

74. Those polytheists do not appreciate Allah’s worth or His greatness when they worship with Him idols which cannot resist a fly because they are so feeble and powerless. Allah is Omnipotent; He created the universe and everything in it. No creation or creature is impossible for Him. He is the mighty One whom none can harm or damage.

75. The will of Allah ordains that He choose messengers from among His noble angels to communicate His message to His messengers among men, and to choose human messengers to transmit His message to men. How do you propose another messenger than the one chosen for you by Allah? Allah hears the words of men, observes them and knows who among them deserves to be chosen by Him to carry His message.

76. Allah Almighty knows what His messengers and angels do on the missions He has sent them to fulfill. No matter of theirs is hidden from Him. He watches over them and witnesses what is said to them. He protects and champions them, and to Him return all matters related to His creatures on Judgement Day. He will then recompense each according to his deeds.

77. Allah commands the believers to worship Him, to perform their prayers, to bow down and to prostrate themselves to Him, and to do good, that they may prosper in this world and in the hereafter.

78. Allah commands believers to strive sincerely in His cause as they ought to with their wealth, their bodies, and their tongues. Allah has chosen the believers from among this nation. He did not lay on them a burden greater than that they could bear. When He obliged them to do a difficult thing, He gave them a release from it. He did not impose difficulties on them in their religion but facilitated it for them as He had done for Abraham in his religion (Allah made the word mulata, that is religion, grammatically an object to thus mean: Stay with the religion of Abraham). Almighty Allah named them Muslims (the submissive ones) in the religion of Abraham, in the preceding Books, and in this Quran. Allah made the Muslims a moderate nation so that they might be witnesses against men on Judgement Day because all human beings will then recognize the superiority of the Muslims on that day. For that reason their testimony will be accepted, thus affirming that the messengers had communicated to them the message of their Lord, and the Messenger will testify that he had transmitted to that nation what Allah had revealed to him. For this great privilege, the Muslims should thank Allah who bestowed it on them, and perform the duties which He has imposed on them. Among the most important are the following: establishing regular prayers properly, paying alms, holding fast to Allah, asking for His help and relying on Him. He is their Master, He protects and champions them. What an excellent master and protector against the enemies! (In a Hadith the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I was sent to preach the true religion which is liberal and tolerant.”) (When Allah’s Messenger sent Mouaz ibn Jabal and Abou Mousa as governers to Yemen, he gave them the following recommendation: “Give glad tidings and do not send people fleeing from Islam. Facilitate things, do not make them difficult.”)