لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَـٰتٍ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلْمَشْعَرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَٱذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 198
Translations
There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during ḥajj]. But when you depart from ʿArafāt, remember Allāh at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.
Transliteration
Laysa alaikum junāḥun an tabtaghū faḍlan min rabbikum, fa-idhā afaḍtum min ʿArafāt, fadhkirū-llāha ʿinda-l-mashʿari-l-ḥarām, wadhkirūhu kamā hadākum, wa-in kuntum min qablih lamin-al-ḍāllīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse permits pilgrims to engage in lawful trade and commerce during the Hajj pilgrimage, clarifying that seeking worldly provision is not sinful when performed alongside the sacred rites. It then instructs pilgrims to remember Allah abundantly at Muzdalifah (the sacred monument) after departing from Arafat, emphasizing constant remembrance of Allah for guiding them from previous ignorance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this verse removes the misconception that Hajj requires complete abandonment of permissible worldly transactions, while maintaining the spiritual primacy of remembering and worshipping Allah.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the discussion of Hajj regulations, this verse addresses a concern among early Muslims about whether commercial dealings during pilgrimage were acceptable. It contextualizes the spiritual journey of Hajj within the broader Islamic framework that permits lawful livelihood, reflecting the balanced approach of Shariah between worldly and spiritual affairs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding Hajj: 'There is no Hajj without the tawaaf (circumambulation)' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 862). Additionally, Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet permitted trade during Hajj, demonstrating the practical application of this verse's permission (Sunan Ibn Majah 2923).
Themes
Key Lesson
Islam does not demand separation from lawful worldly pursuits; rather, believers can seek provision while maintaining spiritual awareness and devotion to Allah. The verse teaches that remembrance of Allah should permeate all our activities, transforming even mundane transactions into acts of worship through conscious intention and gratitude.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَذَرُوا۟ مَا بَقِىَ مِنَ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allāh has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason.
۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?
فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْىِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
So We said, "Strike him [i.e., the slain man] with part of it." Thus does Allāh bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason.