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
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ
And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allāh to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.
وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not - but they were [only] wronging themselves.
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if he [i.e., the latter husband] divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon them [i.e., the woman and her former husband] for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allāh. These are the limits of Allāh, which He makes clear to a people who know [i.e.,understand].
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.