لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ 28
Translations
That they may witness [i.e., attend] benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allāh on known [i.e., specific] days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.
Transliteration
Liyashhadoo manāfi'a lahum wa yadhkuroo isma Allāhi fī ayyāmin ma'lūmātin 'alā mā razaqahum min bahīmati al-an'ām, fa-kulū minhā wa aṭ'imū al-bā'isa al-faqīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the purpose and benefits of the Hajj pilgrimage and the animal sacrifice ('Eid al-Adha), commanding the believers to witness the benefits of this sacred ritual and remember Allah's name during the designated days (10-13 Dhul-Hijjah) when slaughtering sacrificial animals. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the 'manāfi'' (benefits) refer to spiritual elevation, forgiveness, and social welfare through charity, while the commandment to eat from the sacrifice and feed the poor reflects Islam's integration of worship with social responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Madinah as part of the comprehensive regulations for Hajj and its associated rites. It appears within the context of Surah Al-Hajj's detailed instructions on pilgrimage, particularly addressing the practice of animal sacrifice that accompanies the Hajj ceremony and its charitable dimensions.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of days is the Day of 'Arafah,' emphasizing the spiritual significance of the Hajj period. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Mājah records that the Prophet encouraged believers to eat from their sacrifices and gift portions to others, directly reflecting the injunction in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True worship is not merely individual spiritual exercise but carries communal and social dimensions; believers must couple their remembrance of Allah with practical charity and care for the less fortunate. This ayah teaches that religious rituals gain their complete meaning when combined with compassion, generosity, and social justice.