Appointed Days Of The Pilgrimage

LESSON # 231 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Appointed Days Of The Pilgrimage

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –203a of  286, Section – 25 (Part - 2)

And remember Allah through the appointed days.

Waz-kurullaaha  fiii  ‘ayyaa-mim-ma’-duudaat.

Lesson

‘Ayaa-mim-ma’-duudaat – (some appointed days) ‘ayyaam is plural of the yawm which means ‘day’ and ma’-duudaat is from ‘adad (number, calculation). These two words signify towards the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th the dates of Zul-Hijjah. Idiomatically these days are also named as ‘ayyaa-min tash-riiq. Tash-riiq means to cause to learn the sacrifice. The animals are sacrificed in these days.

As we have discussed earlier that all the Pilgrims remain in ‘Arafat with effect from Zohar prayer till before sunset on 9^th Zul-Hijjah. They begin to return from there till the time of sunset, stay at night in Muzdalfah. Next day (on 10^th Zul-Hijjah) they reach Minaa, which is four miles from Makkah Mo-‘azmah towards north-west. It was a plain during old times. Now a lot of strong and majestic buildings have been constructed here. During the days of Pilgrimage, the Pilgrims hire these buildings on very high rates and this place remains in full bloom. In these days very great market is fixed up. Every thing of the world can be gotten from this market. The Pilgrims remain here till evening of the 12^th Zul-Hijjah, perform here many duties and follow the practice of the last Messenger of Allah Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) relating to the Pilgrimage, for example – sacrifice the animals, shave their heads, throw the small stone balls over the Satans and untie their ‘Ihraam.

It has been commanded in this verse, “Remember the God Almighty as much as you can in these days, engage yourselves in His worship and remembrance. There is a particular form to remember Allah Almighty that each Pilgrim should throw seven small stone balls over the Big Stone (Jumrah ‘Uqbaa) along with saying ‘Allahu ‘Akbar on throwing each small stone ball on 10^th of Zul-Hijjah.  The correct time for throwing the stone ball starts from the dawn of the day. Likewise throw seven small stone balls over all the three stones (Sha-yaa-tiin) one by one on 11^th and 12^th of Zul-Hijjah, but on those stones the small stone balls will be thrown after inclining of the sun. After that the Pilgrims are permitted to go to Makkah. 

As you saw that since the recitation about Hajj and its orders has begun, it has been emphasized again and again to remember Allah Almighty. Thus also the best source of satisfaction of the heart and purity of the soul is in remembrance of the God Almighty. And it has special relation with the Pilgrimage. From all around the world the people of different races and temperaments assemble here on one place. The difficulties of the journey, troubles of the foreign country, recollection of the birth place, separation from the family members, these entire are the matters from whom it is necessary to be confused of every person. In the gatherings like these, it is customary thing to entangle with each other, to be harsh and quarrel, but there is no chance of these matters during the Pilgrimage.

God Almighty commanded that the Pilgrims should pay attention on only one thing, forgetting the entire labors and that is “remembrance of Allah Almighty”, obey Him, remain busy in listening and causing to hear His Orders to others, remain engaged in His Praise, forget everything in abundance Praise of God Almighty.              

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)