The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 316
PT. 2 CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH obtainable. But such of you as cannot find an offering should رَجَعْتُم تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُ حَاضِرِى الْمَسْجِدِ fast three days during the الْحَرَامِ وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ 203< Pilgrimage, and seven when you return home; these are ten complete. This is for him whose family does not reside near the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in punishing 203 supported by the saying of the Companions of the Holy Prophet also (Jarir). 203. Commentary: From this verse is begin commandments relating to or the Pilgrimage. The Pilgrimage performed in the following manner: The would-be pilgrim enters into a state of (Iḥrām) on reaching the i. e. certain prescribed places slightly varying in distance in different directions, but in all cases outside (the Sacred Territory). In the state of the pilgrim is forbidden sexual intercourse, the use of scent or perfumed oil, the wearing of sewn garments, hunting and the like. The male pilgrim discards ordinary clothes, putting on white unsewn sheets and keeping the head uncovered. The female pilgrim may put on ordinary but simple clothes and should ordinarily keep her face uncovered. The pilgrim (male or female) is required to repeat the following words as often as possible: Labbaik, Allahumma labbaik, Labbaik. La sharika laka labbaik. Innal-ḥamda wanni'mata laka wal 316 mulka la sharīka laka. . . " i. e. "My Lord! I am at Thy service. There is no equal or partner with Thee. So I am at Thy service alone. All praise belongs to Thee and all blessings are from Thee and all authority rests in Thee. I say again, there is no equal or partner with Thee. So I am at Thy service alone. " At Mecca the first thing the pilgrim does, preferably after having a bath, is to perform seven circuits round the Ka'bah then he briskly walks or runs between the Ṣafa and the Marwah (see 2:159) seven times. On the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the month of Pilgrimage) he goes in the morning from Mecca to Minā, which is about three miles from Mecca, where he halts to perform, at their appointed time, daily Prayers, the five beginning from the midday Prayer. Next morning (i. e. the 9th) he starts from Minā and passing through, or by, Mash'arul-Ḥarām, which is about six miles from Mecca, he goes on to the great plain at 'Arafāt, three miles further ahead, where, before he actually enters 'Arafāt, he says the midday and the afternoon Prayers