The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 318
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH middle class; and the offering of a sacrifice for the rich. The Quran does not fix the number of days for which one is to fast, or the number of the poor whom one is to feed or the kind of animal which one is to sacrifice. The Holy Prophet is reported to have once prescribed fasting for three days (i. e. three one-day fasts), and the feeding of six poor men and the offering of a goat as a sacrifice (Bukhārī). The words, when you are safe, mean, when the war is over, or when other obstacles are removed. In such case it is open to a person to proceed to Mecca with the intention of performing 'Umrah and then stay on to perform Hajj in the ensuing month of Dhul-Hijjah. This is what is referred to in the words: who would avail himself of 'Umrah together with the Hajj. 'Umrah and Hajj may be combined in two ways: One way is for the would-be pilgrim to make up his mind to perform the 'Umrah only and enter into the state of Iḥrām with that intention, and then perform its rites and finish it. After that on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah one should again enter into the state of Iḥrām and then perform the prescribed rites of Ḥajj. This form of combining the 'Umrah and the Hajj is technically called Tamattu' which literally "availing oneself of a thing". means, The second way is that a man should make up his mind to perform the 'Umrah and Ḥajj simultaneously. He should, in this case, enter into the state of Iḥram with that intention and should remain in that state till the end of the Pilgrimage. This combination 318 PT. 2 of Hajj and Umrah is called (Qiran) which literally means, "the putting together of two things". In both Tamattu' and Qiran it is obligatory to offer the sacrifice, while in the case of Hajj alone or in the case of 'Umrah alone, the offering of the sacrifice is not obligatory. In the verse under comment the word is not used in the technical sense and covers also. The fasting mentioned in the clause, should fast three days during the Pilgrimage, is distinct and separate from the fasting mentioned above. The first-mentioned fasting was meant for those who cannot shave their heads, while this fasting is meant for those who are unable to offer a sacrifice in case of Tamattu'. The three days spoken of are preferably the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. The remaining seven fasts may be observed after one has returned home. The clause, this is for him whose family does not reside near the Sacred Mosque, means that the permission to combine Ḥajj with 'Umrah is meant not for the residents of Mecca but for those who come from outside. By some, however, the words "the Sacred Mosque" have been extended to include the whole of i. e. the Sacred Territory in and around Mecca. The final clause, fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in punishing, has a twofold meaning: (1) That Muslims should not think that these are mere minor details of certain outward rites and may therefore not be strictly observed; for all these things which the All-