The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 95
PT. 4 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN CH. 3 قُلْ يَاهْلَ الْكِتُبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِايَتِ Say, “O People of the. 99 اللهِ وَاللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَى مَا تَعْمَلُونَ Book! why deny ye the Signs of Allah, while Allah is Watchful of what you do?' 385 "3:71. journey; (2) one should have the necessary money to bear the expenses; and (3) there should be peace and security on the way (Dāwūd). If a person is sick, he is supposed to have no "way" and Pilgrimage does not become obligatory on him. The words, and whoever disbelieves (let him remember) that Allah is surely independent of all creatures, signify that whoever refuses to accept the Ka'bah as the Qiblah, in spite of the arguments given in its favour, should remember that these commandments have been given for the good of man himself; so if he does not act upon them, he only harms himself and does no harm to God, Who is "Independent of all creatures". The object of Pilgrimage is to accustom men to leave their home and country and suffer separation from relatives and friends for the sake of God. The Pilgrimage to Mecca is also a symbol of the respect shown to places where the will of God was specially manifested and a reminder of the incidents connected with that manifestation. It reminds believers of the long and hazardous journey of Abraham and Ishmael to the desert valley of Mecca and of Ishmael's being left in that desert by Abraham; it tells them in speechless eloquence 535 how those who make sacrifices in the way of God are protected and honoured by him; and it fosters their faith in the power and might of God. Again, the pilgrim, on finding himself near the place which has, from the beginning of the world, been dedicated to the worship of God, is sure to experience a peculiar spiritual association with those who have, through centuries, been bound together by the love and remembrance of God. Beside this, the Pilgrimage to Mecca has great social and political significance; for Muslims from all parts of the world who meet here once a year can exchange views and establish and renew relations of love and brotherhood. They have opportunities of acquainting themselves with the problems that confront Muslims in different countries, of copying one another's good points, profiting by another's experience and of cooperating with one another. It is, however, a matter of great regret that at present little advantage is being taken of this aspect of the Pilgrimage. 385. Important Words: one (Watchful), for which see also 2:24, is here used for the first time in connection with God. The word is