Lesson # 593 - Sacred Month and Sacred House

Lesson # 593 From Holy Qur’aan

Sacred Month and Sacred House

Surah Maaa-‘idah (the Table Spread) – Chapter – 5)

Verses –1 & 2a of 120, Section – 1 of 16 (Part – 6)

 BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

1.  O ye who believe! Fulfill your undertakings. The beast of cattle is made lawful unto you (for food) except that which is announced unto you (herein), game being unlawful when ye are in Ehraam. Lo! Allaah ordaineth that which pleaseth Him. 2.  O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity of Allaah’s Monuments nor the Sacred Month nor the offerings nor collard animals (of sacrifice) those repairing to be Sacred House, seeking the grace and pleasure of their Lord.

1.  Yaaa-‘ayyu-hallaziina  ‘aamanuuu  ‘awfuu  bil-‘uquud.  ‘Uhillat  lakum-  bahii-matul-  ‘an-‘aami  ‘illaa  maa  yutlaa  ‘alaykum  gayra  mu-hillis-saydi  wa  ‘antum  hurum.  ‘InnAllaaha  yah-kumu  maa  yuriid. 2.  Yaaa-‘ayyu-hallaziina  ‘aamanuu  laa  tuhilluu  sha-‘aaa-‘irAllaahi  wa  lash-Shahral-Haraama  wa  lal-hadya  wa  lal-qalaaa-‘ida  wa  laaa  ‘aaammiinal-Baytal-Haraama  yabtaguuna  fazlam-mir-Rabbihim  wa  rizwaanaa.

Lesson

‘Uquud – (Undertakings), it is plural of ‘aqad, which means ‘to tie a knot’, in other words you can say ‘to promise, to make the covenant firm with someone’. ‘An-‘aamun – (the cattle, the pet animals and those beast which are hunted for food), mu-hillii – actually this word is mu-hilliin, which is plural of mu-hill and it has been derived from ‘ahlaal, which is from Halaal. ‘Ahlaal means ‘to know and make something lawful’. Mu-hillis-saydi – those persons, who consider the prey as lawful. Hurum – it is plural of haraam, which has been derived from hurmat. Haraam means protected, sheltered, the thing which can neither be disrespected and nor can be used. That person, who has been prevented from doing any particular action, here it aims “the pilgrims, who have intended to proceed for Hajj (Pilgrimage of Makkah). Some acts and things become unlawful for them. Sha-‘aaa-‘ir is plural of sha-‘arah – those things, to which Allaah Almighty has determined as “the Monuments of His sanctity”. Qalaaa-‘id is plural of qalaadah – that strap, neckband or any other thing, which is tied in the neck of that beast, which is being carried to Makkah for sacrificing during the period of pilgrimage. ‘Aaammiina is plural of ‘aaammun – those people who have begun their journey to perform Hajj. ‘Al-Baytal-Haraama – the Sacred House, that is to say; Ka’-bah ‘Inviolable place’ (The House of Allaah Almighty at Makkah)

Allaah Almighty has ordained in the beginning of this Chapter, “Fulfill your undertakings”. When a mankind embraces Islam, he/she undertakes that he/she will never disobey Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). It becomes duty of that person to fulfill this responsibility. Therefore after that, remaining instructions about “Do” and “Do not do” have been explained.

That is the Believer who confesses Kalimah Tayyibah “Laaa ‘ilaaha  ‘illAllaahu, Muhammadur-RasuulUllaah” ‘There is No god But Allaah, Muhammad is His Apostle’ (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), by tongue and determines that he/she shall obey heartily the Command which will be delivered by Allaah Al mighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). Following orders are adhered immediately upon a Muslim after acceptance of the Kalimah:

1.  Do not worship anybody or anything except Allaah Almighty.

2.  Keep the congregational prayer up five times a day along with other Muslims.

3. Fast the entire month of Ramadhan.

4. Pay the poor-due @ 2- ½ % from your wealth.

5. Perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) once in life, if it is possible.

Confessing the Kalimah is undertaking for performing all above-mentioned duties which have been prescribed by Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him).

The worst commission of ancient nations (whose instance was present in front of Arabs in the form of Jews and Christians) was, that they did not fulfill their covenants. Entire affairs about them have been explained in Surah ‘Al-Baqarah, ‘Aali-Imraan and ‘Al-Nisaaa’. Possibly, any nation would not have evaded in such a manner, which did these two nations. They used to admit by their tongue that they would obey entire commands of Allaah Almighty, but after that followed their own wishes and turned His commands corresponding to their will as they wished. The last biggest covenant they broke is, “They promised that they would follow the Messenger of Allaah Almighty, Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him)”. The Muslims have already been warned, “You should not do as the Jews and the Christians did but follow the Way keeping the attention fixed on Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him)”.

The Muslims have been ordained, “It is lawful for you to get advantage from the beast of cattle. If you wish to use them for food, you are allowed except game, in case, when ye are in Ehraam. Likewise, treat with respect and render honor to the sanctity of the Monuments of Allaah Almighty, the Sacred Month, the offerings, collard animals (of sacrifice) those repairing to be Sacred House, and do not violate them. These places are the Masjids (Mosques) and many sacred places in the surroundings of ‘the Inviolable Place of Makkah, where every Pilgrim has to go during the occasion of Hajj (Pilgrimage) or they have to perform any religious duty. Try to do good and turn away from war and evils particularly during these four sacred months – Rajab, Zii-Qa’-dah, Zul-Hijjah and Muharram. However, it becomes lawful to fight even during these sacred months against that who assaults”.

Like this, respect of those cattle (of sacrifice) is necessary too, which are used to carry to Makkah Mu-‘azmah and occasionally, those are collard with any neckband or something else, that those should not be molested. In like manner, it is duty of Muslims to save and respect those persons, who have departed towards Ka’-bah (the House of Allaah Almighty at Makkah), because these people are proceeding to get His pleasure and grace.    

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)