Surah Al-Baqarah 2:198
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 198 of 286
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَٰتٍۢ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلْمَشْعَرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَٱذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Translation
but it is no offence to seek some bounty from your Lord. When you surge down from Arafat remember God at the sacred place. Remember Him: He has guided you. Before that you were astray.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with a gentle reassurance, shifting our focus to a practical aspect of Hajj that might have caused concern for early Muslims.
A Permitted Bounty
The opening phrase, ﴿لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ﴾, meaning "There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord," immediately clarifies a point of historical contention. The word *junah* (جُنَاحٌ) signifies blame or sin, and its negation here indicates a clear permission. As Ibn Ashur explains, this addresses a practice among pre-Islamic Arabs who believed that trading during Hajj was inappropriate, even forbidden, as it might contradict the sacred purpose of pilgrimage. The Quran rectifies this by confirming that seeking *fadl* (فَضْلًا), which scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Razi interpret as livelihood and profit from trade, is permissible. Crucially, this bounty is described as "from your Lord," elevating the permissible pursuit of sustenance by attributing it directly to Allah's grace and provision. This wording helps us understand that worldly endeavor, when undertaken within divine limits, is not divorced from spiritual life but can be part of it.
The Flow of Pilgrims
The verse then instructs: ﴿فَإِذَآ أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَٰتٍۢ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلْمَشْعَرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ﴾, "When you depart from Arafat, then remember Allah at Al-Mash'ar Al-Haram." The word *afadtum* (أَفَضْتُم), meaning "you flow forth" or "depart rapidly," is significant. Ibn Ashur points out that this word, derived from the concept of water overflowing, implies a large multitude moving together swiftly. It was chosen by the Quran over the pre-Islamic term *daf'a* (pushing), to imply a sense of orderly movement, a subtle guidance for the pilgrims to maintain dignity and calmness even amid large crowds, avoiding chaos and excessive noise. Arafat is the well-known plain where pilgrims stand, and Al-Mash'ar Al-Haram is Muzdalifah, a sacred site (indicated by *haram* meaning sacred or forbidden) where pilgrims gather after Arafat.
A Deeper Remembrance
The verse concludes with a powerful instruction: ﴿وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ﴾, "And remember Him as He guided you, for indeed you were, before it, among those astray." The repetition of the command to "remember Him" (*udhkurūh*) after the initial "remember Allah" is noteworthy. Al-Razi suggests several insights into this repetition: the first command might refer to a specific, verbal remembrance at a sacred site, while the second encourages a continuous, heartfelt remembrance, born out of gratitude. The particle *ka-mā* (كَما) here implies not just "how" but also "as much as," emphasizing that our remembrance should be commensurate with the immense favor of His guidance. The phrase *min qablihī la-mina al-dhāllīn* (مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ) uses an emphatic *lam* (لَ) to highlight their past state of being "astray" or lost before this divine guidance. This contrast serves as a profound reminder of Allah's mercy and the transformation wrought by His light, inviting an enduring, grateful remembrance in every aspect of our lives.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:198 is discussed in 11 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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