Surah Al-Hajj 22:27
سُورَةُ الحَجِّ · Medinan · Verse 27 of 78
وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ
Translation
Proclaim the Pilgrimage to all people. They will come to you on foot and on every kind of swift mount, emerging from every deep mountain pass
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah Al-Hajj (22:27), Allah commands Prophet Ibrahim to proclaim the pilgrimage, and the very specific words chosen invite us to deeply appreciate the significance of this divine call and the response it evokes.
The Loud, Repeated Call
The verse begins with "وَأَذِّنْ فِي ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ" (Wa-Azzin fi an-Nasi bil-Hajj), meaning "And proclaim among the people the Hajj." The word "أَذِّنْ" (Azzin) is not just a simple command to "inform." Its root implies "to hear," and its intensified form suggests raising one's voice with an announcement, repeating it multiple times, and ensuring it reaches widely. It’s an instruction for a powerful, pervasive proclamation (Ibn Ashur, al-Razi). This emphasis on the widespread nature of the call highlights Allah's intent for Hajj to be known and accessible far and wide.
The Guaranteed Response
Following this command, Allah promises the outcome: "يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ" (Ya'tooka rijaalan wa 'ala kulli daamir – they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel). The phrase "يَأْتُوكَ" (Ya'tooka), "they will come to you," serves as a direct answer to the command, a divine guarantee that Ibrahim's call would be answered. This underscores Allah's power and the certainty of His promise (Ibn Ashur, al-Razi).
The description of those who come begins with "رِجَالًۭا" (rijaalan), which means "on foot." Its placement first in the verse, before mentioning riders, emphasizes the immense dedication and effort of those who undertake this sacred journey by walking (Ibn Ashur, al-Razi). This highlights the sincerity and sacrifice inherent in the pilgrimage, a spiritual journey often demanding great physical exertion.
Then, the verse adds "وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ" (wa 'ala kulli daamir), meaning "and on every lean camel." The word "ضَامِرٍ" (daamir) refers to an animal, typically a camel, that has become lean and slender due to a long, arduous journey (al-Jalalayn, al-Razi). This imagery paints a vivid picture of vast distances covered and the endurance required. The word "كُلِّ" (kulli), meaning "every," is used here to signify "many" or "numerous," rather than strictly "all," indicating a multitude of diverse conveyances arriving (Ibn Ashur).
From Every Deep Path
The journey continues with "يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ" (Ya'teena min kulli fajjin 'ameeqin – they [the camels] will come from every deep path). Interestingly, "يَأْتِينَ" (ya'teena) is in the feminine plural, referring to the "lean camels" (ضَوَامِر). This grammatical choice subtly honors these animals, acknowledging their crucial role in transporting the pilgrims over great distances and making the journey possible. It's as if the journey itself is attributed to both the riders and their steadfast mounts (Ibn Ashur, al-Razi).
A "فَجٍّ" (fajj) is often a path between mountains, suggesting rugged and challenging terrain, later used more generally for any path. And "عَمِيقٍ" ('ameeqin), meaning "deep" or "remote," emphasizes the far-flung and distant origins from which these pilgrims will embark (al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur). Again, "كُلِّ" (kulli) reinforces the idea that they will come from countless distant and diverse routes.
Through these precise word choices, Allah not only commands the Hajj but also paints a powerful, evocative picture of its enduring nature, the dedication of its pilgrims, and the vast global reach of this timeless call.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Hajj 22:27 is discussed in 8 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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