Al-Hajj 22:32

"That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allāh - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts."

Explanation of the Udhiyyah and the Sha`a'ir of Allah

وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَـئِرَ اللَّهِ

(and whosoever honors the Sha`a'ir of Allah,) means, His commands.

فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ

(then it is truly from the Taqwa of the hearts.) This also includes obeying His commands in the best way when it comes to offering sacrifices, as Al-Hakam said narrating from Miqsam, from Ibn `Abbas: "Honoring them means choosing fat, healthy animals (for sacrifice)." Abu Umamah bin Sahl said: "We used to fatten the Udhiyyah in Al-Madinah, and the Muslims used to fatten them." This was recorded by Al-Bukhari. In Sunan Ibn Majah, it was recorded from Abu Rafi` that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed two castrated, fat, horned rams. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded from Jabir: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed two castrated, fat, horned rams." It was said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to examine their eyes and ears, and not to sacrifice the Muqabilah, the Mudabirah, the Sharqa, nor the Kharqa'." This was recorded by Ahmad and the Sunan compilers, and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih. As for the Muqabilah, it is the one whose ear is cut at the front, Mudabirah is the one whose ear is cut at the back, the Shurqa is the one whose ear is split, as Ash-Shafi`i said. The Kharqa' is the one whose ear is pierced with a hole. And Allah knows best. It was recorded that Al-Bara' said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«أَرْبَعٌ لَاتَجُوزُ فِي الْأَضَاحِي: الْعَوْرَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ عَوَرُهَا، وَالْمَرِيضَةُ الْبَيِّنُ مَرَضُهَا، وَالْعَرْجَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ ظَلَعُهَا، وَالْكَسِيرَةُ الَّتِي لَاتُنْقِي»

(Four are not permitted for sacrifice: those that are obviously one-eyed, those that are obviously sick, those that are obviously lame and those that have broken bones, which no one would choose.) This was recorded by Ahmad and the Sunan compilers, and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih.

The Benefits of the Sacrificial Camels

لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـفِعُ

(In them are benefits for you) meaning, in the Budn (sacrificial camels) you find benefits such as their milk their wool and hair, and their use for riding.

لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـفِعُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

(In them are benefits for you for an appointed term,) Miqsam reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "Until you decide to offer them as a sacrifice." It was recorded in the Two Sahihs from Anas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a man driving his sacrificial camel and said,

«ارْكَبْهَا»

(Ride it.) The man said, "It is a sacrificial camel." He said,

«ارْكَبْهَا وَيْحَك»

(Ride it, woe to you!) the second or third time. According to a report recorded by Muslim from Jabir, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«ارْكَبْهَا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ إِذَا أُلْجِئْتَ إِلَيْهَا»

(Ride it gently accor- ding to your needs.)

ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

(and afterwards they are brought for sacrifice to the `Atiq House.) meaning, they are eventually brought to the `Atiq House -- which is the Ka`bah -- as Allah says:

هَدْياً بَـلِغَ الْكَعْبَةِ

(an offering, brought to the Ka`bah) 5:95

وَالْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفاً أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُ

(and detained the Hady, from reaching their place of sacrifice) 48:25

Упомянутые в предыдущих аятах предписания относятся к знакам Аллаха. Арабское слово шаира ‘обряд, зд. знак’ относится ко всем вещам, местам и ритуалам, имеющим отношение к религии. К знакам Аллаха относятся все священные места паломничества, поскольку Всевышний сказал: «Воистину, ас-Сафа и аль-Марва - одни из обрядовых знамений Аллаха» (2:158). К ним также относятся жертвенные животные. Ранее мы уже говорили, что для того, чтобы почитать обряды Аллаха, раб должен уважительно относиться к ним и делать все возможное для того, чтобы выполнять их в самой совершенной форме. Совершая жертвоприношение, мусульманин должен уважительно относиться к этому обряду, приносить в жертву тучных животных и не причинять им страданий. Только в этом случае жертвоприношение будет всесторонне совершенным. Человек почитает установленные Аллахом обряды благодаря набожности и богобоязненности, которые укоренились в его душе. Почтительное отношение к обрядам Аллаха свидетельствует о набожности, богобоязненности и правильной вере человека, потому что почтительное отношение к предписаниям Господа вытекает из почтительного отношения к Нему.

وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ‌ اللَّـهِ (And if one observes the sanctity of the symbols of Allah - 22:32) The word شَعَائِرَ‌ is the plural of شَعِیرہ which means a ` symbol', ` a distinctive sign', and refers to those things which are considered as the specific emblems of certain groups of people or certain faiths. شَعَائِرَ‌ are those special laws which are generally taken to be the identifying features of a Muslim. Most of the rules of Hajj fall in this category.

فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ (then such things emanate from the piety of the hearts - 22:32). It means that respect for the شَعَائِرَ‌ اللَّـهِ (Symbols of Allah) is an evidence of the piety of heart, which indicates that the symbols of Allah are respected by the one who has taqwa (fear of Allah) in his heart and that taqwa is a quality which rests in one's heart. When the heart is equipped with this quality, it is reflected in all his actions.

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Explanation of the Udhiyyah and the Sha`a'ir of Allah

The Benefits of the Sacrificial Camels