Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj Verse 28

Mufti Taqi Usmani

so that they witness benefits for them, and recite Allah’s name in specified days, over the provision He gave them from the cattle. “So, eat thereof and feed the distressed, the poor.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

so they may obtain the benefits ˹in store˺ for them,[[ Spiritual benefits such as prayers, pilgrimage, and forgiveness of sins, as well as worldly benefits such as meeting Muslims from everywhere and trading. ]] and pronounce the Name of Allah on appointed days over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them. So eat from their meat and feed the desperately poor.

Ruwwad Translation Center

so that they may attain benefits, and pronounce Allah’s name during the appointed days over the sacrificial animals that He has provided for them; then eat from it and feed the desperate poor.

A. J. Arberry

that they may witness things profitable to them and mention God's Name on days well-known over such beasts of the flocks as He has provided them: "So eat thereof, and feed the wretched poor."

Abdul Haleem

to attain benefits and celebrate God’s name, on specified days, over the livestock He has provided for them- feed yourselves and the poor and unfortunate-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

That they may witness the benefits to them and may mention the name of Allah on the days known over the beast cattle wherewith He hath provided them. So eat thereof, and feed the hungry poor.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice); then eat ye thereof and feed the distressed ones in want.

Abul Ala Maududi

to witness the benefits in store for them, and pronounce the name of Allah during the appointed days over the cattle that He has provided them. So eat of it and feed the distressed and the needy.

Ahmed Ali

In order to reach the place of advantage for them, and to pronounce the name of God on appointed days over cattle He has given them for food; then eat of the meat and feed the needy and the poor.

Ahmed Raza Khan

In order that they may gain their benefit, and mention the name of Allah on the appointed days as He has bestowed the sustenance to them – the inarticulate animals; therefore eat from them yourself and feed the distressed destitute.

Ali Quli Qarai

that they may witness the benefits for them, and mention Allah’s Name during the known days over the livestock He has provided them. So eat thereof and feed the destitute and the needy.

Ali Ünal

So that they may witness all (the spiritual, social, and economic) benefits in store for them, and offer during the known, appointed days the sacrificial cattle that He has provided for them by pronouncing God’s Name over them. Eat of their meat and feed the distressed, the poor.

Amatul Rahman Omar

So that they (- the Pilgrims) may witness benefits (that lay therein) for them, and that (at the time of making a sacrifice) on days prescribed they may mention the name of Allâh over the beasts of the family of cattle He has given them. (When you have sacrificed the animal) then eat from this, (flesh of the animal thus sacrificed), yourselves and (also) feed the poor distressed one and the needy (on that).

English Literal

To witness benefits/uses for them, and they mention/remember God`s name in known days/times, on (for) what He provided for them from quadrupeds of land and sea excluding felines the camels/livestock, so eat from it, and feed the miserable/fallen in hardship, the poor/needy .

Faridul Haque

In order that they may gain their benefit, and mention the name of Allah on the appointed days as He has bestowed the sustenance to them – the inarticulate animals; therefore eat from them yourself and feed the distressed destitute.

Hamid S. Aziz

"And proclaim amongst men the Pilgrimage; they will come to you on foot and on every kind of camel, lean from journeys through distant mountain and deep ravines,

Hilali & Khan

That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice) (at the time of their slaughtering by saying: Bismillah, WAllahu-Akbar, Allahumma Minka wa Ilaik). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And proclaim to men the Pilgrimage: they will come to thee on foot and on every lean camel, coming every remote path:

Mohammad Habib Shakir

That they may witness advantages for them and mention the name of Allah during stated days over what He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds, then eat of them and feed the distressed one, the needy.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the beast of cattle that He hath bestowed upon them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor unfortunate.

Muhammad Sarwar

to see their benefits, commemorate the name of God during the appointed days, and offer the sacrifice of the cattle that God has given them. They themselves should consume part of the sacrificial flesh and give the rest to the destitute and needy people.

Qaribullah & Darwish

that they witness profitable things for them and mention the Name of Allah on well known days over the flocks which He has provided them. Eat thereof, and feed the wretched poor.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor having a hard time.

Wahiduddin Khan

so that they may witness its benefit for them and, on the appointed days may utter the name of God over the cattle He has provided for them. Then eat their flesh, and feed the distressed and the needy --

Talal Itani

That they may witness the benefits for themselves, and celebrate the name of God during the appointed days, for providing them with the animal livestock. So eat from it, and feed the unfortunate poor.

Tafsir jalalayn

that they may witness, that they may be present before, things that are of benefit to them, in this world, such as commerce, or [of benefit] in the Hereafter, or in both -- all [of which are [valid alternative] opinions -- and mention God's Name on appointed days, namely, the ten days of Dh'l-Hijja, or the Day of `Arafa, or from the Day of Immolation up to the last days of tashrq -- all of which are [valid alternative] opinions -- over the livestock which He has provided them, such as the camels, cows and sheep immolated on the Day of the `d, and any subsequent offerings or sacrifices. "So eat thereof, if it be recommended, and feed the wretched poor", that is, the one in dire poverty.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Hajj Brings benefits in this World and in the Hereafter

Allah says;

لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ

That they may witness things that are of benefit to them,

Ibn Abbas said,

"Benefits in this world and in the Hereafter."

Benefits of the Hereafter includes Allah's pleasure. Material benefits in this world include sacrificial animals and trade.

This was also the view of Mujahid and others, that the benefits come in this world and in the Hereafter.

This is like the Ayah;

لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ

There is no sin on you if you seek the bounty of your Lord. (2;198)

وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الاَْنْعَامِ

and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice).

Shu`bah and Hushaym narrated from Abu Bishr from Sa`id from Ibn Abbas,

"The appointed days are the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).

Al-Bukhari narrated this with a disconnected chain in a manner denoting his approval of it.

Something similar was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Ad-Dahhak, Ata' Al-Khurasani and Ibrahim An-Nakhai.

Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet said;

مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا فِي هَذِه

No deeds are more virtuous than deeds done on these days.

They said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah!"

He said,

وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ يَخْرُجُ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَيْء

Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out risking himself and his wealth for the sake of Allah, and does not come back with anything.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Umar said,

"The Messenger of Allah said;

مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَعْظَمَ عِنْدَ اللهِ وَلَاا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْعَمَلُ فِيهِنَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الاْاَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ فَأَكْثِرُوا فِيهِنَّ مِنَ التَّهْلِيلِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالتَّحْمِيد

There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so increase your Tahlil, Takbir, and Tahmid during these days.

Al-Bukhari said,

"Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the ten days and say Takbir, and the people would say Takbir when they said Takbir."

These ten days include the day of `Arafah.

It was recorded in Sahih Muslim that Abu Qatadah said,

"The Messenger of Allah was asked about fasting on the day of `Arafah, and he said,

أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالاْتِيَة

I hope by Allah that it will be an expiation for the previous year and the coming year.

These ten days include the day of An-Nahr (Sacrifice), which is the greatest day of Hajj, and it was recorded in a Hadith that it is the most virtuous day to Allah.

عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الاَْنْعَامِ

over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them.

means, camels, cattle and sheep, as Allah explained in Surah Al-An`am;
ثَمَـنِيَةَ أَزْوَجٍ
(eight pairs). (6;143)

فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَايِسَ الْفَقِيرَ



Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor having a hard time.

It was recorded that when the Messenger of Allah offered his sacrifice, he commanded that part of each animal should be taken and cooked, and he ate some of the meat and drank some of the broth.

فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا
(Then eat thereof),

Hushaym narrated from Husayn, from Mujahid,

"This is like the Ayat;

وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَاصْطَـدُواْ

But when you finish the Ihram, you may hunt. (5;2)

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَوةُ فَانتَشِرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

Then when the (Jumu`ah) Salah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land." (62;10)

This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir in his Tafsir.

الْبَايِسَ الْفَقِيرَ
(the poor having a hard time).

Ikrimah said,

"This means the one who is in desperate need whose poverty is apparent, and the poor person who is too proud to ask others for help."

Mujahid said,

"The one who does not stretch forth his hand (to ask for help)."