Al-Hajj · Madani · ayah 28 of 78

Al-Hajj 22:28

لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ

“That they may witness [i.e., attend] benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allāh on known [i.e., specific] days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals.[924] So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Pilgrims come to be present for their own good, to speak His name over what He gave, and to share it with the poor.

A reflection

Giving back what He gave

An eight-year-old saves her pocket money for weeks and buys her father a mug for his birthday. He makes a great fuss of it. He knows exactly where the money came from: his own wallet, a coin at a time. Her gift costs him nothing new. He is delighted anyway.

The ayah describes the sacrifice in a way that should check our pride. The pilgrims mention Allah's name 'over what He provided them of the livestock'. The animal is not introduced as theirs. It is introduced as His provision. One commentator notes the gentleness of this. Pointing to the Provider makes the giving easier. You are only returning part of what was put in your hands.

That cuts against the way we usually feel about sacrifice. When we give something costly, the ego likes to keep a note of it. I gave a whole animal. I paid for three shares. I sent money to five countries. The ayah does not stop the giving. It removes the giver's claim to have started it.

Another classical reflection goes further. The one who offers an animal, it says, stands like a man ransoming himself. He gives the sheep in place of his own life, seeking Allah's pleasure. In doing so he admits that his shortcomings deserve far more. That is not a posture of generosity towards God. It is a posture of gratitude, and of humility.

So does Allah need any of it? A few ayat later the surah answers plainly. Neither the flesh nor the blood reaches Allah; what reaches Him is the mindfulness of those who offer it (22:37). He is not fed by the offering. He is not enriched by the crowds.

The father with the mug is not richer for the gift. He is glad of the child. When you give from what Allah has given you, the gladness is the point. Give, and forget the note you were keeping.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.