Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

34. “And for every people We appointed a ritual that they may mention the name of Allah on what He has provided them of the cattle quadrupeds (as their sustenance) so your God is One God, therefore surrender unto Him, and give you glad tidings unto the humble,”

The Arabic term /mansak/ is either an infinitive, or noun of time, or noun of place. Therefore the meaning of the verse is such: We have appointed for every people a program of worship, or a time for sacrifice, or a place for it.

The Arabic word /muxbitin/ is derived from /xubat/ which means: a vast and plain land without any high and down; thus a calm and assured person is called /muxbit/ who is far and free from any polytheistic imagination.

In connection with the former noble verses and the divine commandment of sacrifice, there may come forth this question that what kind of a worship is this, legislated in Islam, that some animals must be slaughtered and offered as sacrifice for Allah and for attracting His attention?

Does Allah need any sacrifice? And was there this action in other religions, too, or it was special among polytheists?

In order to make this subject clear, the holy Qur’an implies that you are not the only nation whose duty is slaughtering sacrifice for the Lord, because Allah has appointed a place of sacrifice for every nation in order that, at the time of sacrifice, they mention the name of Allah over the cattle that Allah has provided them as their sustenance.

The verse says:

“And for every people We appointed a ritual that they may mention the name of Allah on what He has provided them of the cattle quadrupeds (as their sustenance)…”

So, at the end of the verse, the Qur’an implies that there is only one God and His program is also a single program.

The verse continues saying:

“…so your God is One God…”

Now that the fact is this, then do surrender before Him and His command.

“…therefore surrender unto Him…”

And the humble ones and those who surrender before the commandments of Allah should be given glad tidings.

The holy verse concludes:

“…and give you glad tidings unto the humble,”

Indeed, this sentence means: O Messenger of Allah (S)! you should give the glad tidings of happiness, prosperity, and safety of the chastisement as well as the wholesome life to those who have become humble and obedient to the commandment of Allah.

Raqib in his book, Mufradat, says: The Arabic word /nusk/ means ‘worship’, and /nasik/ means ‘worshipper’, and ‘manasik-i-Hajj’ means: the places wherein this worship is done; or it means ‘these rites themselves’.

But according to the commentary of Majma‘-ul-Bayan by Tabarsi, and Ruh-ul-Janan, by Abul-Futuh, the Arabic term /mansak/ probably means ‘offering sacrifice’, in particular, among all worships.

Therefore, though the term /mansak/ has a general concept, which encompasses other worships including specially rites of Hajj, but in the verse under discussion, with the context of the Qur’anic phrase /…liyaŏkurusmallah…/

(that they may mention the name of Allah…),

it means special to sacrifice.