Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This surah warns humanity of the imminent terrors of the Hour, proves the Resurrection through the analogy of creation, and refutes shirk and the polytheists’ baseless disputation. It highlights the sanctity of the ancient rites of Hajj and its benefits. It also contains the pivotal first command and permission for Muslims to fight back against their oppressors, promising victory and empowerment in the land.

Context of Revelation:

Era: There is considerable difference of opinion as to whether it is Makkan or Madinan. The majority view is that it contains both Makkan and Madinan ayahs, interwoven such that it is not possible to clearly distinguish them as sections. According to Ibn Ashur, parts of it were most likely revealed late in the Makkan period, while the remainder was revealed in Madinah.

Context: Some verses are definitively Madinan such as the āyah granting the first permission to fight [39].

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: "Sūrat al-Ḥajj" (The Pilgrimage). It is named for its description of Allah's command to Ibrahim to proclaim the Hajj, detailing the rites and their benefits. This emphasizes the sanctity of the Ka’bah, even though the obligation of Hajj was finalized later.

Unique Feature: It is the only surah in the Quran that contains two ayahs where a listener should prostrate [18, 77].

Ayah Count: 77 ayah (Madīnah/Makkah), 78 (Kūfah), or 74/75 (Shām/Baṣrah).

Surah Overview:

• Warning humanity to fear Allah and the terrifying horrors of the Day of Judgment. [1-2]
• Refuting shirk by exposing the polytheists’ baseless, ignorant disputation and their following of Satan. [3–4, 8–10]
• Proving the Resurrection through the analogies of creation (man from dust) and the revival of dead earth with rain. [5-10]
• Refuting polytheism and condemning those who argue without knowledge, following Satan. [3, 8-10, 12]
• Portraying the wavering stance of some toward Islam—worshipping “on an edge,” swayed by worldly outcomes. [11–13]
• Emphasising mankind’s enduring split between guidance and misguidance, and that the Day of Judgment is the day of decisive separation between them. [17, 69, 56–57]
• Describing the final fate of the two antagonists “who dispute over their Lord”. [19-24]
• Honoring the Hajj and the command to Ibrahim, detailing the rites and condemning those who block the Sacred Mosque. [25-37]
• Granting the first permission to the Muslims to fight because they were wronged and expelled from their homes without right. Promising victory and empowerment in the land to those who, once established, uphold prayer, zakah, and justice. [39-41]
• Consoling the Prophet (ﷺ) by recounting the destruction of the nations that rejected past messengers (e.g., Nuh, Ad, Thamud). [42-48]
• Affirming that Allah is the protector of His messengers' revelation, despite Satan’s whispers. [52-55]
• Highlighting the Quran and its faithful receivers; describing the disbelievers’ hatred of the Quran and the one sent with it. [50–51, 58–60]
• Closing by reminding of Allah’s favors and His choosing among angels and humans, guiding to what draws near to Him, and affirming that He named them “Muslims” and is their Protector and Helper. [75–78]