Surah Al Hajj Tafseer

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ

And proclaim to mankind the Hajj,

meaning, `announce the pilgrimage to mankind and call them to perform pilgrimage to this House which We have commanded you to build.'

It was said that Ibrahim said:"O Lord, how can I convey this to people when my voice will not reach them"

It was said:"Call them and We will convey it."

So Ibrahim stood up and said, "O mankind! Your Lord has established a House so come on pilgrimage to it."

It is said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice would reach all the regions of the earth, and those who were still in their mothers' wombs and their fathers' loins would hear the call.

The response came from everyone in the cities, deserts and countryside, and those whom Allah has decreed will make the pilgrimage, until the Day of Resurrection:

"At Your service, O Allah, at Your service."

This is a summary of the narrations from Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others among the Salaf.

And Allah knows best.

This was recorded by Ibn Jarir and by Ibn Abi Hatim at length.

يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاًأ وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ

They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel,

This Ayah was used as evidence by those scholars whose view is that Hajj performed on foot by those who are able, is better than Hajj performed riding, because the phrase "on foot" is mentioned first, and because it is an indication of their keenness and resolve.

Waki` narrated from Abu Al-`Umays from Abu Halhalah from Muhammad bin Ka`b that Ibn Abbas said,

"I do not regret anything except for the fact that I wish I had performed Hajj on foot, because Allah says,

يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاًأ

(They will come to you on foot)."

But the majority are of the view that performing Hajj while riding is better, following the example of the Messenger of Allah, because he performed Hajj riding, although his physical ability was sound.

يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ

they will come from every Fajj,

means every route, as Allah says:

وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجاً سُبُلً

and We placed therein Fijaj for them to pass. (21:31)

عَمِيقٍ

`Amiq,

means distant.

This was the view of Mujahid, Ata', As-Suddi, Qatadah, Muqatil bin Hayan, Ath-Thawri and others.

This Ayah is like the Ayah in which Allah tells us how Ibrahim prayed for his family,

فَاجْعَلْ أَفْيِدَةً مَّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِى إِلَيْهِمْ

So fill some hearts among men with love towards them. (14:37)

There is no one among the Muslims who does not long to see the Ka`bah and perform Tawaf, people come to this spot from every corner of the world