Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 2)

O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the Sacred Month, nor of the Hady brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands, nor the people coming to the Sacred House (Makkah), seeking the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when you finish the Ihram, then hunt, and let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) lead you to transgression. Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa, but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment. (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 2)

The Necessity of Observing the Sanctity of the Sacred Area and the Sacred Months

Allah continues,

nor of the Hady brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands,  means, do not abandon the practice of bringing the Hady (sacrificial animals) to the Sacred House, as this ritual is a form of honoring the symbols of Allah. Do not abandon the practice of garlanding these animals on their necks, so that they are distinguished from other cattle. This way, it will be known that these animals are intended to be offered as Hady at the Ka’bah, and thus those who might intend some harm to them would refrain from doing so. Those who see the Hady might be encouraged to imitate this ritual, and indeed, he who calls to a type of guidance, will earn rewards equal to the rewards of those who follow his lead, without decrease in their own rewards. When the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) intended to perform Hajj, he spent the night at Dhul-Hulayfah, which is also called Wadi Al-`Aqiq. In the morning, the Prophet made rounds with his wives, who were nine at that time, performed Ghusl (bath), applied some perfume and performed a two Rak`ah prayer. He then garlanded the Hady and announced aloud his intention to perform Hajj and `Umrah. The Prophet's Hady at the time consisted of plenty of camels, more than sixty, and they were among the best animals, the healthiest and most physically acceptable, just as Allah's statement proclaims,

Thus it is, and whosoever honors the symbols of Allah, then it is truly, from the piety of the hearts.(Surah Al-Hajj 22: 32)  Muqatil bin Hayyan said that Allah's statement,

nor the garlands  means, "Do not breach their sanctity.'' During the time of Jahiliyyah, the people used to garland themselves with animal hair and pelts when they left their areas in months other than the Sacred Months. The idolators of the Sacred House Area used to garland themselves with the tree-stems of the Sacred Area, so that they were granted safe passage.'' This statement was collected by Ibn Abi Hatim, who also recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "There are two Ayat in this Surah (Al-Ma'idah) that were abrogated, the Ayah about the garlands [Surah Al-Ma’idah 5], and

So if they come to you (O Muhammad), either judge between them, or turn away from them. (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 42)''

The Necessity of Preserving the Sanctity and Safety of those who Intend to Travel to the Sacred House

Allah said,

nor the people coming to the Sacred House (Makkah), seeking the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. The Ayah commands: Do not fight people who are heading towards the Sacred House of Allah, which if anyone enters it, he must be granted safe refuge. Likewise, those who are heading towards the Sacred House seeking the bounty and good pleasure of Allah, must not be stopped, prevented, or frightened away from entering the Sacred House. Mujahid, `Ata', Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mutarrif bin `Abdullah, `Abdullah bin `Ubayd bin `Umayr, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Qatadah and several others said that,

seeking the bounty of their Lord refers to trading. A similar discussion preceded concerning the Ayah;

There is no sin on you if you seek the bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading).(Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 198)   Allah said;

and pleasure.   Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) said that the word `pleasure' in the Ayah refers to, "seeking Allah's pleasure by their Hajj.'' `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Ibn Jarir mentioned that this Ayah was revealed concerning Al-Hutam bin Hind Al-Bakri, who had raided the cattle belonging to the people of Al-Madinah. The following year, he wanted to perform `Umrah to the House of Allah and some of the Companions wanted to attack him on his way to the House. Allah revealed,

nor the people coming to the Sacred House (Makkah), seeking the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord.

Hunting Game is Permissible After Ihram Ends

Allah said,

But when you finish the Ihram, then hunt,)  When you end your Ihram, it is permitted for you to hunt game, which was prohibited for you during Ihram. Although this Ayah contains a command that takes effect after the end of a state of prohibition (during Ihram in this case), the Ayah, in fact, brings back the ruling that was previously in effect. If the previous ruling was an obligation, the new command will uphold that obligation, and such is the case with recommended and permissible matters. There are many Ayat that deny that the ruling in such cases is always an obligation. Such is also the case against those who say that it is always merely allowed. What we mentioned here is the correct opinion that employs the available evidence, and Allah knows best.

Justice is Always Necessary

Allah said,

and let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part).  The meaning of this Ayah is apparent, as it commands: Let not the hatred for some people, who prevented you from reaching the Sacred House in the year of Hudaybiyyah, make you transgress Allah's Law and commit injustice against them in retaliation. Rather, rule as Allah has commanded you, being just with everyone. We will explain a similar Ayah later on,

And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 8) which commands: do not be driven by your hatred for some people into abandoning justice, for justice is ordained for everyone, in all situations. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Zayd bin Aslam said, "The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)  and his Companions (Radhi Allahu Anhum) were in the area of Al-Hudaybiyyah when the idolators prevented them from visiting the House, and that was especially hard on them. Later on, some idolators passed by them from the east intending to perform `Umrah. So the Companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, `Let us prevent those (from `Umrah) just as their fellow idolators prevented us.' Thereafter, Allah sent down this Ayah.'' Ibn Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) and others said that "Shana'an'' refers to enmity and hate. Allah said next,

Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa; but do not help one another in sin and transgression.  Allah commands His believing servants to help one another perform righteous, good deeds, which is the meaning of `Al-Birr', and to avoid sins, which is the meaning of `At-Taqwa'. Allah forbids His servants from helping one another in sin, `Ithm' and committing the prohibitions. Ibn Jarir said that, "Ithm means abandoning what Allah has ordained, while transgression means overstepping the limits that Allah set in your religion, along with overstepping what Allah has ordered concerning yourselves and others.'' Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

Support your brother whether he was unjust or the victim of injustice. He was asked, "O Messenger of Allah! We know about helping him when he suffers injustice, so what about helping him when he commits injustice'' He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

Prevent and stop him from committing injustice, and this represents giving support to him.  Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith through Hushaym. Ahmad recorded that one of the Companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) narrated the Hadith,

The believer who mingles with people and is patient with their annoyance, earns more reward than the believer who does not mingle with people and does not observe patience with their annoyance. Muslim recorded a Hadith that states,

He who calls to a guidance, will earn a reward similar to the rewards of those who accept his call, until the Day of Resurrection, without decreasing their rewards. Whoever calls to a heresy, will carry a burden similar to the burdens of those who accept his call, until the Day of Resurrection, without decreasing their own burdens.


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)