Surah Baqarah ayat 189 Tafsir Quran 2:189

﴿۞ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ ۗ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
[ البقرة: 189]

2:189 They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allah. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allah that you may succeed.

They will ask you O Muhammad (s) about the new moons ahilla plural of hilāl ‘Why do they seem very thin and then wax until they are full of light and then wane again as at the first and are not always the same in the way that the sun is?’ Say to them ‘They are appointed times mawāqīt is the plural of mīqāt for the people for them to know the times for sowing the land for business for their women’s waiting periods their fast and their breaking it and the Pilgrimage’ wa’l-hajji and the Pilgrimage’ is a supplement to li’l-nāsi ‘for the people’ that is to say appointed times by which its season is known for if they the new moons always looked the same none of these things could be known. It is not piety to come to the houses from their backs in your state of pilgrimage inviolability ihrām when you would bore holes in them to enter them and then exit disregarding their doors; they used to do this and claim that it was out of piety; but piety is to fear God by not contravening His commands; so come to the houses by their doors when in a state of pilgrimage inviolability and fear God that you may prosper that you may triumph.

They call upon you, O Muhammad, to inform them about the new moons. Say to them: It is one aspect of the varying appearances of the moon according to the extent of its luminosity indicating the point and passage of time in which the sequence of events take place in the material universe, and for estimating the point of time when AL-Hajj to Allah’s Sacred House is performed. You people must realize that it is not in conformity with conduct to the divine and moral law nor with righteous living that you irrationally enter the houses from the back doors, this is an irreligious notion*. It confers with divine and moral law to enter the houses from the front doors. And see that you lift to Allah your inward sight so that heaven may prosper you

The Crescent Moons Al-`Awfi related that Ibn `Abbas said, "The people asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ about the crescent moons.
Thereafter, this Ayah was revealed: يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ ( They ask you (O Muhammad ) about the crescents.
Say, "These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind...) so that they mark their acts of worship, the `Iddah ( the period of time a divorced woman or a widow is required to wait before remarrying ) of their women and the time of their Hajj ( pilgrimage to Makkah )." `Abdur-Razzaq reported that Ibn `Umar narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
«جَعَلَ اللهُ الْأَهِلَّةَ مَوَاقِيتَ لِلنَّاسِ، فَصُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعُدُّوا ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا»
( Allah has made the crescents signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind.
Hence, fast on seeing it (the crescent for Ramadan ) and break the fast on seeing it ( the crescent for Shawwal ).
If it ( the crescent ) was obscure to you then count thirty days ( mark that month as thirty days ).) WThis Hadith was also collected by Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, and he said, "The chain is Sahih, and they ( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ) did not recorded it." Righteousness comes from Taqwa Allah said: وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَبِهَا ( It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc. ) that you enter the houses from the back, but Al-Birr is from Taqwa.
So enter houses through their proper doors.) Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said, "During the time of Jahiliyyah, they used to enter the house from the back upon assuming the Ihram.
Thereafter, Allah revealed ( the following Ayah ): وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَبِهَا ( It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc. ) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr is from Taqwa.
So enter houses through their proper doors.) Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded the same Hadith from Al-Bara' but with the wording; "The Ansar used to enter their houses from the back when returning from a journey.
Thereafter, this Ayah ( 2:189 above ) was revealed..." Al-Hasan said, "When some people during the time of Jahiliyyah would leave home to travel, and then decide not to travel, they would not enter the house from its door.
Rather, they would climb over the back wall.
Allah the Exalted said: وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا ( It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness ) that you enter the houses from the back,)." Allah's statement: وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ( ...and have Taqwa of Allah that you may be successful. ) Have Taqwa of Allah, means to do what He has commanded you and refrain from what He has forbidden for you, لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ( that you may be successful. ) tomorrow when you stand before Him and He thus rewards you perfectly.

(2:189) They ask you about the phases of the moon. Say, "These are signs for the people to reckon dates and fix the periods for hajj." *198 Also tell them, "It is no virtue to enter your houses from their backs during the Hajj days); real virtue is that one should refrain from incurring the displeasure of Allah; so enter your houses by their proper doors. and fear Allah so that you may gain (true) success. *199

They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the meaning

*198).
The waxing and waning of the moon has attracted men's attentions throughout the ages and all kinds of fanciful ideas, superstitions and rituals have been, and are still today, associated with it.
The moon was considered the basis of good and bad omens.
Certain dates were considered auspicious and others inauspicious for starting journeys, for beginning new tasks, for weddings and so on on the ground that the rising and setting of the moon, its waxing and waning and its eclipse affect human destiny.
The Arabs too had their share of such superstitions.
It was therefore natural that enquiries regarding such matters should be addressed to the Prophet.

In response, God says that the waxing and waning of the moon is nothing more than a physical phenomenon.
By its appearance in the firmament the moon enables man to divide his year and it can thus be considered nature's own calendar.
Particular reference is made to Hajj because it occupied the position of highest importance in the religious, cultural and economic life of the Arabs.
Four months of the year were specified since they were the months of major and minor Pilgrimage ( Hajj and 'Umrah ).
During these months there was to be no warfare and the routes were completely safe for travelling.
Thanks to the peace and tranquillity thus established, trade and commerce prospered.

*199).
One superstitious custom of the Arabs was that once they entered the state of consecration for Pilgrimage they did not enter their houses by the door.
Instead, they either leapt over the walls from the rear or climbed through windows which they had specially erected for that purpose.
On returning from journeys, too, they entered their houses from the rear.
In this verse this superstitious custom is denounced, as are all superstitious customs; it is pointed out that the essence of moral excellence consists of fearing God and abstaining from disobeying His commands.
Those meaningless customs by which people felt bound, out of blind adherence to the traditions of their forefathers, and which had no effect at all on man's ultimate destiny, had nothing to do with moral excellence.

 

The Crescent Moons Al-`Awfi related that Ibn `Abbas said, "The people asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ about the crescent moons.
Thereafter, this Ayah was revealed: يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ ( They ask you (O Muhammad ) about the crescents.
Say, "These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind...) so that they mark their acts of worship, the `Iddah ( the period of time a divorced woman or a widow is required to wait before remarrying ) of their women and the time of their Hajj ( pilgrimage to Makkah )." `Abdur-Razzaq reported that Ibn `Umar narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: «جَعَلَ اللهُ الْأَهِلَّةَ مَوَاقِيتَ لِلنَّاسِ، فَصُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعُدُّوا ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا» ( Allah has made the crescents signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind.
Hence, fast on seeing it (the crescent for Ramadan ) and break the fast on seeing it ( the crescent for Shawwal ).
If it ( the crescent ) was obscure to you then count thirty days ( mark that month as thirty days ).) WThis Hadith was also collected by Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, and he said, "The chain is Sahih, and they ( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ) did not recorded it." Righteousness comes from Taqwa Allah said: وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَبِهَا ( It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc. ) that you enter the houses from the back, but Al-Birr is from Taqwa.
So enter houses through their proper doors.) Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said, "During the time of Jahiliyyah, they used to enter the house from the back upon assuming the Ihram.
Thereafter, Allah revealed ( the following Ayah ): وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَبِهَا ( It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc. ) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr is from Taqwa.
So enter houses through their proper doors.) Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded the same Hadith from Al-Bara' but with the wording; "The Ansar used to enter their houses from the back when returning from a journey.
Thereafter, this Ayah ( 2:189 above ) was revealed..." Al-Hasan said, "When some people during the time of Jahiliyyah would leave home to travel, and then decide not to travel, they would not enter the house from its door.
Rather, they would climb over the back wall.
Allah the Exalted said: وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا ( It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness ) that you enter the houses from the back,)." Allah's statement: وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ( ...and have Taqwa of Allah that you may be successful. ) Have Taqwa of Allah, means to do what He has commanded you and refrain from what He has forbidden for you, لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ( that you may be successful. ) tomorrow when you stand before Him and He thus rewards you perfectly.

( They ask thee (O Muhammad ), of new moons) they ask you about the increase and decrease of the moon. ( Say ) O Muhammad! ( They are fixed seasons for mankind ) they are signs for people so that they pay back their debts and know the waiting periods of their women and the timing of their fast and the breaking of their fast ( and for the pilgrimage ) and for the timing of pilgrimage. This verse was revealed about Mu’adh Ibn Jabal when he asked the Prophet ( pbuh ) about the timing of the pilgrimage. ( It is not righteousness ) it is not an act of obedience or God-fearing ( that ye go to houses by the backs thereof ) during ritual consecration ( ihram ), ( but the righteous man ) the obedient person during the time of ritual consecration ( is he who wardeth off (evil )) hunting and other things. ( So go to the houses ) enter the houses ( by the gates thereof ) by the gates you used to enter, ( and observe your duty to Allah ) fear Allah during the time of ritual consecration, ( that ye may be successful ) so that you will be spared Allah’s wrath and punishment. This verse was revealed about a group of Companions of the Prophet ( pbuh ) from the tribes of Kinanah and Khuza’ah, who used to enter their houses, during the time of ritual consecration, from the back or from the roof, as was the habit during the pre-Islamic era.

They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allah. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allah that you may be successful.

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