Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 189
The Cow · 2:189 · 189/286
۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبِهَا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Yas-aloonaka AAani al-ahillati qul hiya mawaqeetulinnasi walhajji walaysa albirrubi-an ta'too albuyoota min thuhooriha walakinnaalbirra mani ittaqa wa'too albuyoota min abwabihawattaqoo Allaha laAAallakum tuflihoon
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the crescent moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for ḥajj [pilgrimage]." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allāh. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allāh that you may succeed.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
They ask you [Prophet] about crescent moons. Say, ‘They show the times appointed for people, and for the pilgrimage.’ Goodness does not consist of entering houses by the back [door]; the truly good person is the one who is mindful of God. So enter your houses by their [main] doors and be mindful of God so that you may prosper.
Marmaduke Pickthall
They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moons, say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not righteousness that ye go to houses by the backs thereof (as do the idolaters at certain seasons), but the righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). So go to houses by the gates thereof, and observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage. It is no virtue if ye enter your houses from the back: It is virtue if ye fear Allah. Enter houses through the proper doors: And fear Allah: That ye may prosper.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
They ask you about the new moons. Say: They are indicative of time for the people, and of the Hajj. It is not righteousness that you come into your houses from their backs, but righteousness is that one fears Allah. So come into houses through their doors; and fear Allah so that you may be successful.
Al-Hilali & Khan
They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allâh. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allâh that you may be successful.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
People question you concerning the phases of the moon. Say: “They are signs to determine time for the sake of people and for the Pilgrimage.” Also tell them: “True righteousness is not that you enter your houses from the back; righteousness lies in fearing Allah. So, enter your houses by their doors, and fear Allah that you might attain true success.”
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (189)} [البقرة: 189].
23 - عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ البَرَاءَ - رضي الله عنه - يَقُولُ: نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِينَا، كَانَتِ الأَنْصَارُ إِذَا حَجُّوا فَجَاءُوا لَمْ يَدْخُلُوا مِنْ قِبَلِ أَبْوَابِ بُيُوتِهِمْ وَلَكِنْ مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا، فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَدَخَلَ مِنْ قِبَلِ بَابِهِ، فَكَأَنَّهُ عُيِّرَ بذَلِكَ، فَنَزَلَتْ {وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا} ¬أخرجه البخاري برقم: 1803، ومسلم: 3026، والنسائي في التفسير برقم: 44، والكبرى برقم: 4251، 11024، 11025، والطبري في التفسير: 2/ 186، وأبو يعلى برقم: 1732، وابن حبان برقم: 3947، والحاكم: 1/ 483، والبيهقي: 5/ 261، والطيالسي برقم: 717.¥
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