[308] The Deniers who raised arms against the Believers. (al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī, Ibn ʿĀshūr)
[309] The land, Makkah, from which the Muslims had been expelled. (al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, Ibn ʿĀshūr)
[310] Fitnah comes from the root f-t-n which means to test and try; the pagans of Makkah subjected the Muslims to the harshest treatment and, at times, outright torture to drive them, and whoever might be tempted to join them, away from Islam.
[311] Forcing Muslims out of their religion.
[312] al-Ashhur al-Ḥurum, lit. the sacrosanct months, in which it was agreed that no fighting was permissible: namely, al-Muḥarram, Rajab, Dhū al-Qiʿdah, Dhū al-Ḥijjah.
[313] According to al-Saʿdī this has two meanings. Firstly, if they fight you during a sacrosanct month then fight them back (cf. also al-Wāḥidī, al-Wajīz). Secondly, God rewarded His Prophet (ﷺ) for not fighting during the sacrosanct month of Dhū al-Qiʿdah in the sixth year of Hijrah when he wanted to perform ʿumrah but was turned away by the pagans, by enabling him to perform it (in what is known as ʿUmrat al-Qaḍā’) during the same month of the following year (cf. al-Ṭabarī).
[314] Raise the necessary funds to prepare for such a just fight (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[315] By not making the necessary preparations (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[316] ʿUmrah.
[317] Upholding and closely observing the rites of these two great forms of worship.
[318] If your journey was prevented by an enemy or an illness, or by whatever forceful reason.
[319] al-Hady, lit. sacrificial animals gifted to God. The term is limited to those animals intended for slaughter during Hajj or ʿumrah. Otherwise, they are called uḍḥiyah, simply sacrifice.
[320] Shaving the head is prohibited for those who embark upon Hajj or ʿumrah. This is why it is used here to mean that: you will not relieve yourselves of the prohibitions of these rites. That is until you sacrifice the hady. The place of slaughter for those who were cut short would be the spot they managed to reach, but for those who completed their rites it would be within the sanctified (ḥaram) area of Makkah (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Baghawī, al-Shinqīṭī).
[321] Those who are inflicted with head ailments, like a rash or lice, are allowed to shave their heads, or shorten their hair while still in a state of iḥrām, given that they make up for it by fasting three days, feeding six of the poor (each with half a ṣāʿ), or sacrificing a goat for the poor of the Sanctified Mosque (cf. al-Bukhārī (1214), Muslim (1201), al-Ṭabarī, al-Saʿdī).
[322] If hindrances no longer exist.
[323] A relaxation period extending from the time of performing ʿumrah – during the months of Hajj – until the coming of the Hajj days, in which one enjoys what is forbidden for those in a state of iḥrām.
[324] To your homes.
[325] That is, the pilgrims’ places of permanent residence.
[326] These are either the ones who reside within the radius of the Sanctified Mosque at a distance in which Prayers are not shortened (qaṣr) (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Saʿdī, al-Shinqīṭī), or, in particular, only those who are residents of the sanctified area (ḥaram) surrounding the Mosque (cf. Ibn ʿUthaymīn).