2. Al-Baqara

(And slay them) if they start the fight against you (wherever ye find them) whether in the Sacred Precinct or in other places, (and drive them) out of Mecca (out of the places whence they drove you out) as they drove you out of it, (for persecution) associating partners with Allah and worshipping idols (is worse) more evil (than slaughter) in the Sacred Precinct. (And fight not with them) do not initiate a fight with them (at the Inviolable Place of Worship) in the Sacred Precinct (until they attack you there) until they initiate a fight with you in the Sacred Precinct, (but if they attack you (there)) first (then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers) i.e. death is their reward.

(But if they desist) from their disbelief, association of partners with Allah and turn to Allah (then lo! Allah is Forgiving) towards those who turn to Him, (Merciful) towards those who die in a state of repentance.

(And fight them) if they initiate fighting against you whether you are in the Sacred Precinct or not (until persecution is no more) until there is not association of partners with Allah in the Sacred Precinct, (and religion is for Allah) and Islam and worship of Allah reign in the Sacred Precinct. (If they desist) from fighting you in the Sacred Precinct, (then let there be no hostility) you are not allowed to kill them (except against wrong-doers) except those who start the fight against you.

(The forbidden month) in which you entered to perform the lesser pilgrimage ('umrah) (is for the forbidden month) which they prevented you from performing, (and forbidden things in retaliation) one in retaliation for another. (And one who attacketh you) first, in the Sacred Precinct (attack him in like manner as he attacked you) by killing them. (And observe your duty to Allah) and fear Allah to begin with, (and know that Allah is with those who ward off (evil)) He assists the pious by giving them victory.

(Perform the pilgrimage and the visit for Allah) so that He may accept them, and this by making them sincere unto Him and also by performing the pilgrimage to its final completion and by performing the lesser pilgrimage to the Sacred House. (And if ye are prevented) from performing the pilgrimage or the lesser pilgrimage because of enemies or ill-health, (then send such gifts as can be obtained with ease) then you should offer whatever gifts you can obtain: a sheep, cow or camel in order to leave the Sacred Precinct, (and shave not your heads) if you are prevented (until the gifts) that you have sent (have reached their destination) where it is going to be immolated. (And whoever among you is sick) and cannot remain in the place where he is, then he can return home before his gift reaches its destination (or hath an ailment of the head) or if his head is infested with lice, he should shave it. This verse was revealed about Ka'b Ibn 'Ujrah who shaved his hair when still in a state of ritual consecration because it was infested with lice, (must pay ransom of fasting) the ransom is to fast three days (or almsgiving) to six needy people from the inhabitants of Mecca (or offering) a sheep to be sent to the place of immolation. (And if ye are in safety) from the enemy and you have recovered from your sickness, then you should make up that which Allah has made obligatory upon you in the following year, whether it is a question of the pilgrimage or the lesser pilgrimage, (then whoever contenteth himself with) perfume and clothes after (the visit) the lesser pilgrimage and until he engages in ritual consecration (for the Pilgrimage (shall give) such gifts) then he should offer a sacrifice for making 'Umrah before Hajj (dam al-tamattu') and a sacrifice for doing Hajj and 'Umrah simultaneously (dam al-qaran wa'l-mut'a), whether it is a sheep, cow or camel (as can be had with ease. And whoever cannot find (such gifts)) either a sheep, cow or camel, (then a fast of three days) a fast of three consecutive days (while on the pilgrimage) in the ten days of the pilgrimage, the last of which being the Day of 'Arafah, (and of seven when ye have returned) on your way to your families or after you have returned to your families; (that is, ten in all) in exchange for the gifts.

(The pilgrimage is (in) the well known months) ritual consecration for the pilgrimage takes place in the well known months of Shawwal, Dhu'l-Qa'da, and the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijja, (and whoever is minded to perform the pilgrimage therein) whoever enters in a state of ritual consecration in these months (there is (to be) no lewdness) no sexual intercourse once in a state of ritual consecration (nor abuse) no verbal abuse or name calling (nor angry conversation) between one person and another (on the pilgrimage) when in a state of ritual consecration; it is also said that this means: there is to be no heated argument about the obligatoriness of the pilgrimage. (And whatsoever good ye do) whatever you abstain from whether it is lewdness, abuse or angry conversation in the Sacred Precinct (Allah knoweth it) Allah will accept it. (So make provision for yourselves) O people of sound minds, from the provision of this world; Allah says here: take from the provisions of this world, O people of sound minds, what is enough to spare you from asking others, otherwise just trust in Allah; (for the best provision to ward off evil) for trust in Allah is the best provision in this world. (Therefore keep your duty unto Me) fear Me in the Sacred Precinct, (O men of understanding). This verse was revealed about some people from the Yemen who used to perform the pilgrimage without taking any provisions with them. As a consequence, they used to wrongfully obtain provisions from the settlements they found on their way and hence Allah now prohibited them from doing so.

(It is no sin) there is no constraint (for you that ye seek the bounty of your Lord (by trading)) by engaging in trade in the Sacred Precinct. This was revealed about a group of people who were against buying and selling in the Sacred Precinct, and so legal dispensation was given to allow it. (But, when you press on in the multitude from 'Arafat) when you return from 'Arafat to the Sacred monument, (remember Allah) with your heart and tongue (by the Sacred monument. Remember Him as He hath guided you, although before) before Muhammad (pbuh) the Qur'an and Islam (ye were of the astray) among the unbelievers.

(Then hasten onward from the place whence the multitude hasteneth onward) He says: return from whence the people of Yemen have returned, (and ask forgiveness of Allah) for your sins. (Lo! Allah is Forgiving) of those who repent, (Merciful) towards those who die in a state of repentance. This was revealed about a group of people called the �Hamsiyyun� who did not want to press on from the Inviolable Place of Worship to 'Arafat during their pilgrimage. Allah warned them against this, commanding them to go to 'Arafat and then return from there.

(And when ye have completed your devotions) upon finishing the rites of your pilgrimage, (then remember Allah) say: O Allah! (as ye remember your fathers) as you say: father! It is also said that this means: remember Allah for the blessings He showered on you as you used to remember the kindness of your fathers in the pre-Islamic era (or with a more lively remembrance) remember Him more than you used to remember your fathers. (But of mankind is he who saith) on the standing site: (�Our Lord! Give unto us in the world,) camels, cows, sheep, male and female slaves and wealth� (and he hath no portion in the Hereafter) of Paradise by performing the pilgrimage.