The Pilgrimage
Al-Ḥajj
الحَجّ
Surah Al-Ḥajj for kids content
BACKGROUND STORY
- •
For over 13 years, Muslims were not allowed to fight back against the abuse of the Makkan idol-worshippers.
Many Muslims were tortured and starved for years, and some were even killed.
The Makkans tried to kill the Prophet (ﷺ) after the death of his wife Khadijah (R.
A.
) and his uncle Abu Talib.
When things got worse for the small Muslim community in Makkah, they moved with the Prophet (ﷺ) to Madinah.
- •
Even though they moved over 400 km away, the idol-worshippers didn't leave them alone.
Eventually, verses 38-40 were revealed, giving permission to the believers to fight back in self-defence.
{Imam Ibn Kathir & Imam Al-Qurtubi}
PERMISSION TO FIGHT IN SELF-DEFENCE
38Indeed, Allah defends those who be-lieve.
Surely Allah does not like every un-grateful traitor.
39Those who have been under attack are now given permission 'to fight back' because they have been wronged.
And Allah has the power to help them 'win',
40'They are' the ones who have been driven out of their homes for no reason other than saying: 'Our Lord is Allah.
' If Allah did not use some people to stop the abuse of others, de-struction would have definitely reached holy places, churches, temples, as well as mosques in
which Allah's Name is of-ten mentioned.
Allah will certainly help those who stand up for Him.
Surely Allah is Powerful and Almighty.
41If such peo-ple were established in the land by Us, they would keep up salah, pay zakah, en-courage what is good, and forbid what is evil.
And the result of 'all' things is with Allah 'alone'.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدَٰفِعُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٖ كَفُورٍ38
أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ ظُلِمُواْۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ نَصۡرِهِمۡ لَقَدِير39
ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِم بِغَيۡرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّهُدِّمَتۡ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٞ وَصَلَوَٰتٞ وَمَسَٰجِدُ يُذۡكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرٗاۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ40
ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُواْ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَنَهَوۡاْ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ41
WARNING TO MAKKAN IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
42If they deny you 'O Prophet', so did the people of Nuh before them, as well as 'Ad and Thamud,
43the people of Ibra-him, the people of Lut,
44and the people of Madian.
And Musa was denied too.
But I delayed 'the end of the disbe-lievers until their set time' then took them.
And how severe was My response!
45There are many societies that We have destroyed for doing wrong, leavin8 them totally ruined.
There are also many abandoned wells and mighty castles!
46Have they not travelled throughout the land so their hearts can understand and their ears can listen?
In fact, it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts in the chests that go blind.
47They chal-lenge you o to speed up the punishment.
And Allah will never fail in His promise.
But a day with your Lord is like a thousand of your years.
48There are many societies whose punishment I delayed while they were doing Wrong, then took them 'by surprise'.
And to Me is the final return.
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ وَعَادٞ وَثَمُودُ42
وَقَوۡمُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَقَوۡمُ لُوطٖ43
٤٣ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ مَدۡيَنَۖ وَكُذِّبَ مُوسَىٰۖ فَأَمۡلَيۡتُ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُهُمۡۖ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ44
فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهَا وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٞ فَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَبِئۡرٖ مُّعَطَّلَةٖ وَقَصۡرٖ مَّشِيدٍ45
أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٞ يَعۡقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوۡ ءَاذَانٞ يَسۡمَعُونَ بِهَاۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعۡمَى ٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ وَلَٰكِن تَعۡمَى ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِي فِي ٱلصُّدُورِ46
وَيَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَكَ بِٱلۡعَذَابِ وَلَن يُخۡلِفَ ٱللَّهُ وَعۡدَهُۥۚ وَإِنَّ يَوۡمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلۡفِ سَنَةٖ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ47
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ أَمۡلَيۡتُ لَهَا وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٞ ثُمَّ أَخَذۡتُهَا وَإِلَيَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ48
ADVICE TO THE PROPHET
49Say, 'O humanity!
I am only sent to you with a clear warning.
50So those who believe and do good will have forgiveness and generous resources.
51But those who work hard to challenge Our revela-tions, they will be the people of Hell.
'
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ لَكُمۡ نَذِيرٞ مُّبِين49
فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَرِزۡقٞ كَرِيمٞ50
وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوۡاْ فِيٓ ءَايَٰتِنَا مُعَٰجِزِينَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ51
SATANS EFFECT
52'O Prophet!
' Whenever We sent a mes-senger or a prophet before you and he recited 'Our revelations', Satan would af-fect people's understanding of his rec-itation.
But 'eventually' Allah would re-move Satan's impact.
Then Allah would confirm His revelations.
And Allah has perfect knowledge and wisdom.
53In this way, He will make Satan's effect a test for those 'hypo crites' with sick hearts and those 'disbelievers' with hard hearts.
Surely those doing wrong have gone too far in opposition 'to the truth.
54Also so that those gifted with knowledge would know that this revelation' is the truth from your Lord, so they have faith in it, and their hearts would
submit humbly to it.
Allah definitely guides the believers to the Straight Path.
55Yet the disbelievers will continue to be in doubt about this 'revelation' until the Hour 'of Judgment' takes them by surprise or the punish-ment of a destructive Day
hits them.
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٖ وَلَا نَبِيٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلۡقَى ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ فِيٓ أُمۡنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلۡقِي ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحۡكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيم52
لِّيَجۡعَلَ مَا يُلۡقِي ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٞ وَٱلۡقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَفِي شِقَاقِۢ بَعِيدٖ53
وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦ فَتُخۡبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ54
وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي مِرۡيَةٖ مِّنۡهُ حَتَّىٰ تَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغۡتَةً أَوۡ يَأۡتِيَهُمۡ عَذَابُ يَوۡمٍ عَقِيمٍ55
JUSTICE ON JUDGMENT DAY
56All authority on that Day is for Allah 'alone'10 He will judge between all.
So those who believe and do good will be in the Gardens of Enjoyment.
57But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, they will suffer a humiliating pun-ishment.
58As for those who emigrate in the cause of Allah and then die or lose their life, Allah will definitely provide them with good resources.
Surely Alah is the Best Provider.
59He will certain-ly enter them into a place they will be pleased with.
Allah is truly full of knowl-edge and patience.
ٱلۡمُلۡكُ يَوۡمَئِذٖ لِّلَّهِ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فِي جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ56
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بَِٔايَٰتِنَا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ57
وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ قُتِلُوٓاْ أَوۡ مَاتُواْ لَيَرۡزُقَنَّهُمُ ٱللَّهُ رِزۡقًا حَسَنٗاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ58
لَيُدۡخِلَنَّهُم مُّدۡخَلٗا يَرۡضَوۡنَهُۥۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٞ59
ALLAH'S JUSTICE
60So it is.
And those who respond to harm in a similar way and then are wronged again, Allah will certainly help them.
Surely Allah is willing to excuse and forgive.
ذَٰلِكَۖ وَمَنۡ عَاقَبَ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبَ بِهِۦ ثُمَّ بُغِيَ عَلَيۡهِ لَيَنصُرَنَّهُ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُور60
ALLAH'S POWER
61That is because Allah 'is the One Who' enters the night into the day, and the day into the night.
Surely Allah hears and sees 'everything'.
62That is because Allah alone' is the Truth and whatever 'gods' they call besides Him are false, and Allah 'alone' is truly the Most High and Great.
63Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, then the earth becomes green?
Allah really knows the smallest details and is fully Aware.
64Whatever is in the heavens and what-ever is on the earth belongs to Him.
Surely Allah is not in need and He deserves all praise.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِي ٱلَّيۡلِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعُۢ بَصِير61
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ هُوَ ٱلۡبَٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ62
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَتُصۡبِحُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مُخۡضَرَّةًۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِير63
لَّهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ64
ALLAH'S KINDNESS
65Do you not see that Allah has put ev-erything in the earth at your service, as well as the ships 'that' sail through the sea by His command?
He keeps the sky from falling down on the earth, unless He allows it to happen.
Allah is really Kind and Merciful to humanity.
66And He is the One Who gave you life, then causes you to die, and then will bring you back to life.
But humankind is truly ungrateful.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكَ تَجۡرِي فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِأَمۡرِهِۦ وَيُمۡسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ65
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحۡيَاكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَكَفُورٞ66
ONE MESSAGE, DIFFERENT LAWS
67We assigned a code of life to every faith-community to follow.
So do not let them argue with you 'O Prophet' about this matter.
And invite all to your Lord; you are truly on the Right Way.
68But if they keep arguing with you, then say, 'Allah knows best what you do.
'
69Allah will judge between all of you on Judg-ment Day about your differences.
70Do you not know that Allah fully knows ev-erything in the heavens and the earth?
Surely it is a all 'written' in a Book.
That is really easy for Allah.
لِّكُلِّ أُمَّةٖ جَعَلۡنَا مَنسَكًا هُمۡ نَاسِكُوهُۖ فَلَا يُنَٰزِعُنَّكَ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِۚ وَٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَۖ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ هُدٗى مُّسۡتَقِيم67
وَإِن جَٰدَلُوكَ فَقُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ68
ٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ69
أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِي كِتَٰبٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِير70
ALLAH OR FALSE GODS?
71Still, those 'Makkans' worship besides Allah things that He has not approved and they know nothing about.
Those doing wrong will have no helper 'on Judgment Day'.
72Whenever Our clear revelations are recited to them, you 'O Prophet' can clearly see how annoyed the disbelievers' faces are, as if they are going to attack those
who recite Our revelations to them.
Say, 'Shall I tell you about some-thing far more annoying than that?
It is the Fire, which Allah has threatened the disbelievers with.
What an evil destina-tion!
'
وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهِۦ سُلۡطَٰنٗا وَمَا لَيۡسَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞۗ وَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِير71
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ تَعۡرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلۡمُنكَرَۖ يَكَادُونَ يَسۡطُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ يَتۡلُونَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَاۗ قُلۡ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرّٖ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمُۚ ٱلنَّارُ وَعَدَهَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ72
THE FLY CHALLENGE
73O humanity!
A lesson is given, so listen to it carefully: those 'idols' you call besides Allah cannot create 'something as little as' a fly, even if they all came
tOgether to do it.
In fact, if a fly steals something from those gods, they could not even get it back.
How pathetic are those who call and those who are called!
74They have not shown Allah the respect He deserves.
Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Almighty.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٞ فَٱسۡتَمِعُواْ لَهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخۡلُقُواْ ذُبَابٗا وَلَوِ ٱجۡتَمَعُواْ لَهُۥۖ وَإِن يَسۡلُبۡهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيۡٔٗا لَّا يَسۡتَنقِذُوهُ مِنۡهُۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلۡمَطۡلُوبُ73
مَا قَدَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ74
ALLAH'S WISDOM
75Allah selects messengers from both angels and people.
Surely Allah hears and sees 'everything'.
76He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them.
And 'all' matters will be returned to Allah for judgment'.
ٱللَّهُ يَصۡطَفِي مِنَ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلٗا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعُۢ بَصِيرٞ75
يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ76
ADVICE TO THE FAITHFUL
77O believers!
Bow and kneel down, worship your Lord, and do what is' good So you may be successful.
78Make sacri-fices in the cause of Allah in the way He deserves.
He is the One Who chose you, and did not make things difficult for you in the religion-the way of your fore-father Ibrahim.
'It is Allah' Who called 'Muslims'14 'in the' earlier Books' and in this 'Quran', so that the Messen-ger will be a witness over you, and you will be
witnesses over humanity.
So pray Şalah, pay zakah, and hold on to Allah.
He 'alone' is your Guardian.
What an ex-cellent Protector, and what an excellent Helper!
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱرۡكَعُواْ وَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ وَٱفۡعَلُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ77
وَجَٰهِدُواْ فِي ٱللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِۦۚ هُوَ ٱجۡتَبَىٰكُمۡ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ مِنۡ حَرَجٖۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمۡ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۚ هُوَ سَمَّىٰكُمُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِۚ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوۡلَىٰكُمۡۖ فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَوۡلَىٰ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ78
How to study Surah Al-Ḥajj with children
Use this children's lesson as a guided path: read the short explanation, look at the Arabic verse, listen to related recitation, and return to the full surah when your child is ready for more detail.
Parents can review one section at a time, ask the child to repeat the main idea, and then continue with the next part or a nearby surah. This keeps the lesson connected with Quran reading, audio, and daily practice.