2. The Cow (God's Command) Part 3

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - fasting for a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey during them - then an equal number of days are to be made up. And upon those who are able to fast, but with hardship - a ransom as substitute of feeding a poor person each day. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

The month of Ramadhan is that in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights the new moon of the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.

And when My servants ask you, O Muhammad, concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me by obedience and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided. It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives for sexual relations. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread of night. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits set by Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.

And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it in bribery to the rulers in order that they might aid you to consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know it is unlawful.

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.

Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors. And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al-Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Fight them until there is no more fitnah and until worship is acknowledged to be for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors. Fighting in the sacred month is for aggression committed in the sacred month, and for all violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him. And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction by refraining. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then offer what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head making shaving necessary must offer a ransom of fasting three days or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah during the Hajj months followed by Hajj offers what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find or afford such an animal - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned home. Those are ten complete days. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.

Hajj is during well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein by entering the state of ihram, there is to be for him no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.

There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord during Hajj. But when you depart from 'Arafat, remember Allah at al-Mash'ar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray. Then depart from the place from where all the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

And when you have completed your rites, remember Allah like your previous remembrance of your fathers or with much greater remembrance. And among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world," and he will have in the Hereafter no share. But among them is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire." Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in account. And remember Allah during specific numbered days. Then whoever hastens his departure in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays until the third - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allah. And fear Allah and know that unto Him you will be gathered.