The aforesaid verses reprehended the worship of all sorts of gods, idols, deified men, and fetishes. Now owing to the fact that there were men who worshipped the angels and apostles and took them as gods, the verse is to tell them that all the angels and the apostles too, are servants of God Who has created them and chosen some from among them as His Messengers. God chooses from among His angels some one like GABRIEL as His Messenger, in order to convey God's Messages to His apostles, whose duties are to communicate God's orders to Mankind. Both of the angel and man Messengers are chosen servants of God and subject to His will. Therefore, no one should ever worship an angel or a prophet, or take them for gods.
In the next two verses, which are the ending of this chapter, (HAJJ), as a happy conclusion a series of instructions have been recommended that can protect man's Here and Hereafter, and bring him prosperity in his physical and spiritual life. Four of such important and useful instructions have been included in verse NO.77:ِ
``O, you who have believed; bow down, and prostrate yourself, and worship your Lord, and do good deeds; that you may prosper.''
Then in the next verse (NO.78), we receive the fifth order of our Lord concerning JIHAD:ِ
``And strive in Allah as He deserves.''
Most of the commentators have taken JIHAD in this verse in its general sense of meaning.
The Arabic, ``JIHAD'' translated here to, ``STRIVING'' in its narrow sense, is the sacred fight against the heathens, and its religious term is ``JIHAD''. But the word in its broad and general meaning implies all sorts of endeavours that a believer may do for the sake of God.
Here, ``JIHAD as God deserves'' may mean an endeavour in the way of God, that is done with utmost purity and sincerity, an important and great kind of Jihad is the combat and challenge of Man against his own selfishness, lusts, and caprices. Then paying Alms-tax is the sixth of the commandments.
THE END OF SUREH THE PILGRIMAGE (22)
