عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: كَانَتْ عُكَاظُ وَمِجَنَّةُ وَذُو الْمَجَازِ أَسْواقًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، فَتَأَثَّمُوا أَنْ يَتَّجِرُوا فِي الْموَاسِمِ، فَنَزَلَتْ: لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ [البقرة ١٩٨] فِي مَوَاسِمِ الْحَجِّ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: Ukaz, Majanna, and Dhu al-Majaz were marketplaces in the pre-Islamic period (Jahiliyyah). The people felt it a sin to trade during the [Hajj] seasons, so there was revealed: "There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord" [Surah al-Baqarah: 198]—[meaning] during the seasons of Hajj. Reported by al-Bukhari.
الشرح · explanation
فتأثموا: أي تحرّجوا من الوقوع في الإثم. في المواسم: المراد أشهُر الحج.
"felt it a sin": that is, they were wary of falling into sin. "during the seasons": what is meant is the months of Hajj.
الدروس · lessons
أنّ التجارة في الحجّ لا تنافي صحته، وإن كان الكمال خلوّ يد الحاجّ منها، لأنّها تشغل عن تمام التوجه إلى اللّه تعالى. تيسير الإسلام للعباد سبل العمل وكسب الرزق حتى وقت المواسم الفاضلة.
Trade during Hajj does not negate its validity, though perfection lies in the pilgrim keeping his hands free of it, since it distracts from complete devotion to Allah the Exalted. Islam's easing for people the ways of working and earning a livelihood, even during the meritorious [Hajj] seasons.