And some held that he may not ride it unless compelled by necessity.

Others said that by “the symbols” He means the rites of pilgrimage and witnessing Mecca. “In them are benefits for you” through trade and the markets, “for an appointed term,” namely, until departure from Mecca.

It is also said: “In them are benefits for you” in the reward and recompense for performing the rites, “for an appointed term,” that is, until the days of Hajj have ended.

“Then their place of sacrifice,” that is, the place where they are slaughtered, “is at the Ancient House”—meaning that their place of slaughter is by the Ancient House, that is, throughout all the sacred precinct. This is like His saying, “So let them not approach the Sacred Mosque” (al-Tawbah 9:28), meaning the entire sacred precinct.

It is narrated from Jabir, in the account of the Farewell Pilgrimage, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “I have slaughtered here, but all of Mina is a place of slaughter; so slaughter at your encampments.” (1)

Those who held that “the symbols” means the rites of pilgrimage said that the meaning of His words, “Then their place of release is at the Ancient House,” is: the people are released from their consecrated state at the Ancient House—that is, by performing the circumambulation of departure around it on the Day of Sacrifice.

“And for every community We have appointed a rite of sacrifice, that they may mention the name of Allah over the livestock He has provided for them. So your God is One God; therefore submit yourselves to Him. And give glad tidings to the humble.” (34)

Allah Most High says: “And for every community,” that is, every believing community that preceded you, “We have appointed a rite of sacrifice.” Hamzah and al-Kisa'i recited it here and at the end of the surah with the letter sin vowelled with kasrah, as a noun, like “mosque” and “place of ascent”; that is, a place of slaughter, namely, the site of sacrifice. The others recited it with the sin vowelled with fathah, as a verbal noun, like “entrance” and “exit”; that is, the shedding of blood and slaughtering sacrificial animals. “That they may mention the name of Allah over the livestock He has provided for them,” when slaughtering and sacrificing them. They are called livestock because they do not speak. He says, “the livestock,” restricting them to grazing cattle, because among beasts are some that are not livestock, such as horses, mules, and donkeys; these may not be offered as sacrificial animals.

“So your God is One God,” that is, mention the name of Allah alone over the animals you slaughter, for your God is One God,