Surah 2

Surah 2:203

"Remember God during a (certain) number of days. Whoever hurries (through it) in two days – no sin (rests) on him, and whoever delays – no sin (rests) on him, (at least) for the one who guards (himself). Guard (yourselves) against God, and know that you will be gathered to Him."
The Appointed Days Verses 2:203
Show Full Scripture Context (2:203) — 1 Verse
Verse 203

۞وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فِيٓ أَيَّامٖ مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِي يَوۡمَيۡنِ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِۖ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّكُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ

Remember God during a (certain) number of days. Whoever hurries (through it) in two days – no sin (rests) on him, and whoever delays – no sin (rests) on him, (at least) for the one who guards (himself). Guard (yourselves) against God, and know that you will be gathered to Him.

Ad-Diyli: ... «The days of Mina (Tashriq) are three. Those who hasten in two days then there is no sin in it, and those who delay (i.e., remain in Mina for a third day) then there is no sin in it.»

Ibn Jarir reported that Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger said:

«The days of Tashriq are days of eating and remembering Allah.»

Ibn Jarir reported that Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger sent 'Abdullah bin Hudhafah to Mina proclaiming:

«Do not fast these days (i.e., Tashriq days), for they are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah the Exalted and Most Honored.»

The Appointed Days

Miqsam said that Ibn 'Abbas said that the Appointed Days are the days of Tashriq, four days: the day of the Sacrifice (10th of Dhul-Hijjah) and three days after that.

This opinion was also reported of Ibn 'Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Musa, 'Ata', Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Said bin Jubayr, Abu Malik, Ibrahim An-Nakhai, Yahya bin Abu Kathir, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Az-Zuhri, Ar-Rabi' bin Anas, Ad-Dahhak, Muqatil bin Hayyan, 'Ata' Al-Khurasani, Malik bin Anas, and others. In addition, the apparent meaning of the following Ayah supports this opinion:

Quoted Scripture
"But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him."

So the Ayah hints to the three days after the day of Sacrifice.

Allah's statement:

Quoted Scripture
"And remember Allah during the Appointed Days"

directs remembering Allah upon slaughtering the animals, after the prayers, and by Dhikr (supplication) in general. It also includes Takbir and remembering Allah while throwing the pebbles every day during the Tashriq days. A Hadith that Abu Dawud and several others collected states:

«Tawaf around the House, Sa'i between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and throwing the pebbles were legislated so that Allah is remembered in Dhikr.»

When mentioning the first procession (refer to 2:199) and the second procession of the people upon the end of the Hajj season, when they start to return to their areas, after they had gathered during the rituals and at the standing places, Allah said,

Quoted Scripture
"and obey Allah (fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him."

Similarly, Allah said:

{And it is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him you shall be gathered back.} (23:79)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.