(203) وَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ فَلاَ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ لِمَنِ اتَّقَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

203. " Celebrate the praise of Allah during the appointed days (Dhul-Hijjah 11,12,13) , but whoever hastens off within two days, it will be no sin on him, and whoso tarries (there) , on him (also) there will be no sin, (this is) for him who guards (against evil) . Then be in awe of Allah, and know that unto Him you shall be (all) gathered."

Commentary:

This verse, following to the explanation of the remembrance of Allah at the conclusion of the performance of the rites of Pilgrimage, defines the process of it and that they, instead of vain boastings of the Age of Ignorance, must specifically remember Allah in a few days the minimum of which is two days. These days, based on the frame of reference of the former verses, are the days after the Feast of Sacrifice which naturally are the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of the month. In the terminology of traditions, these days are called 'the days of Tashriq '. As this appellation denotes, these days are the time when the mind and spirit of a person can be delighted under the light of the performance of those splendid religious rites.

" Celebrate the praise of Allah during the appointed days (Dhul-Hijjah 11,12,13) , but whoever hastens off within two days, it will be no sin on him, and whoso tarries (there) , on him (also) there will be no sin, ..."

In the Islamic literature, it is recommended that after the fifteen daily prayers, (the first of which is the noon prayer on the Feast of Sacrifice and its final one is the morning prayer on the thirteenth day of the month) , the following inspiring phrases be recited; the Arabic transliteration of which are pronounced thus:

" Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la 'ilaha 'illallahu wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil hamd, Allahu akbaru 'ala ma hadana, Allahu akbaru 'ala ma razaqna min bahimatil-'an'am, wal-hamdu lillahi 'ala ma 'ablana "

" Allah is great, Allah is great. There is no God save Allah. Allah is great. Allah is great and all praise is due to Allah. Allah is great in that He has guided us. Allah is great in that He has granted us animals for sustenance, and all praise is due to Allah for what He has destined for us."

This part of the verse which says: " it will be no sin on him " may point to the choice of either two or three days in remembrance of Allah. Then, this clause means that there is no sin upon the one who chooses either of them. (And, the primary apparent meaning of the phrase is this very one.)

Also, these words may be rendered to the negation of sin absolutely for the pilgrims of the Sacred House. According to this interpretation, after the performance of the rites of Hajj, having been done faithfully and with full attention and sincerity, which ends with the above mentioned holy phrases, all the signs of former sins and their evil remaining consequences upon the heart and soul of pilgrims will be wiped out. It is at this time that the pilgrims, with clean souls and free from the burden of sins, leave that great site, i.e., that moral training land. The commentators have taken the term /li-man-it-taqa/, " (this is) for him who guards (against evil) ", as an attestation to this recent mentioned meaning.

At the end of the verse, it advises us that we mortals should be in awe of Allah and be aware that our path is unto Him and we all will be mustered when our deeds, whether good or evil, will be reckoned and we will be rewarded for them.

" Then be in awe of Allah, and know that unto Him you shall be (all) gathered."