'Remember Allah The Almighty during Specific Numbered Days'

23/09/2010| IslamWeb

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days -- there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] -- there is no sin upon him -- for him who fears Allah. And fear Allah.} [Quran 2:203]

The specific numbered days are the days of Mina which are the three days after the Day of Nahr. During these days, people stay at Mina and these days are called the Days of Tashreeq. The well-known days are the ten days of Thul-Hijjah according to Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him.

It was narrated that the Prophet said:

·        "The Days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah." [Muslim]

·        "The days of Mina are three, so the one who hastens in two days, there is no sin upon him and the one who delays until the third day, there is no sin upon him." [Ahmad and others]

·        "Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah, Sa’y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and throwing the pebbles are all for the establishment of the Remembrance of Allah The Almighty." [Abu Daawood]

Verses indicate that people should remember Allah The Almighty during the days of throwing the Jamaraat (stoning) when throwing pebbles and when slaughtering the sacrifices. They were ordered to remember Allah The Almighty during these days because people in Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance) used to use these days to boast of their forefathers and flirt with women, so Allah The Almighty ordered them to remember Him.

As for throwing the pebbles, the Kubra Jamrah (largest pillar), which is called the Jamrah of Al-‘Aqabah, should be thrown alone on the Day of Nahr before slaughtering the sacrifice. All three Jamrahs (including the Kubra Jamrah) are thrown during the days after the Nahr day at noon time. Pilgrims start by throwing the first Jamrah (smallest), which is next to Al-Khayf mosque, with seven pebbles then throw the Wusta Jamrah (middle pillar) and end by the Kubra Jamrah. Pilgrims should throw every Jamrah with seven pebbles and perform Takbeer with each one. For rulings on throwing pebbles, please review the articles of Hajj and ‘Umrah.

The abovementioned verse indicated that staying at Mina during the specific numbered days is obligatory. It is impermissible for pilgrims to stay during these nights at any other place except Mina. Any pilgrim who does not spend the night at Mina would be violating one of the obligations of Hajj and should slaughter a sacrificial animal. The only group of people who are permitted to stay the night outside Mina are those who are in charge of tasks that require being away from Mina. The Prophet permitted Al-‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with Him, to stay the night outside Mina because he was in charge of the water of Zamzam.

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days -- there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] -- there is no sin upon him.} [Quran 2:203]

This verse gave permission to the pilgrims who want to return to their families after attending some, but not all the days of Mina. This is out of the mercy of Allah The Almighty towards His slaves. Pilgrims may stay at Mina during the three days of throwing the pebbles, i.e. the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of Thul-Hijjah, or they may hasten and return to their families before the end of the three days. They can throw on the first and second day then leave Mina before the sunset of the twelfth of Thul-Hijjah. This was indicated by this Hadeeth that was mentioned above. The Prophet said: "The days of Mina are three, so the one who hastens in two days, there is no sin upon him and the one who delays until the third day, there is no sin upon him." [Ahmad and others] Scholars agreed that staying all the three Days of Tashreeq is better.

The general meaning of the verse is that: Remember Allah The Almighty during your stay at Mina. The ones among you who hastened after two days, there is no sin upon them to leave before the end of the three days of throwing the pebbles, while the ones who want to stay and throw the pebbles on the third day, can do this.

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {…for him who fears Allah. And fear Allah…} [Quran 2:203]

Since pilgrims are about to end the rituals of Hajj, leave these blessed placed and return to the noisy life, Allah The Almighty indicated that believers should adhere to fearing Allah The Almighty everywhere and anytime as fearing Allah The Almighty is not peculiar to a certain time or place. Fearing Allah The Almighty is required when the person is travelling or staying, while worshipping Allah The Almighty or everyday life actions, during hard times and good times.

The Prophet said: "Fear Allah wherever you are." [At-Tirmithi and Ahmad] This means that people should fear Allah The Almighty all the time and wherever they are. They should avoid what some Muslims do nowadays after ending their act of worship such as after fasting Ramadan they continue doings the sins that they used to do before Ramadan.