60. What does the phrase ‘departing in two days’ mean?

This verse (2:203) says ‘Remember Allah in particular days’ 

We should be in Allah’s remembrance always, but this verse seems to suggest that except on the days we need not think about God. 

In this verse there is no mention generally of Allah’s remembrance, but it talks of a type of worship that must be carried out on days. 

Though it is not mentioned in the Quran about the worship, Prophet Muhammad has explained as to what it is. 

I reached Arafat when Prophet Muhammad was there, a group of people from Najd area approached Prophet Muhammad through one of their members asking about Haj. To it Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Haj is all about Arafat’ ‘Whoever reaches Arafat before Fajar salah has attained the Haj the days of Mina are three days, whoever leaves Mina in two days is not a transgressor, and whoever delays also is not one’. And he also deputed one person to announce this message to the people.

Hadith Book Nasaye:2994. 

We need to understand this verse refers to ritual of stoning at Mina as a worship based on this hadith. 

The ritual of stoning is done on three subsequent days, and if any one out of some unexpected reason happens to wind up in two days, it is not counted as a violation on his part.

Though we do not find what ‘departing in two days’ means in the Quran, the explanation given by Prophet Muhammad is clear enough to point its meaning in the above hadith. The explanation given by Prophet Muhammad is as good as the words of the Quran. 

To know more about obeying the orders of the Quran and seeking guidance from his Prophet, please refer explanation points 18, 36, 39, 50, 55, 56, 57, 67, 72, 125, 127, 128, 132, 154, 164, 184, 244, 255, 256, 258, 286, 318, 350, 352, 358, 430.