your sacrificial animals—“then remember Allah as you remember your fathers, or with even greater remembrance.” [Al-Baqara: 200] This is because, in the pre-Islamic period, people would gather after completing their hajj and its rites to boast of their glorious deeds. In Islam, Allah commanded them to devote their remembrance to glorifying Him, Most High, and thanking Him alone, and to commit themselves to remembering Him abundantly, just as they had committed themselves in their pre-Islamic days to remembering their fathers. It has also been said that the meaning is: remember Allah as children remember their fathers.
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Concerning the pelting of the pillars during the three days at Minā, Allah Most High revealed:
“Remember Allah during the appointed days. Whoever hastens to leave after two days incurs no sin, and whoever stays longer incurs no sin—for those who fear Allah. And fear Allah, and know that you will be gathered to Him.” [Al-Baqara: 203]
According to some transmitted accounts, the origin of pelting the pillars is as follows:
“When Abraham, peace and blessings be upon him, was commanded to build the House, the sakīnah (divine tranquillity) moved before him, resembling a dome. Whenever it moved, he moved, and whenever it stopped, he stopped. When it reached the site of the House, it settled there. Abraham, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then set out with Gabriel, peace be upon him. As he passed al-‘Aqabah, Satan confronted him. He was instructed to pelt him and did so. He then passed the second site, where Satan confronted him, and he pelted him; then he passed the third, where Satan confronted him, and he pelted him. This was the origin of pelting the pillars. Gabriel then walked with him, showing him the rites, until he reached ‘Arafah. He asked him, ‘Have you understood?’ He replied, ‘I have understood.’ Thus it was named ‘Arafah. He then returned and built the House where the sakīnah had settled.”
An account explaining the origin of pelting the pillars has also been transmitted which I have mentioned in the books on sacrifices, concerning Abraham, peace and blessings be upon him, and the ram with which Allah ransomed his son from slaughter. Allah knows best the truth of the matter.
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Allah, Blessed and Exalted, commanded those who enter the state of consecration for hajj and ‘umrah to complete them properly. He also explained the ruling concerning those prevented from completing them, or who perform ‘umrah followed by hajj, saying:
“Complete hajj and ‘umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then offer whatever sacrificial offering is readily available. And do not shave your heads until the offering reaches its appointed place.” [Al-Baqara: 196]