The Forbidden Months

 

Sacred and Reverent Months (L-237)

 

الشَّهرُ الحَرامُ بِالشَّهرِ الحَرامِ وَالحُرُماتُ قِصاصٌ ۚ فَمَنِ اعتَدىٰ عَلَيكُم فَاعتَدوا عَلَيهِ بِمِثلِ مَا اعتَدىٰ عَلَيكُم ۚ 194a.

194a.  ‘Ash-Shahrul-Haraamu  bish-Shahril-Haraami  wal-hurumaatu  qisaas.  Famani’-tadaa  ‘alaykum  fa’-taduu ‘alayhi  bi-misli  ma’-tadaa ‘alaykum.

194a.  The sacred month for the sacred month; and sacrilege calls for retaliation. Whoever commits aggression against you, retaliate against him in the same measure as he has committed against you.

 ‘Ash-Shahrul-Haraamu – (The forbidden month), during the times of ignorance, different tribes of the Arab used to continue fighting always; but they had settled this matter that the war would be stopped during the following four months and this period would be passed with peace and truce. According to them, these four months were very sacred and reverent. These four months are:

Muharram    - first month of lunar calendar

Rajjab            - seventh month of lunar calendar

Zii-Qa’dah     - eleventh month of lunar calendar

Dhu’l-Hajjah    - twelfth month of lunar calendar

Occasion of this verse’s revelation (Shaani Nazuul) and its historical background has been described that the Messenger of God (ﷺ) proceeded to Makkah for the purpose of pilgrimage (Umrah) along with his some Companions (May God be pleased with them) in the month of Zii-Qa’dah seventh Hijrah calendar (AH). But the Idolaters of Makkah got ready to fight them. Rather, they began archery and stoning. Even they didn’t care for the forbidden and sacred month. This verse indicates towards such month.

God commands that dignity and respect of any month can be till the time if the other party respects and honors it also. If it is not so, then there is no base of any forbidden month. If the opposite party doesn’t refrain from war even during the forbidden month, then you should assault against them also in like manner as they attacked upon you. If they have not given respect either the forbidden month or the forbidden place, or the Muslims have made a vow of Pilgrimage (‘Ih-raam), even then you must get ready and pick up your weapons.

Afterwards, it has been proclaimed that if they have oppressed you instead of caring for all forbidden matters, then you should respond them also in the same way. Here the word a’-tadaa (attack him) has come because it is the usage in the Arabic language that which action requires punishment, the same word will be used for its punishment. That is to say; ‘punish in response and slaughter them’. It does never aim that ‘you should oppress them also’. https://youtu.be/iw2DaCEYeCY