9. [at-Tawbah, Medina 113, 9H after Tabuk]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ
الشُّهُورِ
عِندَ اللّهِ
اثْنَا عَشَرَ
شَهْرًا فِي
كِتَابِ اللّهِ
يَوْمَ خَلَقَ
السَّمَاوَات
وَالأَرْضَ...
9: 36. The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth;
C1295. This and the following verse must be read together. They condemn the arbitrary and selfish conduct of the Pagan Arabs, who, because there was a long-established custom of observing four months as those in which fighting was forbidden, changed the months about or added or deducted months when it suited them, to get an unfair advantage over the enemy.
The four Prohibited Months were:
- Dhu al Qadah,
- Dhu al Hijjah,
- Muharram, and
- Rajab.
If it suited them they postponed one of these months, and so a prohibited month became an ordinary month: while their opponents might hesitate to fight, they got an undue advantage. It also upset the security of the Month of Pilgrimage. This very ancient usage made for fair dealing all round, and its infraction by the Pagans is condemned.
The question of a solar astronomical year as against the lunar Islamic year does not arise here. But it may be noted that the Arab year was roughly luni-solar like the Hindu year, the months being lunar and the intercalation of a month every three years brought the year nearly but not accurately up to the solar reckoning.
From the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage (A.H.10) the Islamic year was definitely fixed as a purely lunar year of roughly 354 days, the months being calculated by the actual appearance of the moon. After that, every month of the Islamic year came about 11 days earlier in the solar year, and thus the Islamic months travelled all round the seasons and the solar year. (R).
...مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ...
of them four are sacred;
...ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ...
that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein,
C1296. The Muslims were at a disadvantage on account of their scruples about the Prohibited Months. They are told not to wrong themselves in this. If the Pagans fought in all months on one pretence or another, they were allowed to defend themselves in all months. But self-restraint was (as always) recommended as far as possible.
...وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً...
and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together.
...وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾
But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.
إِنَّمَا
النَّسِيءُ
زِيَادَةٌ فِي
الْكُفْرِ ...
9: 37. Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is an addition to unbelief:
C1297. To meddle with an old-established custom of close time for warfare during Prohibited or Sacred Months was not only a demonstration of the Unbelievers against the Muslims on account of their Faith, but was wrong and unjust in itself, as it abolished a wholesome check on unregulated warfare, and prejudiced the law-abiding side by arbitrary decisions.
... يُضَلُّ بِهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ...
the unbelievers are led to wrong thereby:
...يُحِلِّونَهُ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُ عَامًا لِّيُوَاطِؤُواْ عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ...
for they make it lawful one year, and forbidden another year, in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah
...فَيُحِلُّواْ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ...
and make such forbidden ones lawful.
...زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ أَعْمَالِهِمْ...
The evil of their course seems pleasing to them.
C1298. Cf. 6:122.
The lawless man thinks he is doing a great thing in getting the better of those who are careful to observe a law they believe in. But the lawless man loses the guidance of Faith he will therefore lose in the end.
...وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٣٧﴾
But Allah guideth not those who reject faith.
9: 36
Asad Behold, the number of months, in the sight of God, is twelve months, [laid down] in God’s decree on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; [and] out of there, four are sacred [note 53]: this is the ever-true law [of God]. Do not, then, sin against yourselves with regard to these [months] [note54]………….AND KNOW THAT God is with those who are conscious of Him..
Pickthall Lo! the number of the months with Allah is twelve months by Allah's ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in them. And wage war on all the idolaters as they are waging war on all of you. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him).
Transliteration Inna 'iddatasy syuhu_ri 'indalla_hisna_ 'asyara syahran fi kita_billa_hi yauma khalaqas sama_wa_ti wal arda minha_ arba'atun hurum(un), za_likad dinul qayyim(u), fala_ tazlimu_ fihinna anfusakum wa qa_tilul musyrikina ka_ffatan kama_ yuqa_tilu_nakum ka_ffah(tan), wa'lamu_ annalla_ha ma'al muttaqin(a).
[[ Asad’s note 53 – This connects with the subsequent reference to fighting against “those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God” (see next note). The months spoken of here are lunar months, progressively rotating through the seasons of the solar year (see surah 2, note 165). Since reckoning by the easily observable lunar months is more natural than by the arbitrarily fixed months of the solar year, it is described in this passage as “the ever-true law (din) {of God]”.
The four “sacred months” during which warfare was considered blasphemous in pre-Islamic Arabia – a view which also been confirmed by Islam ….are Muharram, Rajab, Dhu’l-Qa’dah and Dhu’l-Hijjah.]]
[[ Ali’s notes - 1295 This and the following verse must be read together. They condemn the arbitrary and selfish conduct of the Pagan Arabs, who, because there was a long-established custom of observing four months as those in which fighting was forbidden, changed the months about or added or deducted months when it suited them, to get an unfair advantage over the enemy. The four Prohibited Months were: Zul-qa'dah, Zul- hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. If it suited them they postponed one of these months, and so a prohibited month became an ordinary month: while their opponents might hesitate to fight, they got an undue advantage. It also upset the security of the Month of Pilgrimage. This very ancient usage made for fair dealing all round, and its infraction by the Pagans is condemned. The question of a solar astronomical year as against the lunar Islamic year does not arise here. But it may be noted that the Arab year was roughly luni solar like the Hindu year, the months being lunar and the intercalation of a month every three years brought the year nearly but not accurately up to the solar reckoning. From the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage (A.H.10) the Islamic year was definitely fixed as a purely lunar year of roughly 354 days, the months being calculated by the actual appearance of the moon. After that, every month of the Islamic year came about 11 days earlier in the solar year, and thus the Islamic months traveled all round the seasons and the solar year. (9.36)
1296 The Muslims were at a disadvantage on account of their scruples about the Prohibited Months. They are told not to wrong themselves in this. If the Pagans fought in all months on one pretence or another, they were allowed to defend themselves in all months. But self-restraint was (as always) recommended as far as possible. (9.36)
1297 To meddle with an old-established custom of close time for warfare during Prohibited or Sacred Months was not only a demonstration of the Unbelievers against the Muslims on account of their Faith, but was wrong and unjust in itself, as it abolished a wholesome check on unregulated warfare, and prejudiced the law-abiding side by arbitrary decisions. (9.37)
1298 Cf. vi. 122. The lawless man thinks he is doing a great thing in getting the better of those who are careful to observe a law they believe in. But the lawless man loses the guidance of Faith he will therefore lose in the end. (9.37) ]]
9: 37
Asad The intercalation [of months] is but one more instance of [their] refusal to acknowledge the truth – [a means] by which those who are bent on denying the truth are led astray. They declare this [intercalation] to be permissible in one year and forbidden in [another] year, in order to conform [outwardly] to the number of months which God has hallowed: and thus they make allowable what God has forbidden, since God does not grace with His guidance people who refuse to acknowledge the truth.
Pickthall Postponement (of a sacred month) is only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled, they allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the number of the months which Allah hath hallowed, so that they allow that which Allah hath forbidden. The evil of their deeds is made fair-seeming unto them. Allah guides not the disbelieving folk.
Transliteration Innaman nasi'u ziya_datun fil kufri yudallu bihil lazina kafaru_ yuhillu_nahu_ 'a_maw wa yuharrimu_nahu_ 'a_mal liyuwa_ti'u_ 'iddata ma_ harramalla_hu fa yuhilla_ ma_ harramalla_h(u), zuyyina lahum su_'u a'ma_lihim, walla_hu la_ yahdil qaumal ka_firin(a).