Sura-9 [Al Tauba medina 113]
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.
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 Version:
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] [note 54]…………..
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).
[[ 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) ]]