Volume 3 – 68 – The Forbidden Months
Narrated by Abu Bakr:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivered a sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage and said: “Time has returned to its original creation since Allah created the heavens and the earth, twelve months, four of which are sacred. They are Dhu al-Qi’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab of the tribe of Mudar, which falls between Jumada al-Aakhirah and Sha'ban.”
COMMENTARY:
The months are as they were on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth, and adorned them with the sun, moon, and stars; and this order must remain for as long as this system lasts. But in the pre-Islamic period, nothing remained unchanged among the Arabs, including the shifting of the sacred months. Because they could not wage war during the sacred months, if they desired to fight, they would shift their places. For example, they would postpone Rajab to Sha'ban, and Muharram to Safar. Since they changed the names of Rajab and Muharram, they did whatever they pleased. Consequently, Hajj used to fall in different months each year. This continued until the Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The true month of Dhul-Hijjah coincided with the Farewell Pilgrimage. In his famous Farewell Sermon, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) announced that the alteration of the months practiced during the pre-Islamic period was abolished and that the months had returned to their original order as they were created in eternity. He declared that their places would not be changed from this year onwards, and he explained the meaning of verses 36 and 37 of Surah At-Tawbah. This alteration of the months is called (Nasi’) which means “to make one forget.” Because the place of the month was altered, it was removed from its original position and made to be forgotten. Therefore, this name was adopted. The tribe of Mudar was most respectful and observant of Rajab, so it is said "Rajab of Mudar." He clearly stated that Rajab’s true place is between Jumada al-Awwal and Sha'ban to indicate its original position.
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
It was related on the same meaning as the preceding hadith. [23]